Emmenay
Free Member
- Dec 11, 2011
- 505
- 481
- Funster No
- 19,163
- MH
- Swift Kon-tiki 600
- Exp
- Since 2011
As many of you may already be aware I had an incident in Spain a few months ago whereby my Maxview satellite dome detatched from my roof while travelling along a motorway.
My opinion was that it was very poorly fitted from the off, and the fitting dealer had a duty to at least inspect the remains and my roof for future safety.
I have had many email discussions with the fitting dealer which only illuminated their keeness to blame me or other factors for the detatchment.
To date they have not requested any parts to inspect for possible future safety issues and they have managed to evade any comments regarding the photographs I sent them.
The reason I say it was poorly fitted was because of WHERE it was fitted. Two of the feet were partially resting on a roof join which is slightly raised, therefore not allowing the feet to sit level and not rest on the adhesive. (see photo's) and also not allowing the supplied screws to bite into the roof properly.
Here are some of the dealers reasons for the failure with my (in red) replies;
1. A previous impact could have cased it. Surely any impact enough to cause this would have smashed the dome cover rather than cleanly separate all four feet.
2. Our two short trips to Spain could have been too much heat for the adhesive thereby breaking it down. Sikaflex etc is UV and all weather resistant. If the Spanish sun has caused this then a lot of people not only using the product but the makers as well should be very concerned.
3. A cleaning agent could have had a breaking down effect on the adhesive.
To my shame I have not been able to clean the roof because of lack of access although the the vehicle was mopped and polished by me ready for the trip to Spain and the dome APPEARED to be in place as usual. What cleaning product gentle enough for our vans is hard enough to break down the adhesive?
4. There is no access to the roof so it may not have been inspected. A hab check is not a legal requirement and I am competent enough to do my own inspecting which is on a rolling basis. Even if it could be accessed I wouldn't try to unstick the adhesive to see if it was stuck!
5. In the two years and 8000 miles since it was fitted somebody else could have removed and poorly replaced the system. This theory could be applied to anything fitted by any dealer even after a couple of weeks and a couple of miles so they get out of any situation.
To be fair I have never asked the dealer for anything, no replacement, no money, no discounts for anything. All I have asked for is their comments on the photo's I supplied them and to carry out their moral resposibilty which is to look into the matter properly. As yet all they have done is try to sell me a new system with about £100 off. I don't even want another dome although I am gradually repairing the damaged one maybe for cheap resale.
I have recently spoken to Maxview who confirmed that the feet SHOULD NOT have detached from the roof and the only way would be for the surfaces to be unprepaired. I can confirm that the mating surfaces of the feet and the roof have not been prepared ie. roughing with a suitable abrasive or similar.
Now that I have banged on about it I invite you all to inspect the pictures that I sent to the dealer.
The arrows on two of the pics are pointing to where the feet were resting on the roof join.
As for the name of the dealer...all in good time if it is justified!
Thanks for reading. :thumb:
My opinion was that it was very poorly fitted from the off, and the fitting dealer had a duty to at least inspect the remains and my roof for future safety.
I have had many email discussions with the fitting dealer which only illuminated their keeness to blame me or other factors for the detatchment.
To date they have not requested any parts to inspect for possible future safety issues and they have managed to evade any comments regarding the photographs I sent them.
The reason I say it was poorly fitted was because of WHERE it was fitted. Two of the feet were partially resting on a roof join which is slightly raised, therefore not allowing the feet to sit level and not rest on the adhesive. (see photo's) and also not allowing the supplied screws to bite into the roof properly.
Here are some of the dealers reasons for the failure with my (in red) replies;
1. A previous impact could have cased it. Surely any impact enough to cause this would have smashed the dome cover rather than cleanly separate all four feet.
2. Our two short trips to Spain could have been too much heat for the adhesive thereby breaking it down. Sikaflex etc is UV and all weather resistant. If the Spanish sun has caused this then a lot of people not only using the product but the makers as well should be very concerned.
3. A cleaning agent could have had a breaking down effect on the adhesive.
To my shame I have not been able to clean the roof because of lack of access although the the vehicle was mopped and polished by me ready for the trip to Spain and the dome APPEARED to be in place as usual. What cleaning product gentle enough for our vans is hard enough to break down the adhesive?
4. There is no access to the roof so it may not have been inspected. A hab check is not a legal requirement and I am competent enough to do my own inspecting which is on a rolling basis. Even if it could be accessed I wouldn't try to unstick the adhesive to see if it was stuck!
5. In the two years and 8000 miles since it was fitted somebody else could have removed and poorly replaced the system. This theory could be applied to anything fitted by any dealer even after a couple of weeks and a couple of miles so they get out of any situation.
To be fair I have never asked the dealer for anything, no replacement, no money, no discounts for anything. All I have asked for is their comments on the photo's I supplied them and to carry out their moral resposibilty which is to look into the matter properly. As yet all they have done is try to sell me a new system with about £100 off. I don't even want another dome although I am gradually repairing the damaged one maybe for cheap resale.
I have recently spoken to Maxview who confirmed that the feet SHOULD NOT have detached from the roof and the only way would be for the surfaces to be unprepaired. I can confirm that the mating surfaces of the feet and the roof have not been prepared ie. roughing with a suitable abrasive or similar.
Now that I have banged on about it I invite you all to inspect the pictures that I sent to the dealer.
The arrows on two of the pics are pointing to where the feet were resting on the roof join.
As for the name of the dealer...all in good time if it is justified!
Thanks for reading. :thumb: