mot, or not to mot

[Guest]

George,

You may be right, but my cynical mind tells me the Government always looks for revenue from whatever it does. I suspect anything to do with a leisure pursuit would have fees that somehow go into their pockets.

We would end up with a similar situation as with cars. You pay both the MOT and the service costs.

 

[Legsmaniac_374344731]

@John L - I see no reason why gas can't be a part of an MOT on caravans since it is still "fuel" and a dangerous one at that if not serviced. After all, any problems with fuel lines on a car would fail an MOT so why not on a caravan? Even a car without a petrol cap would fail an MOT. I also disagree with your statement "Trailers are by their nature have no road going motive power and are towed. A trailer MOT would not look at any fuel system as trailers have no motive power." Whilst they don't have any motive power of their own, they still travel at up to 60MPH on often crowded public highways so even a fuel leak (gas) could be dangerous.

@Scotch Lad - Whilst a trailer or caravan doesn't carry people, it's still a danger to people travelling on the highway, including the occupants of the towing vehicle if not properly maintained.

 

[Guest]

What I stated was that a caravan does not carry people therefore the checks will be different, not anything about it being unroadworthy as a consequence. The main cause of accidents with caravans is due to tyre failure, so to my mind that is the area of concentration. The reasons for the failure whether ignorance, lack of maintenance or whatever, is another matter.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Legsmaniac,

This whole thread is of course only hypothetical, but given the detail of what exists for current MOT regulations, one of the underlying features is the way they are written they only concern themselves with the details of vehicle construction related to transport, not payload use.

I cannot see Govt, making special provisions for gas systems in caravans as part of the MOT, It has nothing to do with the basis on which the MOT is constructed.

If non-motive power gas systems were included they would have to consider all other types of fuels and/or chemicals that can be carried on trailers.

 

[GeorgeB]

Commercial artic trailers & close coupled trailers if they have fuel systems to power the temperature controlled systems either diesel or LPG, these are NOT tested as part of their annual test so why do you consider that they should be for caravans? these systems do not affect the road worthyness of the trailer, but tyres, brakes, chassis integrity & lights do!

 

[Lutz]

The issue of checking the gas system has probably only been discussed here because I happened to mention that it is tested over here in Germany by the T

 

[paddy1]

The issue of checking the gas system has probably only been discussed here because I happened to mention that it is tested over here in Germany by the T

 

[Guest]

Gas systems have been used in caravans since the 1930's. Now I amsure someone will state I am wrong, but I do not recall a plague of accidents involving gas systems over the years, and those that did usually resulted either from damage, or somebody mucking about with it. It is a non moving system so if installed correctly should be safe for a very long time. Obviously, if you install a new piece of kit, or have something changed out then it should be checked for leaks. You are always told to use a Corgi fitter as they are qualified. Having seen leaks and explosions from gas mains in the street after they have ben renewed does make you wonder sometimes though. However they do have meters.

 

[Legsmaniac_374344731]

It tickles me to read how many of you think the gas system of a caravan wouldn't be a part of an MOT test. Since it's not law (yet) none of us know what would be included in an MOT on a caravan so how can you say it'll never be a part of the test?

Some of you are also saying that MOT testers would only be concerned with roadworthiness aspects of a caravan. How can you possibly know what would be included or not? It's not just "roadworthiness" tests for a car so why shouldn't it be the same for a caravan? As posted earlier, a car will fail an MOT if it didn't have a fuel cap. Driving without a fuel cap doesn't make a car unroadworthy now, does it?

I think we could go on debating and guessing all day but we just don't know what would and wouldn't be included if ever it became law to have MOT on caravans. But what some of us are saying is that if it ever DID become law (and we think it should) that things like the gas system SHOULD be a part of it.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Legs,

I quite agree that we don't know what a trailer MOT might entail, but for a number of reasons that I can think off and have already expounded, it is highly unlikely that the gas system in a caravan would be specifically included.

An MOT would only work if the trailer is separately registered in the same way that cars are. This would also raise the spectre of VED for trailers. It may also make trailer insurance compulsory.

Technically an MOT assessor would be more than capable of handling the testing of a caravans brakes lights and rolling gear and general chassis condition. It may require some minor retraining to deal with the overrun brake system, There might also be some need to add some specialist equipment to test the operation of the overrun, and some MOT stations may not be able to handle the height of some large trailers such as caravans.

An important factor is that caravans represent only a small proportion of the total number of trailers, and the Govt, would be hard pressed to justify making them a special case. There are legal difficulties with trying to make special cases out of general sets, how do you define what makes a caravan a caravan, because a soon as you set a particular criteria, someone then tries to bunk the system to evade the special 'caravan' only provisions.

MOT assessors have training to meet their current needs, but it is not sufficient to meet the requirements of competency to assess gas installations. This would need each MOT assessor to have additional training, which under current ACOPS is both long winded and expensive.

Now, I am not in favour of the Govt instigating an MOT, as it is another way in which they seek to control us, but I am in favour of improving general safety, which includes gas systems in caravans. It could be easily archived if all the insurance companies agreed to need evidence of an annual check to agreed an maintained standards on all aspects of the systems in caravans. If you like a private sector MOT or Caravan Annual Safety Certificate.

 

[SteveW77]

Driving without a fuel cap doesn't make a car unroadworthy now, does it?

Yes it certainly does make a vehicle unroadworthy, In summer months petrol fumes leaking to the atmosphere creates a huge risk of explosion.

Diesel spillage from a tank without a cap could cause a following vehicle to skid on the lost fuel.

This precise situation developed with Austin Metros, when large numbers of Police vehciles started to have spins, traced to poor fitting petrol caps leaking fuel on to rear tyre becausse the filler was infront othe rear wheel.

Steve W

 

[Legsmaniac_374344731]

"In summer months petrol fumes leaking to the atmosphere creates a huge risk of explosion."

Which is exactly why I think the gas system on a caravan should be included in a caravan MOT should this ever happen.

Anyway, it's all hypothetical guesswork in this thread at the moment. We'll have to wait and see if it'll ever happen. Probably not.

John L - if you maintain your caravan and have regular servicing and checks already, how is it by having an MOT the government is controlling you? It won't be anything you don't already do and anything that saves lives is surely a good thing. Do you think that the government setting speed limits to 20 and 30 MPH is the government controlling you? Well, yes, they are but for the greater good.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello again Legs,

All right I shall admit I'm talking out of the top of my head!, I have no direct insight into the workings of VOSA or the Dept of Transport, I can only go on observations and discussions I have had with contacts with the motor trade, and caravan industries

Simple because neither of us know if an MOT is even on the cards or what detail it might entail. I think enough we have used up enough speculation and time on it.

Others can draw their own conclusions from the discussions we have had and I am quite certain the subject will raise its head at some time in the future.

Happy Caravanning

 

[Gafferbill]

Just to add.....................

The best guide to a likely caravan MOT is to examine the MOT for commercial LGV trailers carried out by VOSA in their own testing stations.

This is an annual test for road safety issues only, a certificate of pass or failure is issued.

A pass certificate is a legal requirement to operate the trailer on the public highway.

Brakes.. rolling road test on each axle to a standard

Lights .. legal requirement, integrity and operation

Tyres.... Age, suitability, integrity and tread depth

Attachment to towing vehicle ...... integrity and operation

Condition.....body attachment,chassis etc

Signage........ integrity of legally required signage ( Vin plate reflectors etc)

Identification....... Vin number embossed or stamped directly on chassis member where it can easily be inspected.

A meaningful caravan MOT would surely have to be to the same standard.