Looking at an annual caravan service before we take to the road in spring. Cost seems to be about £160 +vat + parts for a mobile service here in Dorset. I see there is a Haynes manual as well as other publications on how to do it. Thing is, I service my own and wife's car (and both the childrens cars and Mother-in-laws cars!). I'm a retired aviation engineer on a fixed income and wouldn't dream of paying someone to look at the car. So how difficult can it be? Does anyone else service their own? I should add that I'm only talking about the chassis and electrics, not the gas appliances.
How difficult can it be.....
- Thread starter Grahamh
- Start date
I suppose the answer to your question is "warranty or no warranty". If your van is in it's warranty period, you have no choice.
Graham, I don't do an annual service, and never have. I simply look after the van all year round, and particularly check brake and bearing adjustment before our long Euro-jaunt every year. It helps that the van is never parked up for long periods.
Thanks for your f/back.
I got a quote from an approved service engineer for £150+vat+parts. It can't be any harder than the cars and I see there is a Haynes - is it any good?
I had it serviced previously for the warranty ( which, if I'm honest was not worth the paper it was written on). The van (Avondale Dart 2008) has been great since we bought it shortly after Avondale went to the wall. Had a couple of niggles which I fixed myself (after advice on here). Is the Haynes manual any good? I've built kit cars before and service/fix all the family cars. Did about 5/6 thousand miles this year in europe and uk and are planning similar this year. Where do you get the brake and axle spares?
I got a quote from an approved service engineer for £150+vat+parts. It can't be any harder than the cars and I see there is a Haynes - is it any good?
I had it serviced previously for the warranty ( which, if I'm honest was not worth the paper it was written on). The van (Avondale Dart 2008) has been great since we bought it shortly after Avondale went to the wall. Had a couple of niggles which I fixed myself (after advice on here). Is the Haynes manual any good? I've built kit cars before and service/fix all the family cars. Did about 5/6 thousand miles this year in europe and uk and are planning similar this year. Where do you get the brake and axle spares?
…….I have always serviced my own caravan.
I have just renewed the sealed for life wheel bearings and brake shoes on an Al-ko Euro Axle.
In my view there is only one place to obtain the parts you mention.
http://www.western-towing.co.uk/index.html
They provide excellent service.
I have just renewed the sealed for life wheel bearings and brake shoes on an Al-ko Euro Axle.
In my view there is only one place to obtain the parts you mention.
http://www.western-towing.co.uk/index.html
They provide excellent service.
Thanks very much for that Gafferbill. Did you change the bearings because they were worn or did you change them on a calendar/mileage basis?
…they were changed on a mileage basis on a 1995 Swift.
Al-ko gives the sealed bearing life as 100000kms and mine had done 84000kms.
There was no sign of any wear but one lubricant seal was weeping.
The original brake shoes were only half worn but replaced with new at the same time.
Al-ko gives the sealed bearing life as 100000kms and mine had done 84000kms.
There was no sign of any wear but one lubricant seal was weeping.
The original brake shoes were only half worn but replaced with new at the same time.
Gafferbill,that is some serious milage for a caravan.You must have recorded the milage from day one yeah?
I bought the Haynes caravan manual a couple of years ago but was very disappointed as it seems to discourage DIY servicing, probably in the interests of health and safety. The chapter on servicing is basically just a discussion of what to look for to find a good professional. It suggests that checking the brakes is not really on unless you can buy a special torque wrench, which costs approx £200. Most electrical and gas work is considered too risky. For example, one task I needed to do was to change an electric heating element in the Truma Ultrastore. Not covered in the book because "As with other gas operated appliances, servicing and repair work fall outside of DIY endeavour".
No, if you know your way around cars, there is nothing difficult about servicing a caravan, differences are small.
However, you should know every car is different and caravans are the same in that respect, it's knowing these little differences and how important that is to get things spot on and not just perhaps near enough!
My advice would be to pay a good mobile guy to service your van once, you can then watch him and make your own mind up 'how hard can it be'
Depending where in Dorset you are, a good guy to choose might be Nick at Total Caravan Care 07787 515608
However, you should know every car is different and caravans are the same in that respect, it's knowing these little differences and how important that is to get things spot on and not just perhaps near enough!
My advice would be to pay a good mobile guy to service your van once, you can then watch him and make your own mind up 'how hard can it be'
Depending where in Dorset you are, a good guy to choose might be Nick at Total Caravan Care 07787 515608
Seth and Trevor_NI
……I bought my caravan new and my wife has kept a caravan diary since day one.
In this is recorded everything that happens to the caravan.
Where it went, when, how far, what maintenance and so on…..
……I bought my caravan new and my wife has kept a caravan diary since day one.
In this is recorded everything that happens to the caravan.
Where it went, when, how far, what maintenance and so on…..
Servicing a caravan is not that difficult if you are technically minded. However, as a mobile engineer myself I would discorage any work on any appliance that has a gas supply and similarly any appliance running from 240volt. The essence of any service is knowing what to look for and knowing when things aren't working correctly, For example, I check the DC and/or current being pulled by the various electrical appliances when operating, this way I know whether the heating elements are working correctly. Also you should do gas leak tests annually and check the date on the gas hoses. Again its not sufficient to be able to check these things, it is essential that the results when checking are interpreted correctly. In any event work on gas systems should only ever be undertaken by an approved gas engineer. In respect of the brakes and running gear, again it is important to understand how the whole brake system operates. Its not just a case of adjusting the shoes at the hubs as an incorrect setting here may prevent the auto reverse mechanism operating or the hand brake working correctly. If you are happy to do certain checks yourself, then I am sure a mobile engineer would be happy to just do the gas side, or chassis work. Hope this helps. Paul
Thanks Paul.
No intention of servicing any gas appliances. Have a qual for inspecting electrical installations although only to 16th regs and I have a copy of the regs. I might have a look at the haynes to see if it gives torque settings etc. I may be wrong but is the axle standard build? ( the spares place seems to list various standard euro parts etc). Similarly the brake adjustments, handbrake setup etc must be standard for the axle on such a late model and hopefully in the book or available online. I tend to over service my cars so would prob do the same with the van - just before the first trip in spring and before our long europe trip. It has been serviced professionally up to now every year. Even so I renewed the awning rail seal on one side this year and took all 3 wheels to be balanced and checked. (I was surprised when I read that they are not routinely balanced and they were miles out).
Thanks Gary for the mobile engineer No. Will see if he is local to me.
Thanks again all for your views.
No intention of servicing any gas appliances. Have a qual for inspecting electrical installations although only to 16th regs and I have a copy of the regs. I might have a look at the haynes to see if it gives torque settings etc. I may be wrong but is the axle standard build? ( the spares place seems to list various standard euro parts etc). Similarly the brake adjustments, handbrake setup etc must be standard for the axle on such a late model and hopefully in the book or available online. I tend to over service my cars so would prob do the same with the van - just before the first trip in spring and before our long europe trip. It has been serviced professionally up to now every year. Even so I renewed the awning rail seal on one side this year and took all 3 wheels to be balanced and checked. (I was surprised when I read that they are not routinely balanced and they were miles out).
Thanks Gary for the mobile engineer No. Will see if he is local to me.
Thanks again all for your views.
Hi Graham
Damp is the cancer of all caravans. If you are going to do your own servicing I suggest you invest in a decent damp meter and make sure you know how and exactly where to take the readings.
Damp is the cancer of all caravans. If you are going to do your own servicing I suggest you invest in a decent damp meter and make sure you know how and exactly where to take the readings.
Received the copy of Haynes manual today(4th edition) and am quite impressed with it so far although havenet had chance to read it through yet. Quite looking forward to the job in the spring. It seems fairly comprehensive with topics on repairs etc. I might have a hunt for a damp meter. Anyone tried the radio type as opposed to the ones with probes?
Damian
Moderator
The only sure way to test for damp is with a good probe type damp meter, such as the Protimeter.
The ultrasonic type give a surface reading which if high then needs a probe type to confirm the presence of damp, so why use two when one will do.
The test for damp is within the wood behind the surface layer of the wallboards which are a foil laminate finish.
The ultrasonic type give a surface reading which if high then needs a probe type to confirm the presence of damp, so why use two when one will do.
The test for damp is within the wood behind the surface layer of the wallboards which are a foil laminate finish.
I take your point. Looking at the price it's obviously cheaper to pay for the test. Wonder if you could hire one?
Damian
Moderator
Quote "Looking at the price it's obviously cheaper to pay for the test"
You have just found the first hurdle to DIY servicing, the cost of decent test equipment.
You can get cheaper, BUT, you want accurate results or you will end up doing work which does not need doing.
When you factor in the costing of tools and equipment, for a once a year use it is prohibitive, plus you will have to pay top dollar for spares as you are not a trade user.
The other problem is that there are cheap imported spares available, but they are notoriuosly bad quality.
You have just found the first hurdle to DIY servicing, the cost of decent test equipment.
You can get cheaper, BUT, you want accurate results or you will end up doing work which does not need doing.
When you factor in the costing of tools and equipment, for a once a year use it is prohibitive, plus you will have to pay top dollar for spares as you are not a trade user.
The other problem is that there are cheap imported spares available, but they are notoriuosly bad quality.
The thing about meters is that buying the meter is only the start of it. It has to be regularly calibrated or it's of very limited use. Tools are not so bad as, without constant use the wear and tear is less so they last a long time. I'm fortunate in that I have access to torque wrenches. I looked at the cost of servicing(chassis) and it's not very difficult, spares are always extra anyway regardless. As I'm retired I'm time rich, cash poor, so it seems a good way to go for me to DIY. (£150 is 10 nights site fees in France) Cheap spares are always a judgement call. I know with cars 'pattern' parts are not a bad thing, but very cheap usually means just that.
I really appreciate all your helpful comments as I am new to the joys of caravanning. Should have done it years ago when the children were little
I really appreciate all your helpful comments as I am new to the joys of caravanning. Should have done it years ago when the children were little
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