Goldstream storm

Submitted: Monday, Sep 15, 2014 at 22:56
ThreadID: 109512 Views:5936 Replies:7 FollowUps:8
This Thread has been Archived
Hi
We have just purchased a new Goldstream Storm and on its maiden voyage, of which only 80km is dirt, we arrived and opened it up to find it FULL of dust. Stuck to the front of all the cupboards, all over the bench tops and all over the floors not just a little bit it was chockers!! Apparently that level of dust is acceptable in the eyes of goldstream, which if I'd know we wouldn't have bought it.

Anyone experience the same and any ideas on how to fix it?

Cheers
Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator

Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Tuesday, Sep 16, 2014 at 07:18

Tuesday, Sep 16, 2014 at 07:18
Did you have the roof pressure hatch open to provide positive air pressure inside the van?

The only places dust can enter is through the door vent, or fridge vent.
Pressurising the van is the best way to stop dust getting in. We have obtained advice blocking the door vent with foam or similar is also good simple practice.

I don't think you can blame Goldstream just like that unless you have implemented these measures, which we know about although we are not yet owners.

We have a new Goldstream Storm on order for delivery in November.
Looking forward to receiving it!
Bill


I'm diagonally parked in a parallel Universe!

Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

AnswerID: 539151

Follow Up By: SosnSandi - Tuesday, Sep 16, 2014 at 15:24

Tuesday, Sep 16, 2014 at 15:24
Thanks for that Bill.

As this was our first trip it's all still an experiment. On the way there we didn't have the air pressure vent up but we did on the way back and the amount of dust was the same.

I agree blocking the door vent is a good idea. We are looking into installing a pressurising unit as well.

My disappointment comes from paying $45,000 for an "offroad" van and then having to pay out more money to modify it to keep out dust, one of the obvious things that I would of thought would be a no brainier when designing it in the first place. The front tool box was also full of dust.

Good luck with yours!!
0
FollowupID: 823783

Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Tuesday, Sep 16, 2014 at 18:34

Tuesday, Sep 16, 2014 at 18:34
I can understand your concern paying that amount of money.
I'm a little concerned to hear about the front tool box having dust entering.

The suggestion of blocking the door vent was given to me by the Dealer I am buying the van through.
Goldstream appear to have a good reputation for quality build so I can only wait and see. The Dealer also has a solid reputation in SA and is the sole agent for Goldstream here.

I can only give my experience on positive air pressure based on the canopy I have on my dual cab.
Since fitting the vent onto the roof of the canopy, I have no problem with the tub area of my vehicle.

I would assume the same should be the case with the camper.
As long as the incoming air exceeds that outgoing, the positive pressure should eliminate any dust being sucked into the interior.

I wouldn't think an extra "pressurising unit" would be necessary as this would just be another forced air intake.

P.S. I also utilise a "Stone Stomper" trapeze on my current camper and will also use it on my new one. As well as protect the camper from stones, etc. it does reduce the amount of dust kicked up by the rear tyres on the vehicle. The dust, etc. is contained to the underneath section and is expelled out the back, rather than between the vehicle and camper.
Bill


I'm diagonally parked in a parallel Universe!

Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 823796

Reply By: MEMBER - Darian, SA - Tuesday, Sep 16, 2014 at 08:44

Tuesday, Sep 16, 2014 at 08:44
It is possible to travel dust free over hundreds of km's of gravel, but you need that bit of clean incoming air under light pressure. You also need to close up every escape point you can find, including the temporary covering of door and fridge vents etc....(sink plugs should be in too) ......this allows the pressure to be established and maintained.....vents have to be temporarily covered or closed by whatever practical means you can arrive at. Hard to blame the van builder - they have to have the regulation vents in their design - how we owners safely get around the issue is up to us :-).
AnswerID: 539156

Reply By: AlanTH - Tuesday, Sep 16, 2014 at 11:13

Tuesday, Sep 16, 2014 at 11:13
Don't expect much help from .......... We bought an off road windup camper from them through their WA retailer about 10 or 12 years ago and it was a good bit of equipment. Well made with quality fittings.
We sold it some time later and bought a Wndsor van off the same retailer.
A couple of years ago after having had a hard floor camper for 5 years we decided to go back to a van and off we go again to the same people having had reasonable service from them in the past.
We settled on another .......... with an off road suspension upgrade but without the offered bog/shower next to the table......
Anyway, retailer all smiles and handshakes as they all are when you've parted with your hard earned........until we took it back after just a couple of short on road trips with very bad tyre wear on the nearside.
Retailer not interested and offered no assistance whatsoever even though the thing was under warranty.
Fast forward a bit and Consumer Affairs WA involvement and .......... supplied a new tyre and new shocks as one was defective and we thought this would cure the problem.
It didn't. It didn't cure the pelmets dropping off or the cupboards and drawers opening while we drove either.
We found out quite by chance from someone who saw the van as we slowly pulled away from them that the wheels appeared badly buckled. Had this checked out and 2 of the 3 were so bad they couldn't be balanced. No damage to them at all apart from a bit of gravel rash.
Back to the retailer (in all our dealings with them about various faults not once did .......... ever answer e-mails from us) and was told to "get out of my yard" by the old owner (now deceased) who just dismissed everything as mis-use, abuse, neglect, anything rather than attempt to assist in finding the cause.
Consumer Affairs WA were involved from the start and negotiated the new tyre and shocks but wouldn't get involved any further when things didn't get better.
So we took action against the retailer through the small claims court to get new wheels and recompense for all the expence of finding what was wrong with the van.
......... paid up immediately but the retailer was still saying "we wouldn't have paid"!
Another incident was with the curtain lining material....holes all through them and obviously not the "moth eaten" cause as said by the retailer.
......... eventually sent us new replacements all bound up so tightly in a rubbish bag they had to be washed and ironed to get the wrinkles out before use.
Now that's the attitude shown throughout the van industry to their customers and unless others take the same sort of action as we did, it'll continue.
What an attitude to people who've bought 2 new RVs from the same manu and 3 in total from the same retailer!
Good luck with getting something done.
AlanH.

PS. Forgot to say that throughout all this the retailers service people tried hard but if it requires anything other than silicone or a bit of a touch up they can't do anything.

PPS. The new balanced wheels have cured the pelmets dropping off and other faults as well.
And I'm going to try to get something done through my local MP about smartening up things for us who happen to fall foul of the "couldn't careless get lost attitude" which seems to be rife amongst the RVMAA lot.
All our complaints are well documented with all e-mails etc kept as evidence.
AnswerID: 539160

Follow Up By: John and Regina M - Tuesday, Sep 16, 2014 at 15:08

Tuesday, Sep 16, 2014 at 15:08
You didn't mention dust.
So what has your post got to do with keeping dust out of a van?

0
FollowupID: 823781

Follow Up By: SosnSandi - Tuesday, Sep 16, 2014 at 15:30

Tuesday, Sep 16, 2014 at 15:30
I'm feeling your pain Alan, we too purchased in WA, I'm guessing from the same retailer. We have been having problems getting other problems sorted through them as well. A week after we purchased our camper my parents bought off them too...and had problems when they received their van, you would think they would be more helpful when a family spends that kind of money... But apparently not.

Thanks for the info.
0
FollowupID: 823784

Follow Up By: ian.g - Tuesday, Sep 16, 2014 at 15:34

Tuesday, Sep 16, 2014 at 15:34
John & Regina M If it had all those problems I can bet it also had dust problems.
1
FollowupID: 823786

Follow Up By: AlanTH - Tuesday, Sep 16, 2014 at 17:50

Tuesday, Sep 16, 2014 at 17:50
Bit of dust too but not much as the Cook has sealed all openings except the fridge where a bit comes in underneath.
My post was really to point out the attitude of "we've got yer money eff off" of these people.
I've had a warning letter from the retailers solicitor but as it's all documented it's only the truth so I'm not bothered.
I'm quite happy to go to court and tell our story.
The new wheels have cured the problems ....tyre wear and bits falling off etc. and we're now reasonably happy with the van.
But what an attitude from both the retailer (over a 100K spent) and the maker (approx 65K) to people who've spent over a 100 grand in total with them.
Do you think that's acceptable? Did you see the TDT the other week with the people who'd bought large Oz built motor homes? Totally ignored by the maker apparently.
This slap dash building of expensive rec equipment would never be allowed if it were a car, so why should these bleep s get away with it?

What about a helpful attitude of assistance after we've spent our money instead of "get out of my yard" which is what we got?
Have you tried Consumer Affairs WA SonsandSandi? If people don't get stuck into them they'll keep doing it.
Good luck.
AlanH.
0
FollowupID: 823792

Reply By: Villatranquilla - Tuesday, Sep 16, 2014 at 15:40

Tuesday, Sep 16, 2014 at 15:40
Have a look under the van at the places that pipework/hoses etc go through the floor. Often a large hole is cut for a significantly smaller hose and the space not filled. We have used expander foam (don't use too much though) Have also siliconed around the wheel arches from underneath. Have also covered the fridge vents when on dirt roads (we don't run the fridge at all when travelling) and any other vents as well. We have found the rear window benefits from taping along the bottom edge if doing dirt for more than 10 k's.
It is very disappointing with an 'off road' van that this is all necessary and not done during manufacturing stage.
AnswerID: 539173

Reply By: Member - Oldbaz. NSW. - Tuesday, Sep 16, 2014 at 15:51

Tuesday, Sep 16, 2014 at 15:51
I don't think you should need to take any extra measures to keep dust out of a new van, especially one sold as an "Offroad" model. This is obviously a design/sealing issue
& I would be whingeing loud & long . I take no action to keep dust out of our old van,
other than a beer carton in the rear door vent, & it lets none in...over thousands of
dirt road kms..not a mere 80 km. I would put the hose over it thoroughly as it will
likely leak as well. Don't be fobbed off..take it on dirt again & get photos. Ask for
written responses to your complaints & tell the dealer/manufacturer you intend to
pursue all legal options for repair or compensation. This van appears to be unsuitable
for its designated use & you don't have to accept that.
Good luck with it..cheers....oldbaz.
AnswerID: 539174

Follow Up By: Member - johnat - Tuesday, Sep 16, 2014 at 18:21

Tuesday, Sep 16, 2014 at 18:21
True, all that! BUT you don't have to be confrontationa;l, just polite.
0
FollowupID: 823794

Follow Up By: AlanTH - Wednesday, Sep 17, 2014 at 09:20

Wednesday, Sep 17, 2014 at 09:20
Politeness and having spent over a 100K never got us anywhere.....but not all dealers and makers are the same. There's an awful lot of badly put together vans out there where "industry standards" mean whatever you can get away with under that pretty outer skin.
Good luck to the OP.
AlanH.
0
FollowupID: 823808

Reply By: Member - johnat - Tuesday, Sep 16, 2014 at 18:58

Tuesday, Sep 16, 2014 at 18:58
I have a Storm RL (which is Reverse Layout) off-road. Just back from a trip to the Pilliga Pottery camp, over 10km of dirt each way from the Newell Highway (wonderful place to visit, by the way!) and no dust inside. We have done nothing respect to blocking vents etc EXCEPT inserting no more gaps into the penetration of the floor for the gas line to the cooktop. And we only discovered that after we'd returned from a trip to Alice, Kings Canyon, Uluru and Kata Tjuta and back - much of it over dirt (we went via Ernest Giles Track and around the Mereenie Loop) and found a tiny amount of dust in the bottom of the cupboard under the cooker. plugged that and no problems since!
AnswerID: 539185

Reply By: Member - Teago - Wednesday, Sep 17, 2014 at 11:45

Wednesday, Sep 17, 2014 at 11:45
Hi I reckon pressure hatches are a waste of time . All you need to do is slow down or have a vehicle coming in the opposite direction kicking up dust and you will cop it inside.
Make sure all the bedding is tucked in and the camper closed correctly . I made up canvas pieces and stictched on velcro and on the van used stick on velcro added by the odd self tapper to make sure it sticks over the vents and no Problem. Regards Mike 1233
AnswerID: 539209

Sponsored Links