Caravan servicing...Dealer or mobile

[rich the stag]

Hi

My caravan is due for a yearly service.Can anybody tell me whats the best option.A local dealer or a good caravan engineer that comes out to you.

Any thoughts please.

Regards

Richard

 

[caravanoracle]

a personal preference i think, as long as you are not tied into any warranties. obviously there are good and bad dealers along with mobile engineers. there are certainly more guarantees with a workshop, and more chance of any repairs needed being done at the same time. just make sure whoever is doing it comes highly reccomended is properly qualified especaially regarding gas, and completes a proper damp test.

 

[Guest]

I don't think that there is much doubt that 'servicing' is one of *the* biggest rip-off's on the UK caravan scene.

Dealers love 'servicing' - it's money for old rope, and a guaranteed source of revenue from customers who have to keep their warranties valid.

Which is where German caravans excel.

They don't require a 'service' (in fact, in Germany the 'full service' is unknown) All they care about (and all that most UK owners care about) is a damp check.

Thus, it's possible to have a simple annual damp test carried out, and the warranty remains perfectly valid. As for the rest of the rubbish - a caravan travels a few hounded miles each year - does it *really* need an annual service on the brakes, hubs, coupling, etc?

Of course not! - the dealers just need to make money, and by tying in the damp check to a 'full service' they ensure they get it.

Similarly, caravan appliances run for only a few hours each year - do you *really* need to pay some grubby little dealer to tell you that your fridge isn't leaking gas?.... of course not, it's just another revenue stream for these piranhas to nourish themselves from.

All that matters is an annual damp test - and if you have a German van that's *all* you need pay for.

UK caravan owners on the other hand, had better get their wallets out - the industry is in trouble and they need you to help keep their profits up....

 

[Dustydog]

Hi Selwyn,

In part you ae probably right but what about things like water filters , gas leak checks , wiring earth continuity checks, greasing the chassis nipples etc?

Damp check as you say is very important.

Personally I use my dealer, buyt only because I know them well and have been well looked after over the years.

The chap who does our tow bar also services caravans and I would be happy to use him too.

Cheers

Alan

 

[Stephen_374341239]

I don't think that there is much doubt that 'servicing' is one of *the* biggest rip-off's on the UK caravan scene.

Dealers love 'servicing' - it's money for old rope, and a guaranteed source of revenue from customers who have to keep their warranties valid.

Which is where German caravans excel.

They don't require a 'service' (in fact, in Germany the 'full service' is unknown) All they care about (and all that most UK owners care about) is a damp check.

Thus, it's possible to have a simple annual damp test carried out, and the warranty remains perfectly valid. As for the rest of the rubbish - a caravan travels a few hounded miles each year - does it *really* need an annual service on the brakes, hubs, coupling, etc?

Of course not! - the dealers just need to make money, and by tying in the damp check to a 'full service' they ensure they get it.

Similarly, caravan appliances run for only a few hours each year - do you *really* need to pay some grubby little dealer to tell you that your fridge isn't leaking gas?.... of course not, it's just another revenue stream for these piranhas to nourish themselves from.

All that matters is an annual damp test - and if you have a German van that's *all* you need pay for.

UK caravan owners on the other hand, had better get their wallets out - the industry is in trouble and they need you to help keep their profits up....

Some very very good points there. Which I ha not thought of.