HOBBY Rooflight (not opening window) blown off!

Barcud

Guest
Our front rooflight came out and blew off when travelling at less than 40mph. Has anyone else had this happen. This is not one of the opening windows but the curved one over the cab which does not open.

Luckily it didn't hit another vehicle and potentially seriously injure anyone but embedded itself in the verge by about 4''. Frightened us and our 2 year old grandson who was travelling with us. All we heard for the next 20 miles 'That was a big bang'.

Thanks.
 
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Roof light

I seem to recall there was a thread about this problem on OutandAboutlive (outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums) About 12months ago
 
re That was a big bang

Hi Barcud

This sort of thing happened to our Trigano Rollerteam - rear upper fascia came off at speed and I contacted the manufacturers directly to explain the accident. They then sent out a replacement. Because I was out of warranty (I argued to no avail) they wouldn't refit but I did it myself in the end. Colin Treacher at Autotrail was the really helpful contact. The part (supplied and delivered free) would have cost £340. Contact Hobby and explain the incident - they should replace and refit at no cost - it may depend on age and regular habitation service records. If there is no joy then your insurers will deal with it but this will affect your no claims bonus and excess payment. I would definitely approach Hobby first.

Cheers

Greenid
 
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Thank-you all, now armed and dealing direct with Hobby UK, hoping to make the Ferry a week on Saturday. Was pretty scary.

Will HOBBY come up trumps? Watch this space!

Barcud
 
One of mine blew off while I was on a site in the summer , my motorhome is a elegance 810 , it was cracked down one side so i managed to do a temp repair with some duct tape , search for one everywhere but can only get from Burnster direct ... they want £520 .... It can stay broken and in the closed position ... its only a bit of plastic for god sake... how the hell can they charge crazy prices like this .....
 
Can't believe Hobby Germany have known about this for 12 months+

I have now discovered that the recall letters to the UK started going out in August 2016 BUT it is over 12 months since the recall went out in Germany and it is a European Commission recall due to danger of injury. I think a worse outcome is possible having tugged broken bits which were embedded 6cm out of grass verge. Hobby owners get in touch with Hobby UK whether you've had the letter or not 01773 853900 as we hadn't had one yet. Models affected are those from 2007 to 2012.
 
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I have now discovered that the recall letters to the UK started going out in August 2016 BUT it is over 12 months since the recall went out in Germany and it is a European Commission recall due to danger of injury. I think a worse outcome is possible having tugged broken bits which were embedded 6cm out of grass verge. Hobby owners get in touch with Hobby UK whether you've had the letter or not 01773 853900 as we hadn't had one yet. Models affected are those from 2007 to 2012.

With whom have you been dealing at Hobby UK?

Tom
 
Hobby Contact

We were referred to John Hindle, who apparently is their motorhome man. Still ongoing.
 
That's a NO then

......hoping to make the Ferry a week on Saturday. ......

Will HOBBY come up trumps? Watch this space!

Barcud

NO! There will be a space for a motorhome on the Newhaven Dieppe ferry tomorrow night. Good news is the panorama rooflight is in this country, bad news is not fitted yet but, hey ho, may get away by end of next week.....Obviously not simple and straightforward but working on it!

Barcud
 
Finally

Certainly hasn't been straightforward with first window not being the right one but today we finally had the job completed and will be on a ferry tomorrow night:cool1:
I would urge anyone who has a Hobby 2007-2012 with Panoramic rooflight to get there's checked by contacting Hobby UK even if you haven't had the letter.

Top marks to National Windscreens who seem to be going above and beyond, and also to the staff at Hobby UK who are having to deal with all this extra work and to DFDS Ferries who have 3 times amended our booking. Barcud.
 
Is there a Aerodynamisist in the house!

Motor Manufacturers are not known for producing boxes with a view to their positive aerodynamic profile, or to put it another way, this was an accident waiting to happen.

For those not familiar with the 'Theory of flight' I will explain.

If you take a cross section through an aircraft wing (or aerofoil) you will see that the top surface is more curved than the bottom surface (rather like the over-cab panoramic roof-light of a MH) and as such, the length of the curved top surface is longer than the length of the bottom surface, still with me? Good.

In order for the air moving over the top surface to meet up with the air over the bottom surface at the same time, it needs to travel over the top surface faster.

Now you remember back in those distant days in your school Physics Lab when you learnt all about 'Boyles Law' and you thought, 'I'm never going to need to know this'? Well, how wrong you were............now you need to know this, to understand why the front curved panoramic roof-light on your MH has the ability to 'fly'.

Still with me ? Good, then you will recall that 'Boyles Law' states that 'P1V1 = P2V2', where P=Pressure & V = Velocity. Now, taking 'Boyles Law' into account if the airflow or 'Velocity' of the airflow over the top ('V1') surface is travelling faster, then something has got to 'give' to balance the equation and what happens is that, 'P2' (or the pressure over the top surface), has to reduce.

So now we have reduced pressure over the top surface having the effect of providing 'Lift' and it is this 'Lift' that tends to make your Panoramic curved roof-light take flight.

As a final party trick guaranteed to amuse children (and most Motor-Homers) for hours, then next time you find yourself with a water tap, a plentiful supply of un-metered water and a teaspoon, try this.

Turn the tap on to a medium flow of water, pick up the teaspoon, holding the end of the handle as loosely a you can between your thumb and index finger, let it dangle, then slowly move the spoon carefully towards the flow of water, with the convex (or curved bottom face) of the spoon, until the curved surface of the teaspoon only just makes contact with the flow of water.......and note the result :mad1:

This Happy Motor-Homers, will hopefully explain the 'Theory of Flight' or to put it another way, why those Motorhome Designing Wazzocks need to think again.

This was an accident waiting to happen and if the manufacturers fail to either accept this or understand this, then they need to be educated.

Must dash, got to swing a prop, don my leather helmet and go to heaven and back before sunrise :dance:

Captain Biggles :plane:
 
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Certainly hasn't been straightforward with first window not being the right one but today we finally had the job completed and will be on a ferry tomorrow night:cool1:
I would urge anyone who has a Hobby 2007-2012 with Panoramic rooflight to get there's checked by contacting Hobby UK even if you haven't had the letter.

Top marks to National Windscreens who seem to be going above and beyond, and also to the staff at Hobby UK who are having to deal with all this extra work and to DFDS Ferries who have 3 times amended our booking. Barcud.

Enjoy France - and the chestnuts!
 
Hi Barcud

This sort of thing happened to our Trigano Rollerteam - rear upper fascia came off at speed and I contacted the manufacturers directly to explain the accident. They then sent out a replacement. Because I was out of warranty (I argued to no avail) they wouldn't refit but I did it myself in the end. Colin Treacher at Autotrail was the really helpful contact. The part (supplied and delivered free) would have cost £340. Contact Hobby and explain the incident - they should replace and refit at no cost - it may depend on age and regular habitation service records. If there is no joy then your insurers will deal with it but this will affect your no claims bonus and excess payment. I would definitely approach Hobby first.

Cheers

Greenid

If you explain that you are claiming for fixed glass, similar to windscreen then it shouldn't affect no claims and possibly a lower excess. We had one damaged and after a bit of arm twisting this was accepted. Depends on your policy wording though
 
Motor Manufacturers are not known for producing boxes with a view to their positive aerodynamic profile, or to put it another way, this was an accident waiting to happen.

For those not familiar with the 'Theory of flight' I will explain.

If you take a cross section through an aircraft wing (or aerofoil) you will see that the top surface is more curved than the bottom surface (rather like the over-cab panoramic roof-light of a MH) and as such, the length of the curved top surface is longer than the length of the bottom surface, still with me? Good.

In order for the air moving over the top surface to meet up with the air over the bottom surface at the same time, it needs to travel over the top surface faster.

Now you remember back in those distant days in your school Physics Lab when you learnt all about 'Boyles Law' and you thought, 'I'm never going to need to know this'? Well, how wrong you were............now you need to know this, to understand why the front curved panoramic roof-light on your MH has the ability to 'fly'.

Still with me ? Good, then you will recall that 'Boyles Law' states that 'P1V1 = P2V2', where P=Pressure & V = Velocity. Now, taking 'Boyles Law' into account if the airflow or 'Velocity' of the airflow over the top ('V1') surface is travelling faster, then something has got to 'give' to balance the equation and what happens is that, 'P2' (or the pressure over the top surface), has to reduce.

So now we have reduced pressure over the top surface having the effect of providing 'Lift' and it is this 'Lift' that tends to make your Panoramic curved roof-light take flight.

As a final party trick guaranteed to amuse children (and most Motor-Homers) for hours, then next time you find yourself with a water tap, a plentiful supply of un-metered water and a teaspoon, try this.

Turn the tap on to a medium flow of water, pick up the teaspoon, holding the end of the handle as loosely a you can between your thumb and index finger, let it dangle, then slowly move the spoon carefully towards the flow of water, with the convex (or curved bottom face) of the spoon, until the curved surface of the teaspoon only just makes contact with the flow of water.......and note the result :mad1:

This Happy Motor-Homers, will hopefully explain the 'Theory of Flight' or to put it another way, why those Motorhome Designing Wazzocks need to think again.

This was an accident waiting to happen and if the manufacturers fail to either accept this or understand this, then they need to be educated.

Must dash, got to swing a prop, don my leather helmet and go to heaven and back before sunrise :dance:

Captain Biggles :plane:

Little bit more speed and a Hobby takes off :scared:
 
Bumping this as a public safety announcement for any Hobby owners!

I have now discovered that the recall letters to the UK started going out in August 2016 BUT it is over 12 months since the recall went out in Germany and it is a European Commission recall due to danger of injury. I think a worse outcome is possible having tugged broken bits which were embedded 6cm out of grass verge. Hobby owners get in touch with Hobby UK whether you've had the letter or not 01773 853900 as we hadn't had one yet. Models affected are those from 2007 to 2012.

[/B

I have bumped this post incase there are any Hobby owners who have not seen the original post and not received a recall letter. The models affected are those with a panoramic rooflight. Hobby UK are handling this and getting National Windscreens to check the models concerned and re-seat and stick back in any affected. Barcud.
 
[/B

I have bumped this post incase there are any Hobby owners who have not seen the original post and not received a recall letter. The models affected are those with a panoramic rooflight. Hobby UK are handling this and getting National Windscreens to check the models concerned and re-seat and stick back in any affected. Barcud.


National Windscreens didn't seem to be Hobby UK's first choice - they first try to get you to use their dealer network. However, if this is inconvenient they will eventually offer National Windscreens. The latter certainly know what they're doing and motorhomes are on the small side for the specialist teams that they send on these jobs - they're more used to doing the massive windscreens on luxury coaches.

Tom
 
Wonder if Swift know about this. Last one I looked at had an opening curved window above the driver. If the airflow is enough to create lift how long will it be before someone looses one ..

Swith front Window.png

..

Just noticed how small the table is. How are you supposed to eat or is it just for a photo shoot making it look good

..
 

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