Service History/Purchase Opinion

[Conkydonk]

Hi all, I'm new here, 2 weeks ago, my wife and I rather naively, placed a deposit on a 2016, Swift Conqueror 645, from a local reputable dealer. I say naively as it has come to light that the unit has limited service history, (one 12 months after delivery, one with a habitation check 8 months ago, and the dealer will be doing a service and damp report prior to delivery).
My question is, (I realise the benefits of FSH now) should we continue with the purchase, especially with the recent habitation check, and have the vehicle, regularly annually serviced along with habitation checks, to bring the history up to the current period? The van is immaculate.

Just interested in people's opinion.

 

[Buckman]

It is a 2016 and you are covered for the first six months anyway so would not say that you are naive. Within the first 30 days you can reject the caravan outright and get a full refund.

After the first 30 days and withing 6 months of the delivery date you need to give the dealer one chance at a repair before rejecting. As you are buying fromn a reputable dealer, you should have no issues.

 

[GaryB]

A 2016 Swift will have the SMART construction (timber free structure, GRP inner walls and aluminium outer walls). SMART evolved over the years (now having GRP outer walls as well) and is regarded as being good so your chances of structural damage through damp are reduced. However, the floor upper surface is still wood so needs to be damp checked along with a few other known Swift issues:

• Floor separating from the body at the front. Check that the screws securing the angle iron vertical strips in the bulkhead (connecting the bulkhead to the sidewalls) are all present and tight and that the front corner steady winding nuts are central to the hole in the side skirt. Affected 2016-17 models from memory.
• Front panoramic window seal failing. Check for recent/messy mastic around the perimeter and any cracks in the window itself.

 

[otherclive]

Did the habitation check include a damp survey? If so what were the results? I’d guess that it is still on its original tyres so check the date of manufacture and if over five years old try and negotiate a new set. Hopefully the service will replace the gas cylinder to regulator pigtail its 2016.

Clearly if it’s immaculate it’s been looked after and the previous owner might have just had difficulty using it hence the lack of service history.

 

[Buckman]

Did the habitation check include a damp survey? If so what were the results? I’d guess that it is still on its original tyres so check the date of manufacture and if over five years old try and negotiate a new set. Hopefully the service will replace the gas cylinder to regulator pigtail its 2016.

Clearly if it’s immaculate it’s been looked after and the previous owner might have just had difficulty using it hence the lack of service history.

Possibility that it was on a seasonal site?

 

[Beachball]

Hi Conkydonk Welcome to forum enjoy

 

[Conkydonk]

Possibility that it was on a seasonal site?

Hi yes, van was on a seasonal site, by all accounts

 

[Blackbird]

If caravan is a 2016 Conqueror it will have a fully composite floor as well as the composite walls and roof.

 

[Conkydonk]

Thanks to you all, so much, you're responses have set my mind at rest, I gleam, the opinion is subject to certain items, I would be ok to start the service history from a holistic point, from our owner-ship am I correct?

 

[otherclive]

Thanks to you all, so much, you're responses have set my mind at rest, I gleam, the opinion is subject to certain items, I would be ok to start the service history from a holistic point, from our owner-ship am I correct?

Yes just start annual service checks upon ownership. The dealers service and damp check should cover year 1. I would ask to have their service sheets handed over for starters, it should mirror the work schedule used by Approved Workshop Scheme.

 

[audiorob]

Did the dealer offer much of a warranty although we have to accept that the van is 9 years old? Like others anything turned up by the habitation service should be put right and you should expect a very thorough demonstration at hand-over.
There is a lozenge on the tyre wall - xx for week followed by yy for year - four digits.
After my dealer warranty ended I have the caravan serviced on the drive annually by the same AWS listed technician. Look on Mr Google for any in your locality.

 

[IanB1485]

I was in the same boat , knew nothing about caravans ( knew a lot about boats and trailers) and THO bought the first one we looked at (2007 coachman) . fortunately we landed lucky and its damp free . The independent dealer never mentioned anything about service history or damp reports. I have over the years , including a course at the MCEA , learned all about caravans and their pitfalls and thanks to forums like this one still learning