Caravan MOT`s

[MarkG.]

I think all caravans should undergo a compulsory yearly MOT. Some of the heaps you see on campsites are probably not roadworthy. Bald tyres, poor lighting and dodgy brake systems !

Worthwhile comments only please, not hysterical ramblings.

 

[rayc]

Who is going to carry them out? Caravan dealers cannot even service the vans they sell let alone undertake the thousands of MOT's required. One thing for sure though is they would be a money spinner for them with the public being the mugs once again.

It may open up the competition to allow garages to undertake the servicing and tests of running gear, assuming the likes of Alko would release the spares to them.

Are you sure the vans you see have been towed to site. There are lots that are stored at the sites and brought out when required.

 

[colin(bridgend)]

I agree with you in principle but how would this be undertaken in practice? Would the proposed MOT just cover roadworthyness or would it be extended to cover fittings such as cookers, fridges, etc. so that any future purchaser would have some benefit regarding knowing that they have been examined within the last 12 months? Should it be a comprehensive testing of the van the examiner would be required to be gas trained and registered by CORGI as well as a competant motor mechanic.

It would however take a lot of the dangerous vans off the road, not necessary older vans as some, like classic cars, are in excellent condition and probably better than when first built.

 

[Viking1]

Mark G.

This as been put up before a lot of use thick it would be a nether money make thing for the dealer with a lot of the things in the caravan market be over priced.

Mark

 

[cris_408518]

You do have to ensure that what you tow is legal and roadworthy. Again a little vigilance by Mr Plod re what is being towed and how its towed could be time better spent father than sat on the end of a speed gun. 75 on M way against bald tyres on a van or one that is falling to bits without proper braking.

Both illegal but generally people get away with towing illegaly and dangerous towing practice until an accident happens.

I wouldn't want to see people on limited budgets driven off campsites with another Government dictate. A few Public interest films on BBC and ITV re towing safety and a little more vigilance by the police rather than another money spinner.

 

[grahamr_5041507]

Lets hope this idea never surfaces..it'd put me of towing. To be viable in addition to the required facilities others have mentioned, you'd need to prove that poor condition vans had contributed to accidents.

Also can you imagine picking up the van from storage, towing it to a dealing or garage, hanging about the takiing it back - you'd have to have a day off work!

 

[Surfer]

Perhaps there should be something similar to a MOT when a caravan changes hands, and not a yearly one.

 

[RogerL]

In Germany, caravans which meet certain criteria including an annual Mot-type test are allowed to be towed faster at higher ratios than those that don't, including visitors.

Whilst the cost of such a scheme at local authority testing stations (not dealers, please!) would be an extra cost for most of us it would be worth while just to stop Jeremy Clarkson going on!

 

[rayc]

Perhaps there should be something similar to a MOT when a caravan changes hands, and not a yearly one.

Why should a van changing hands at say 1 year old be any less safe than one owned by the same person for years? If the prospective buyer of a van being sold privately has concerns there are plenty of mobile service people who will check the van for a small fee. If you buy from a dealer he is certifying it is road worthy unless he states the defects and then must sell as spares or repair - an MOT certificate wouldn't make any difference.

 

[rob_jax]

And not just Germany, most of Northern Europe has a caravan registration requirement with the local equivalent of DVLC.

So in Holland and Germany, two countries that I'm very familiar with, when you buy a new caravan it is registered as a vehicle and the van is given it's very own number plate. This may upset the CRIS people in the UK as most of their function would be taken over by the DVLC.

The cost of the annual inspection in Holland is around the same price as the UK MOT test - the car test is rather more expensive in Holland - and is performed by an independent test station.

But I guess it's all about the balance of rights and responsibilities; people want the right to do what they want, but a very few don't want to accept their responsibilities.

If you can't afford to keep your caravan in roadworthy condition, and by implication the tow-car as well, why should you have the right to drive it on the roads?

Robert

 

[MarkG.]

So roughly 50% of you agree with my MOT proposal. To the other 50% , how would you you feel if a acciodent occured and caused a death because the brakes had failed!!

Any vehicle that travels at speed on a road should be fit to do so and therefore should be safe.

You all seem to be more worried about the costs involved than lives !!!!

The MOT could be part of the annual service, which would then be compulsory. Services at the moment are totally voluntary.

 

[trucker]

here here Mark G

 

[Geordie]

I take it you only worry about caravans that dont measure up to your idea of what a good looking roadworthy caravan should be. Why stop with caravans ? what about all the builders trailers, camping trailers, car transporters, and just about every thing on wheels thats towed on the highway. Then when that project is complete you can start on every car fitted with a tow-bar and haul it in to a techie station just to check it, then start on all the light commercials, 4x4s, motorhomes etc etc . No I have got you all wrong, you are just a normal citizen going about your daily business, silly me, I thought you were serious for a moment. NOT!

 

[rayc]

Mark is very emotive. Just because people don't agree with his idea does not mean that they don't believe in servicing or in towing dangerous caravans. What is for sure is that most of us have reservations about the caravan industry carrying it out. Why should servicing (I presume by an approved dealer) be compulsory? They cannot cope now with servicing the vans they sell.

The reason I would support an MOT is because hopefully it would open up running gear servicing to the garage trade. There would be squealing from the caraven dealers and I am sure protectionist measures taken by BPW and Alko.

There are very few caravans involved in accidents and I suspect a fraction of these are down to poor maintainance or being unroadworthy.

 

[MarkG.]

I take it you only worry about caravans that dont measure up to your idea of what a good looking roadworthy caravan should be. Why stop with caravans ? what about all the builders trailers, camping trailers, car transporters, and just about every thing on wheels thats towed on the highway. Then when that project is complete you can start on every car fitted with a tow-bar and haul it in to a techie station just to check it, then start on all the light commercials, 4x4s, motorhomes etc etc . No I have got you all wrong, you are just a normal citizen going about your daily business, silly me, I thought you were serious for a moment. NOT!

If you read my post correctly I said ANY vehicle !!!

 

[MarkG.]

I take it you only worry about caravans that dont measure up to your idea of what a good looking roadworthy caravan should be. Why stop with caravans ? what about all the builders trailers, camping trailers, car transporters, and just about every thing on wheels thats towed on the highway. Then when that project is complete you can start on every car fitted with a tow-bar and haul it in to a techie station just to check it, then start on all the light commercials, 4x4s, motorhomes etc etc . No I have got you all wrong, you are just a normal citizen going about your daily business, silly me, I thought you were serious for a moment. NOT!

Even the Pram you have just fallen out of ....

 

[cris_408518]

Many young people and people with young families tow caravans and trailers tents as they have a low tight budget. All surely know they do not have to MOT tow vehicle but they do legally have to have it roadworthy and those that don't would probably tow without an MOT anyway!

It seems that you that bleat "I'm prepared to pay" assume that anything that looks a bit tatty is illegal.

If all these caravans are such a danger and as they only have basic mechanicals why not a free MOT if it such a concern and HM Gov are really worried abou the safety aspect!

I gather that plenty on this site drive older cars, surely they should be off the road if they are not prepared to pay for the latest safety advances I'm not serious, but get the idea.

As you don't have to have your cooker or fridge at home tested annually why should anything other than the basic running gear on a caravan and body work need checking.

Quite frankly if you are not able to check over a caravans running gear and adjust braking and judge that the simple chassis and bodywork is safe to go on the road, I doubt that you are safe to tow and capable of coping with changing a wheel.

 

[trucker]

Look here clever clogs, I might not able to check the running gear, or the breaking of my van but I can change a wheel and I am safe to tow. I leave my servicing to the so called experts and pay for the privlidge.

Prahaps if more people did that rather than try themselves becauce of silly comments we'd all be safer.

 

[Pete4]

"pay for the privlidge" Apart from your spelling mistake (as it seems the usual to pick each other ip on this now), you've hit it on thehead mate.

Some can't afford to have this done, some don't have the very latest 'van. Some have a 'van because it's the only way they can have holidays.

At the end of the day, a 'van is a breaked trailer. It needs to follow the car and assist in breaking. That's it. Don't think that the 'vans are anything more special.

 

[trucker]

Pete, I have not got the latest van and for your information its the only way that I can afford to have as many holidays that I do

As for me spelling I at least press the right key!

 

[cris_408518]

Kevin, that is your choice but if you are capable of changing a wheel safely. You are capable of checking your running gear.

As many vans are only used a few times a year, how many would assume that because the van was OK and serviced this week that by the summer the running gear and braking were still fine.

Sadly I still see plenty of newish vans towed by quality cars badly loaded and with car roof racks with the gear flapping around or with bike racks floating about between van and car.

What is needed is a little more action from the police.

 

[trucker]

I totaly agree with your last comment. Last March I picked up my caravan after its service and was driving home minding my own business when this police bike pulled up alongside and pointed me to turn off at the next juction. He then told me to follow him.

I did this and ended up at a caravan check point. They were checking the roadworthyness of caravans . Mine was ok however id changed my car 3 week before and had the wrong nuberplate on the van. After a bit of checking and me with a red face I was able to go on my way. I think more of this should be done. It might catch some caravan thieves as well

 

[Pete4]

type on numberplate. I just thought, as you have kind enough to point my spelling out that I should recpricate.

 

[trucker]

hang on Pete you started on me re spelling not the other way around. Prahaps we should call a truse as I cant spell to save my life!

 

[CliveV]

It gets worse!