Caravan Servicing Why Bother?

Todays video I share my thoughts on Caravan Servicing and Ask the Question Why Bother? Please note this my opinion alone.
caravancleanernw.co.uk/
Thanks Phil

[@stevep.8706]

Thanks Phil for another useful video. I must have an annual service to maintain the warranty on my caravan but, I would have it done anyway regardless. I've used an independant AWS service engineer for the past four years. The first two services were by the dealership I bought my caravan from. After the second service I found damage to the alloy wheels caused when they removed and refitted the wheel bolts. My Tyre Pal tyre pressure monitoring valve caps were removed with pliers which tore the protective rubber boots despite me leaving the removal tool out for them to use. To cap it all they left all the electrics on in the caravan and just pulled the EHU. When we next used the caravan the heating was on high, all the lights were on and the electric hob was on full with the glass lid down which could easily have started a fire if we hadn't realised in time. Absolutely disgraceful service! The guy I use now is brilliant and incredibly thorough. He actually found that hitch and axle bolts hadn't been torqued up properly in the factory or subsequently checked by the dealership, a common thing apararently. I've had to replace the tyres this time despite them being less than half worn and two years of COVID restricting my caravan use, because they were seven years old. We're off to France in a couple of days for our holiday in Brittany that was first booked in 2019 but cancelled twice due to C19. Just can't wait to get over there now. I hope you thoroughly enjoy your holiday too.

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Steve. I am sorry you had such a bad experience with your Dealer. I have heard horror stories like yours before. I always found that they didn't drain down the van after testing it. I would have made they replace the tyre pal system. We are having out tyres down soon. I hope you have a wonderful time in France. Looking forward to picking up a few bottle of red wine. Not long now before we go. We have 10 days in Wales first which I am also looking forward to. Take care and have a safe trip. Phil🙂👍

[@meandmygirl667]

Another great video. I feel that its worth having the van serviced each year, gives you piece of mind that everything is in good working order. Our van is 11 years old now first 3 services completed by the dealer we purchased from since then we have used 3 different AWS mobile engineers. Each to their own I say. I know the price before I agree to have the job done. I feel its good value and something I am happy to pay for. Thanks for taking the time to put this video together.

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Mark. Yes Like you I feel a service is peace of mind. It also helps should make an insurance claim too. Ours is back in next week to have the squealing brakes shoes replaced. They have squealed since new. Alko refused to replace under warranty. There will be a video on this as I feel its another important safety topic. Thanks Phil👍🙂

[@Saxonx500]

Make sure whoever does a service is an NCC AWS certified technician....I paid full cost and found they weren't certified! NCC membership is one thing....the approved workshop is another

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi I would recommend NCC Engineers if your Caravan is under warranty but not so if out of warranty. If you can find a Good Engineer its much better just like finding a trustworthy Mechanic. Thanks Phil👍🙂

[@colinrimmer789]

Some very valid points raised there Phil 👍

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Thanks Colin. I clean vans with 3 warranty services and then nothing. Thanks Phil👍🙂

[@paulandsarahcaravanlife]

Great video. Well worth doing the service every year I think. Ours is due couple months. We use a approved caravan service engineer and wouldn't use anyone else just have to fit in with him as he is very popular. Thanks for sharing Phil. Have a great time in France 🇫🇷 😀 Cheers Paul

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Paul. Yes we have it serviced every year. I have noticed when Valeting caravan that most folk stop having it serviced once the warranty runs out. Thanks Phil👍🙂

[@philldownes8685]

every year is way way over the top. ..... 2 or 3 years between services is fine, every year is just a waste of money unless going on continental trips.

[@lensmanonline]

Hi Phil and Juliet hope you are well, great video and very informative, I think it's essential to get the caravan serviced (ours is going in next week) for all the points you raised and if it was new then it needs servicing to keep the warranty. Not sure if this is correct by Swift doesn't recognise independent caravan workshops, or so our dealer said, so the warranty wouldn't be valid. One good reason for a service, is hopefully potentially expensive repairs will be spotted before they become expensive repairs. Best wishes stay safe Jon and Karen.

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Jon & Karen. We are ok just worried about Ian. Yes I have that from Dealers to I am guessing that is to encourage you to book a service with them. I think they would loose in court though. It would depend on the terms and conditions when you signed for it. Thanks for watching Phil👍🙂

[@garydavis1528]

For safety you get it serviced plus you have a 10 year body warranty so that is lost if you fail to carry out an annual service with a qualified approved service centre.

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Yep you are quite correct Gary. Not sure about the water ingress side of it though. I think I need to do some research. Thanks Phil:)

[@garydavis1528]

@@lostweekendscaravan Water ingress is part of the 10 year body warranty provided failure to service correct, none approved service engineers, hasn’t lost that.

[@robswiseways5697]

I agree about the importance of having the caravan serviced Phil. Looks a thorough job 👍but I’m going to stick with the dealer until the 10 year water ingress warranty runs out. Cheers Rob

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Rob. Thanks for watching. Sadly I was not that thrilled the last time the dealer Serviced it. If the Engineer is workshop approved it is still cover under the warranty, Thanks Phil.🙂👍

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Mike Who Did mine, is replacing my very squeaky brake shoes next week. They have stopped squealing from New. Alko refuse to replace under warranty even though they knew they were crap. Oh well rant over. Enjoy your summer. Phil👍🙂

[@philldownes8685]

@@lostweekendscaravan you should get yourself a big bar and carry a couple of spare axle nuts.. if ever you get a hub problem ion the road youl have a job finding someone who can take off the hub let alone put it back on witha new nut......

[@johnbraithwaite2462]

Hi, I do agree that keeping one's caravan serviced to keep it in best possible condition, however the cost of having it done is a real bug bear to us, seeing its a condition of the warranty, they have you by the short and curlies, currently there are far more caravan and motorhomes out there and they still feel the need to charge more. This is just like council tax, more houses being built and they still have to put up the cost of it, and currently everyone is feeling the pinch of costs of everything, the constant increase in anything is a real slap in the face of owners. One of the comment I read says that having caravan serviced finds problems or faults before they become major, I disagree, when we last took our caravan in for service, we told them one of the heiki roof lights was leaking water, when we went to collect they had not found this saying it had not showed up on check and running water on to try to find it, fortunately for us we collected it on a day it was pouring down with rain, the leak was visible then. We have had this now fixed under warranty, it took 6 months though. We are seriously thinking of finding a service that is much cheaper.

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi John I could not agree with you anymore about this. They do have us over a barrel. They regulate themselves so they make up the rules as they go along. I am glad you got your van fixed. The last Dealer Service I had to point out the strapping on the roof had shrunk and need replacing. They don't check the roof at a service. Many Thanks for your valid point. Thanks Phil👍🙂

[@justinmorgan8128]

I think most responsible caravan owners will have their van serviced every year, however with the ever increasing costs of every day items I can see many skipping their annual service especially those that are out of warranty. We use an approved workshop mobile engineer and although he is much cheaper than the dealer we bought the van from, I can still have a major service done on our towing vehicle for less than a service on the van.

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Justin. What very good point. Servicing may get skipped with the cost of living rise. Yes I think my car service was around the same price and they replace the oil and filters etc. Its costing even more money soon to have the squealing alko brake shoes replaced before they ruin the drums. It does worry me as I speak to some owners within my job who not had their serviced in years. Thanks for your valid point point. Phil👍🙂

[@lesbrewster2375]

It has always amazed me that the fridge has to be serviced separately, I wonder how many are serviced during the vans lifetime

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Les, Yes I have always wondered why the Fridge is never checked. I know mine has been service in the 4 years I have owned mine from new. Thanks Phil👍🙂

[@thomascatford2627]

Servicing a fridge is not part of a service, checking its operation is, its a separate job if required.

[@philldownes8685]

unless your mechanically minder and have a decent general knowledge of how gas and electricity works you need to get the caravan serviced every 2 or 3 years.. once a year is way over kill unless your someone who puts a lot of miles on their van......... TYRES are your biggest concern after gas fumes... 5 or 6 years especially on 4 wheeled caravans they need to be changed regardless of tread condition, if you have a single axle then the tyres are more than likely heavy duty commercial tyres of 6 or 8 ply ratings and then can be good up to a maximum of 10 years, but you must check the sidewalls for any tiny cracks or splits and the inbetween the treads.. tyres rot, erspecially if on grass and in sunlight. NEVER just assume the tyre treads are good so the tyres are good. ive had what looked like new tyres blow out twice now and luckily i had a twin wheekl at the time or would of probbaly turnedthe van over or caused a bad accident..... TYRES are extrely important and for the sake of 50 quid a tyre you could lose your van.. check the byear of yoru tyres its 4 digits on the sidewall first 2 digits is the weeks 2nd 2 digits the year..... do not presume your 2021 caravan has 2021 tyres on it. manufacturers of caravans often buy in 20 trailer chaissis at a time and can sit outside the factor yfor 2 years before even going inside for the caravan body to go on.... so check the dates...

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Phil. I do agree. You do need some mechanical idea. The book does help with minor repairs etc. What you say about tyres is 100% right. I did a video on tyres a while back. We bought a new 2018 van with 2017 tyres on it. I tend to go for tyres with reinforce side walls. But even this is no guarantee. In my previous job I dealt with a couple of caravan incidents and one was a blown tyre and it wasn't very nice. Thank for such a great comment. Phil🙂👍

[@tofty21]

Are there any benefits for getting a service done by a main dealer?

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi. In answer to your question. If your Caravan is under warranty then I would recommend getting the Dealer to Service it as they can fix faults more quickly. If it not then you can get it serviced elsewhere. It recommended that you have a qualified approved Caravan Engineer (Approved Workshop Scheme). There are also none approved as well. Dealers are more expensive and the cost goes down the less approved they are. I hope this helps. Thanks Phil🙂👍

[@tofty21]

@@lostweekendscaravan thanks for your reply. We have a 2010 lunar clubman and had it two years now. Not a new van but I’ve had it serviced annually by a mobile guy. I’m not convinced about the quality of service if I’m honest. He didn’t pick up a damp spot on both services. I found it due to discolouration and softened wood. I’m wondering whether I should get the next one done at Golden Castle our main dealers. I know they’d be more expensive but it would give me peace of mind. Although having watched both you and Dan Trugeon, you seem to be ok with mobile guys.

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi You can get someone who is good and there are some bad ones. It's the same with anything these days. A Dealer would find the damp and may offer a solution to it. Just be prepared if it worse than you thought. Good luck and hope you get it resolved. Thanks Phil. @@tofty21

[@gavinstreetie1473]

Great idea servicing,what do you think Mots around the corner?? That would force minimum standards of maintenance? I wonder with the amount of caravans on the road , will people be so keen at the dealers at £300 a time ?? Ooooo yea cured the light problem! The pie munchers

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Gav. Some for of Legal requirement is needed I feel, it may force Manufacturers up their game too. Thanks The Chorley Cake Kid.👍🙂

[@colinrimmer789]

Studies have been conducted with regards to trailer safety, Caravans are way out in front. To many the caravan is their pride and joy with lots of money invested so kept in tip top condition. The bad boys are “tip run” trailers and many commercial trailers carrying plant machinery, small road rollers etc. Defective lighting, damaged wires and tyres that haven’t seen a pressure gauge in years. Next time your out and about take a look it won’t be long until you see one.

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Colin. I see knackered trailers and Caravans everyday. I treat my trailer just like my Car and caravan.👍🙂

[@pcat1378]

They are self regulated and write their own rules including servicing....despite a caravan service not actually servicing anything, if you actually look its just checking things, of which you can do.

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi. Yes they do self regulate but its a catch 22 as they link it to warranties. Yes you can do most things but I feel the Gas & Electric do need checking by a third party mainly for Insurance reasons. Thanks Phil👍🙂

[@pcat1378]

@@lostweekendscaravan Warranties that they control. Did you know that only 1 single engineer in an entire dealership needs to be trained to the standard and then any engineer in that dealer can service your van and pass it!! You will never get a gas pass on a caravan because its nigh on impossible due to the length of the pipework....ie its so short....we were taught that on the gas engineers course I passed. A self regulated system simply does not work

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Thats probably very true. The Guy who did mine worked for a local Dealership and was qualified. I understand re the gas that makes perfect sense. 👍

[@paulsewell3380]

@@pcat1378 hi this is not true Approved workshops states that 50% of the workshop has to be qualified. And this does get checked on our yearly audits. So I hold all the qualifications in my workshop and the person who works with me does not and we work as a team.until they have passed all their courses.If I take on another person who is unqualified then they will not be covered. But if I take on another with all the qualifications then I can take on another unqualified person for training.

[@pcat1378]

@@paulsewell3380 Nah that does not happen in all workshops.....a self regulated system will screw the customer as we repeatedly see by dealers and UK manufacturers. Its all about ripping off the customer