Any new van with prolems.....

[grahamr_5041507]

I just want my 2006 van to do what it says on the tin and i know I'm not the first on here to report early faults - but maybe letting off steam will help.

Firstly i have never been able to solve 'spattering cold water taps' caused by the rediculous water filter letting air into the water system. I've tried PFT tape and now sealed it with bathroon sealant to no avail. In my view a design fault.

Now the electric water heater is not working - light comes on, no hot water? Any ideas? Yes its under warranty but the vans40 miles from the dealer and i'd rather fix it that take it back!

Also the caravan end electrics are on the blink (tested not the car) so as well as putting us in danger last weekend, its now a another DIY job before easter. Why cant they get light sockets to work? Its 2007?!!!!!

Also sliding bathroom door could never work properly as the runners are too big for the door - a nigle but i can live with it.

I want a working van NOT a constant DIY project thats why i paid 15k for new one!!!

Salt in the wounds my dads just bought a brand new Vauxhall car for 4.5k!! Far more working parts, less than a third of the cost and it all works.

Type of van think film Space Ody.....

 

[thehoods]

Hi Graham.

If I had paid 15k for a caravan I wouldn't care if the dealer was 100 miles, I would drop it off and I wouldn't pick it up until everything was put right. Take it back, as you say it's still under warranty. Why should you have the hassle of putting it right.

Phil.

 

[vernon]

I understand what Graham means, my dealer is 160 miles away, so it's easier to do a bit of DIY rather than make possibly two trips every time to get things fixed, and miss using the caravan for weeks on end.

The present situation, that only the supplying agent can do warranty work, (I have this in an email from Avondale), allows Manufacturers to get away with not having to foot the bill for a lot of their bad workmanship.

It's about time that the "Powers to be" got their act together and made the caravan manufacturers come into line with the car manufactuers regarding warranty work, the same as they did with Continemtal car imports.

Over the past year I've had to fix a collapsed shelf, sticking Remi sliding roof light, loose wire in a 230V socket, knob falling out of the omnivent, broken fridge latch, a loose waste pipe, and send the CD player back (twice) to the radio manufacturer for repair, all on a new

 

[emmerson2]

Vernon/Graham, I'm afraid the van would be on the dealers forecourt with a great big sign on it telling people why! I haven't done that much work on either of my vans, and one is 34 years old, the other 28! But they are Royales: quality will out!

 

[emmerson2]

PS. No damp either!

 

[LMH]

Vernon/Graham, I'm afraid the van would be on the dealers forecourt with a great big sign on it telling people why! I haven't done that much work on either of my vans, and one is 34 years old, the other 28! But they are Royales: quality will out!

And I hope you put the kettle on in Penrith!

Lisa x

 

[vernon]

emmerson,

I agree in a perfect world, I would have done what said. But to tow the caravan 340 miles just to have a fridge catch replaced which would probably break again - (my fix hasn't).

The faults appeared one at a time, some occured during a two months holiday in France, and by the time I had fixed them, I doubt if the dealer could have done anything better. I notified them of the problems - but did not get any response.

I have caravaned for 36 years, and this is my first new caravan, (actually only my fourth in that time!), so you can see I am accustomed to fixing things as they happen rather than let it ruin my holiday. Years ago faults occured and I asccepted them as part of owning a caravan, I did my own servicing and repairs and still carry a tool kit developed over the years.

My main gripe is why caravan manufactuers can't insist on their caravans having warranty work done at any of their agents, what happens if something fails on holiday and your dealer is the other end of the country? Manufacturers obviously don't pay the agents enough for warranty work.

What is the point of major dealers exhibiting at the shows if you have to travel the length of the country back to them to get anything repaired?

 

[emmerson2]

And I hope you put the kettle on in Penrith!

Lisa x

Kettles is Anne's department, I open bottles! Either way, I hope you'll join us.

 

[emmerson2]

Vernon, the whole subject of new caravan quality appears to be a minefield, which is one of the reasons why I keep my old ones. I fully agree with your remarks about warranty repairs, though. What is the difference between having a repair done by a dealer in Penzance and one in Edinburgh? They would all be paid at the sme factory rate! I must confess though, that my newest(?) Royale will need some attention to its window seals soon, to prevent any damp problems, but it's a job I will willingly do myself, because I wouldn't want to trust a modern dealer to work on my old Lady!

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Graham and all,

Please forgive me if I mistakenly have applied the wrong inference to your rant about your distance from the dealer.

First of all I quite agree that far too many manufacturing faults occur and they inconveniences caravan owners. Caravans are not high technology, and there really is reason why manufacturers could not radically improve product design to minimise the well recorded failures and manufacturing control to improve build quality.

Your analogy with the car industry is highly valid, and it demonstrates how far behind in terms of design and manufacturing the caravan industry really is.

However, it is all too common for some caravans having faults that will require the attention of a dealer to rectify them. With that understanding it is frequently a false economy to search out the best deal on a caravan purchase if it means having to travel a distance to get to the dealer. The savings on the purchase price can easily be wiped out by the costs of having to make journeys back to your supplier to have rectification work carried out.

The cost of service or accessing warranty repairs should be considered when deciding where to place your order.

Buy local, support local traders, and you may actually save money in the long run.

 

[grahamr_5041507]

John l - take your points on board, its a case of right van right availability. Also the dealer is near where i live which is not where the van is kept. It's implausible to keep the van near the dealer in case it goes wrong!!

I'm thinking of swopping for a camper at least then the van bit will work and can more easily be delivered back for repairs!!

I may wait until the service and give them a long list....

I love the feature layout of the van but am really disappointed that it just does doesn't do what it should.

Anyone know what happens with statics warranties - do they get onsite servicing for faults??