Jayco Swan doorway

[OutbackSwan]

I recently purchased a new Swan Outback and I have been seasoning my camper this week and was wondering about the experiences of others doing the same. From the first time I set the Swan up at Brisbane Camperland, I noticed that around the door frame, where the top and bottom halves are snapped together, there is a gap in the canvas walls on either side of the door. You can literally look straight through in to the camper with a gap of up to 3mm - 4mm in places. When I was hosing the canvas to season it, there has been water getting in through those gaps and then running down the door frame internally. It's not a lot of water and it is only on the door frame, but I have only really hosed for a couple of minutes and I was trying to be careful as I was concerned about it. Without some sort of additional strip of material to close that gap my thinking is that you would not want to have the Swan out in rainy weather without the awning up otherwise you could end up with a lot of water inside depending on what angle the rain was coming from.

Has anybody else experienced this or am I just lucky?

[cruiser 91]

LOL,

Welcome and congrats on the purchase of your new jayco.

You should have sewn in flaps either side of door on the canvas (top to bottom) that velcros on to door frame edge to hide those gaps. Similar to the ones on the ends to hide the roof wind up extension poles.
or
the side edges of top door should have the hard side of velcro and the canvas should have the fluffy velcro sewn in.

I hope jayco didnt forget to put them on 

 

[OutbackSwan]

 . I have both the internal and external velcro flaps attached however those flaps are about 5cm wide (internal and external) and at the very bottom, where the rest of the canvas is attached to the main tub inside a rail type system, there is a gap where the internal and external flaps are. On mine there is a small gap between the bottom of the flaps and the main shell. Enough to let water through. A picture tells a thousand words so I will take a picture and attach rather than wracking my brain trying to work out how to explain it.

[cruiser 91]

I'm hoping its 5cm length ways?

I'm wouldn't be surprised though. Its why I purchased a 2002 instead of new. Between 2002 -2005 were the best outbacks ever built.

Same goes for my 80 series landcruiser...............................but ill leave that one alone 

I'm not convinced buying new is always the best option these days. 

[Swannie]

I know the gap you are talking about, generally though I assume you would have your awning out so that area generally does not get any rain, water. 5 cms seems a lot though can you put up a pick please?

Swannie

[Colmano]

Mmmm can't visualise it...will wait for a pic 

[OutbackSwan]

I'm not sure how to post an image inline. Haven't worked that one out just yet so I have just attached images below.

The first image is the gap I am talking about on the left of the door when standing outside. The 2nd photo is the gap on the right. You can see the gap on the left is a lot bigger than the right. I tried lowering the canopy as much as I could but with the support posts in each corner, there is only so much you can lower. I decided the canvas on the left looked a lot tighter so I un-velcroed the door and looked at the very top where the canvas is attached to the ceiling and noticed that it was about 1.5cm higher than the other side. I unscrewed a few screws, lowered the canvas by about the same distance and then put the screws back in. The final photo is after I made the adjustment. Still not what I would call water proof but a lot better than what it was.

My concern really is that when I am doing trips that will involve only an overnight stay, I was planning on not erecting the awning and bed end flies to make it a really quick setup but if there is a slight chance of rain, I will have to ensure the awning is up. Alternatively I might have a go at making some small pieces of canvas that can be velcroed in place to effectively seal these gaps.

[Swannie]

Gap is about the same as mine, never noticed any real rain coming through though.

Swannie

[OutbackSwan]

OK I will just keep my eye on it and see how it goes.

[Colmano]

Ohhh now I understand...yeah mate you should be sweet...our gap is about the same...we've had ours up in torrential wind & rain and she didn't leak inside. Looks like you've done a good job making the gap smaller 

[Sixpack]

Can you drop your roof down a touch.  It looks like there is a mil or two you could drop.  Then undo the Velcro and pull it down to straighten.   

[callmejoe]

Can you drop your roof down a touch.  It looks like there is a mil or two you could drop.  Then undo the Velcro and pull it down to straighten.

X2.
Times when we couldn't get our dove to "seal" was usually due to 1. Roof to high and or  2. Not level.

[fishfinder]

Thanks for posting that, a few weeks back i had my eagle set up getting it sorted for a trip that did not happen. We had a few nights of rain and it took a few days to put back down. I noticed a small puddle pooled around one side on the floor near the fridge checked all over that side of the camper with a hose and found no leaks so i thought it must have been the kids running in and out with wet feet as it was not sitting real level. Now after seeing your post I  realised I have never had the camper set up without annexe or awning up and this is where the rain must have come through. No need to think about it no more as it is not an issue.

[pauljygrant]

As others have said, gap looks similar to our last Swan but never had any water issues. Gap is worse if the roof is too high (always wound it back down slightly once corner poles were in place) or when on a slope. Could generally rework the Velcro to minimise the gap but was never perfect.
Wouldn't stress over it too much.

[OutbackSwan]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm heading to Ballina for a week and the forecast is for rain so I will definitely be lowering the canopy after the support posts are in place.

[speedcomm]

I'm hoping its 5cm length ways?

I'm wouldn't be surprised though. Its why I purchased a 2002 instead of new. Between 2002 -2005 were the best outbacks ever built.

Same goes for my 80 series landcruiser...............................but ill leave that one alone 

I'm not convinced buying new is always the best option these days.

Interesting, we have an 02 OB, what differences are there in the pre 02 and the later post 05 versions ? Mine has an aluminium frame behind the paneling, and with a substantial looking OB chassis with rebound eye to leaves with Shock absorbers.
Still coming to terms with the Jayco attention to detail on plumbing and wiring...

[Ciscokid]

Have the same annoying gap. Havent had any major dramas with rain, buy I usually stick tissues in there to block the gap to stop insects coming in. 

Your fix looks good