Melbourne

[peterf]

Well who's telling fibs. just in from Jayco;

Phillip Rigby <phillip.rigby@jayco.com.au>
8:06 AM (16 minutes ago)

to me, Peter, greg
Hi Peter,

Thank you for your email regarding recall JC00039 as carried out on your 5th wheeler recently.

I have forwarded your comments below onto our R+D department regarding the sealing of the gas locker and the leg winding mechanism – they sign off on all compliance and recall procedures.

If they deem the winding mechanism to be insufficiently sealed I think a cover installed over the mechanism would be the simplest solution and would be a straight forward installation – I will let you know the outcome when it has been investigated by the R+D department.

The purpose of the recall is to provide a separate gas bottle locker in the front boot area, sealed off from the boot storage area. This gas locker storage should be used for storing gas bottles only as per the Australian gas regulations. No flammable items should be put in this area hence the installation of the central divider.

It also provides a form of sealing the area for a period of time if for any reason a fire should break out due to gas leaking or similar. It is also important that the drop vent located in floor of the locker is free from obstruction – as LPG is denser than air it will fall to the lowest point and escape through this vent.

This central divider and the addition of a separate gas bottle locker now allows additional items to be stored safely in the front boot area next to the gas bottle storage.

Kind Regards,

Phil.

attached is the original recall notice from Jayco

[Dot]

Peter as much as I terrorise (blow up) the Jayco letter I can't read it.

[BernieQ2]

Dot try saving it in your pictures and look at it there you may be able to enlarge it, I can on mine but cant email it to you because of the gigabitty things
Bernie.

[Dot]

Now I see ok

[Dot]

what a cock up Peter, did your rig have a gas compliance cert when you bought it and if so by whom did do it? maybe the consumer mob would like to know that as well. Got a good idea, take a drive through good old NSW ask a copper or who ever are the rule enforcers on those things to have a look at your rigs gas set up and see what they say about it. Then there is always the channel 7 & 9 in for a bit of a stir up.

[peterf]

lastest emails
Phillip Rigby
9:40 AM (23 hours ago)

to me
Hi Peter,

It clearly states in the letter that if needed rework will be required on the gas locker to seal the gas locker from the living area.

Unfortunately, I was not present when the van was dropped off at the service centre with Dean.

Did you query what was required as part of this recall prior to instructing the workshop to carry it out?

Kind Regards,

Phil.

peter faux <peterfaux0@gmail.com>
8:37 AM (15 minutes ago)

to Phillip
The truth of the matter is that Jayco sold me a van that failed to conform with AS/NZS 5601.2:2010 this in turn led to the AS/NZS5601.2:2013 amendments which again have not been fully conformed with.

As I have now found out the use of the word "rework" was not just about gas proofing but hid a broader failure to conform to standards than reflected in the recall.

In Sept 13 amendments to AS/NZS5601.2:2013 Gas installations where published with effect in Vic 31 Mar 14 and Qld 1 Jul 14, these changes ;

Clause 3.4.1 (d) Be sealed to prevent gas vapour from entering the caravan.


Clauses 3.4.1(h) Cylinder compartments and LP Gas lockers
Comment ; Cylinder compartment design and desire for more storage leading to ignition sources and other equipment being stored with cylinders,

Comment change ; New sign for caravans and boats to be displayed in or on the cylinder compartment warning that only cylinders and their associated equipment are to be permitted within the compartment, see picture http://www.esv.vic.gov.au/Portals/0/Gas ... n_2014.pdf,



Clause 3.4.2 Vertical divider introduced to separate a cylinder compartment to a general storage area in a combined storage compartment locker for caravans,

,
A 40mm dia hole in the dividing wall will still allow gas into the living area and will not insulate from possible ignition sources, the foam strip on the divider to seal divider and door will not stop gas either.
There is no warning notice.
I reiterate that I would never have bought this van as it is now

I spoke with the Qld Dept of Natural Resources and Mines as it turns out the van never conformed to AS/NZS 5601.2:2010 prior to sale so there is no hope of any retrospect exemption from the AS/NZS5601.2:2013 amendments.
In summary, as the van storage area looks now is how it should have been before purchase and if it had I never would have bought it.

[Dot]

Now I would expect that any company making any sort of RV would have either a full time "gas fitter" on the pay roll or at lease people that knew or could read the very easy to understand the gas regs , conform to the regs then at the end of the line on the final check have the gas connections or what ever checked and signed off by the "qualified" person and the required labels fitted and signed off on. We know someone that builds RV's (small business) and even he has a full time sparkie on his pay roll.

[peterf]

send this to Jayco today the only email address for them is info@jayco.com.au unless someone has Gerry Ryan's email
peter faux <peterfaux0@gmail.com>
7:09 AM (46 minutes ago)

to info, info
On 3 Mar 14 I purchased fifth wheeler R20005 from Brisbane Camperland.

When I first inspected the van the front boot was a spacious high ceiling storage area with two gas bottles in it which could accommodate large items such as folding chairs, camp table, etc. this was a deciding factor in my purchase.

Unknown to me at the time the van failed to conform to AS/NZS 5601.2:2010 in that gas bottles and general storage are to have gas proof divider separating each other, interesting to note that Jayco caravans have there lockers divided.

In Sept 14, I received recall notice JC0039, this recall was actioned between 20 Jan - 5 Feb 15, on return of my van I found that the once spacious storage area had gone and a divider separating the general storage area from the gas bottles in accordance with AS/NZS 5601.2:2013.( I may add that it still does not conform- not gas proof and no warning label )

The storage area is now only 545 mm wide, apx half the original area has gone and is no longer capable of excepting the items that once was stored there .

At this point I will state that at no time would I have bought the van in it's current configuration as other vans that met my needs were available at a similar price ,one $10,000 less.

This is the cumulation of problems that have ranged from a incorrect pinbox mount to having the roof repaired along with numerous smaller issues

What I would like from Jayco is the storage space I was sold back, even if this means a locker on the back of the van large enough to take those items I can no longer store.
The wine cooler which is of no value could be removed and perhaps that area turned into a gas locker.
Failing that, buy the van back so I can purchase something that will do the job.

I believe this to be a Jayco problem not a dealership one.

[peterf]

Just had a call from Jayco, they have offered to box in the gas bottles tighter, which provided that required gas standards are met I have excepted. This will give back nearly all the storage I had before.
thanks all for the support.

[Dot]

Good one Peter, why they didn't do that in the first place is a bit of a mind bender. Before you sign off make sure all of their repair work etc is up to standard esp the gas regs..