TOPAZ - looking for black plastic side panel

I read the other day about these panels falling off when someone was asking about T4 Topaz problems.
As I was doing about 60mph on the M5 the other day, my driver's side panel started to come away! The screws at the front end had come adrift - they'd clearly been rescrewed in before. Anyway, the front end obviously caught a gust of wind and the panel bent back around the middle and was flapping in the wind. I managed to stop on the hard shoulder and screw it back temporarily until the next exit where I could stop and do a better job. However, the panel now has a crack just above the window aperture and again just below it. Autosleepers tell me this panel is now obsolete and advise repairing the crack with araldite.
Does anyone out there know of a spare driver's side panel for sale?
I'd advise other ownews to check the 3 front fixing screws which fix into a wooden baton - I will definitely be adding a couple more screws when I refit the repaired/replacement panel as it's easy to drill a couple of new holes in the panel.

John

John
Sorry to hear of your side panel problem. It maybe difficult to source a replacment. The last of the T4 Topaz models were built 2003/2004 and I think they A/S starting making them around 1994. I've yet to find any caravan breakers holding motorhome specific parts, although a few do say they break motorhomes. However you would think that some motorhomes may sadly be involved in insurance 'write-offs' but I'm not sure where the graveyard is. You could try contacts like Oleary motorhomes to see if they couild advise.

Good luck
John

People do odd things, but it's hard to think of a circumstance in which someone would choose to have a spare panel in storage "just in case"! I'd be looking to find a written off Topaz at a breakers, though you may have to wait a while.

If you choose the repair option and there is space for filler behind the crack, I would seriously consider using black sikaflex/purflex or equivalent - it's an excellent flexible adhesive/filler and will match the black plastic better than araldite will.

Incidentally I just noticed (looking for something else) that the Caravan Club has a document on their website with the details of around 30 companies around the country that either provide spares or break camper vans/caravans. I can't post it here as it's in the Members download section.

Hi, although it's been a while since this thread was live I wish I had seen it. I removed the nearside panel on my Topaz to see where all the black gunge was coming from when washing it. It turned out to be the wood spacers behind the panel. I cleaned them up and refitted the panel but some of the screws were not getting a good grip. Travelling accross the A66 on a widy day has cured the problem, my panel is now probably somewhere around Leeds. Does anyone know of spare panels for sale or where I might find one. Thanks, Ken.

Lost my nearside black panel from my Topaz today somewhere along the A12 between Colchester and Ipswich. Reading all the above it seems unlikely I will be able to replace it.

Try cheltonham Laminates     tel....01452 713098


They made the bumpers for the monocoque`s also probably the side panels you are looking for.

Regards,
Margaret

I do not have this problem (yet), but what is behind these panels ?
I'm guessing that the panels are screwed to wooden strips, which are glued(?) to the original window glass ?

Windows

An alternative company worth asking is this one that makes caravan panels using your old one to make a mould...


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