Self Mantainance

Nov 16, 2015
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Now my caravan is well out of it's warranty period. As an engineer, I am wondering, why should I pay for a Technician to carry out a service on my caravan, that I can do myself. Brakes, greasing the hitch etc, damp check. If my electrics work and the circuit breakers work, I can replace any that do not, , the Gas shuts off to the cooker when I close the lid etc.
These checks are not legaly required, or are they?

Remember this is a question to a "Practical Caravan " forum.
 
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Sep 16, 2018
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I believe not legally required, but the problem may be the insurance, ours require that the van is serviced annually which is easy to prove as it's done by an NCC approved mobile guy. How do you prove that you've serviced the van, especially critical areas such as road worthiness, gas and electrical safety?

Might be worth checking your insurance policy and talking with them.

Might also be an interesting point when travelling to countries where checks are legally required, for example Dutch caravans have an MOT type check, for us not an issue until maybe involved in an accident where the safety of the caravan is called into question, anyway something to think about.
 
Jul 8, 2020
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That's a fair point , i better check if my insurance states a service yearly, the van has a full service so far but i will check with Caravan and Motorhome club.
 
Nov 11, 2009
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My insurance isn’t categorically an annual service, but does require the van to be regularly serviced, but doesn’t specify it must be AWS. During the last 12 months with so man vans just being stored and the reduced availability of service engineers there must have been many caravans which have not been serviced annually, and the caravan makers have extended their requirements for warranty maintenance too.
 
Nov 11, 2009
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That's a fair point , i better check if my insurance states a service yearly, the van has a full service so far but i will check with Caravan and Motorhome club.
Not easy as their web site is down for maintenance........... or annual service perhaps.
 
May 7, 2012
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There is no reason to stop you doing the servicing provided you are sufficiently qualified. Most insurances will require the servicing to be done by a suitably qualified person but the wording varies so you need to check yours. You may find it needs no more than to be maintained in a roadworthy condition.
 
Mar 14, 2005
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Provided a caravan is only being used by its owner for private personal use, then as far as I know there is no UK legal requirement for it to be serviced.

If it is towed on the road it must be roadworthy, but that does not specify it being "serviced"

In practice you are only likely to be able to confirm its road worthiness through having its running gear and lights checked and adjusted - which is basically what a service does.

The rules change if its not being used by its owner, and then it might fall under rented accommodation regulations (lending is considered £0 renting ) where safety checks by a registered professional are a legal requirement for gas, water and electrics.

Insurers might stipulate minimum standards for almost anything as pat of their policy T&C's but that is a commercial contract not a regulatory requirement, but failing to conform to the contact might at best leave you uninsured, or the insurance company voiding your policy which has wider implications for any insurance you try to get in the future.
 
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Mar 27, 2011
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I’ve got my insurance with CAMHC but I don’t remember reading any mention of a service being mandatory, I’m not going to check it just now as I need to have it serviced annually by AWS tech to keep warranty valid but it’s a definite thing to look at in the future.

BP
 
Jul 8, 2020
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I checked my paperwork today and it only applies to the top cover , super cover only van between 5 and 15yrs new for old. Thats the only cover that states it must be serviced annually.
 

Damian

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Mar 14, 2005
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As a caravan engineer I offer the following thoughts to the conversation.

I actually tend to agree that a competent owner can undertake quite a lot of the annual service tasks, providing he has the right equipment, but to buy what are expensive tools for some jobs one has to decide if the cost is effective for very little use.

It is different in my case as I use these items many times every day so the cost is not an issue.

Where it becomes more difficult for an owner to complete certain tasks is where gas and electrics are concerned.

For electrics the trip value for the MCB's and RCCD need to be measured as well as resistance of the insulation, which needs specialist equipment.

For gas there are the tightness testing, let by testing and flue gas analysis, which all need specific test equipment which is very expensive, especially for once a year use.

The whole reason for regular servicing is not just to check that things are working, but that they are working safely for the safety of the owner and his or her family.

Unfortunately the caravan world has no real organisation for the owners, just for the engineers and makers, and the makers will only accept proof of a service if it has been done by one of their dealers or nominated workshops, or by a registered member of the AWS, and I fully expect that Insurance companies will also require the same .
 
Jun 20, 2005
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Thanks Damian. You know full well by now a number of regulars on here do a lot of diy themselves including safety critical items. The most important factor is that the diyer knows and fully understands just how far you can go and what post service checks need to be done . I freely admit to doing pretty well every repair myself. BUT I fully appreciate some things need correct testing after reinstallation. Who remembers Popular Motoring and Car Mechanics. We learnt the hard way but always with safety first. Hence Practical Caravan is now regularly including some fairly complex DIY projects . Well done.
 

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