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

 

[ProfJohnL]

Ultimately what's important is the condition of the caravan now. If it's good then as a private purchase does it really matter if it had a damp problem a few years ago, as long as it was sorted correctly. Unlike a car where wear and tear can often be unseen, in a UK caravan, soggy cussions, warped doors, stains in the lockers, spongy floor are all easily discovered, so you can generally get a quick inkling about condition, so reams of service records are realistically of little value.

However when it comes to needing to use finance to make the purchase, the finance house will be looking for evidence their money will be protected by the value of the product. Two identical products, one with a full service history will be worth more than the one without a fsh.

A fsh can provide greater confidence in the reliability of a product, to know that previous owners have cared enough to keep the records up to date, they are more likely to have taken greater care over the way the caravan is stored and used....... But nothings certain.

All products deteriorate with age, and it's unfortunate that caravans seem to be less resilient than most products especially where tlc has been withheld.

Wish you good luck with your caravan, and happy holidays.

 

[otherclive]

Ultimately what's important is the condition of the caravan now. If it's good then as a private purchase does it really matter if it had a damp problem a few years ago, as long as it was sorted correctly. Unlike a car where wear and tear can often be unseen, in a UK caravan, soggy cussions, warped doors, stains in the lockers, spongy floor are all easily discovered, so you can generally get a quick inkling about condition, so reams of service records are realistically of little value.

However when it comes to needing to use finance to make the purchase, the finance house will be looking for evidence their money will be protected by the value of the product. Two identical products, one with a full service history will be worth more than the one without a fsh.

A fsh can provide greater confidence in the reliability of a product, to know that previous owners have cared enough to keep the records up to date, they are more likely to have taken greater care over the way the caravan is stored and used....... But nothings certain.

All products deteriorate with age, and it's unfortunate that caravans seem to be less resilient than most products especially where tlc has been withheld.

Wish you good luck with your caravan, and happy holidays.

The OP is buying from a dealership so will have the protection of UK consumer law under CRA2015.

 

[Oscarmax]

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.

2016 Swift Conqueror had a very heavy HT body shell

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

In 2016 we purchased a new Swift Conqueror 480 from Salop Caravans Shrewsbury they have serviced the caravan from new, as regard damp test as it composite they on carry out a visual check, to date the only problem we have incurred last year replacement panorarmic roof screen all done under warranty, several member we have meet on site incurred delamination of the composite floor, its a factory repair.

 

[Buckman]

On a 9 year old or even 2 year old caravan I doubt very much if a finance house will be interested in its service history. I have never been asked that question by either a finance house or an insurance company.

 

[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?

Ultimately what's important is the condition of the caravan now. If it's good then as a private purchase does it really matter if it had a damp problem a few years ago, as long as it was sorted correctly. Unlike a car where wear and tear can often be unseen, in a UK caravan, soggy cussions, warped doors, stains in the lockers, spongy floor are all easily discovered, so you can generally get a quick inkling about condition, so reams of service records are realistically of little value.

However when it comes to needing to use finance to make the purchase, the finance house will be looking for evidence their money will be protected by the value of the product. Two identical products, one with a full service history will be worth more than the one without a fsh.

A fsh can provide greater confidence in the reliability of a product, to know that previous owners have cared enough to keep the records up to date, they are more likely to have taken greater care over the way the caravan is stored and used....... But nothings certain.

All products deteriorate with age, and it's unfortunate that caravans seem to be less resilient than most products especially where tlc has been withheld.

Wish you good luck with your caravan, and happy holidays.

Hi, really want to thank you all for your help.
Appreciate the points regarding finance, however it will be an out right purchase, albeit with some on a credit card, offering a little more protection, hence the concern, which you have helped to reduce.

 

[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?

Hi, really want to thank you all for your help.
Appreciate the points regarding finance, however it will be an out right purchase, albeit with some on a credit card, offering a little more protection, hence the concern, which you have helped to reduce.

If it’s being serviced by the suppling dealership then you shouldn’t need to have it serviced for 12 months thereafter. Be aware that both dealerships and mobile service providers book up quite a while in advance, so I used to pre book my servicing some 3-4 months in advance of when it was required. The driver was to ensure that I stayed within the makers warranty or to ensure it was okay before being used more in the Spring-Summer-Autumn season. But if on a seasonal pitch it’s not quite so constrained.

 

[Buckman]

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?

Hi, really want to thank you all for your help.
Appreciate the points regarding finance, however it will be an out right purchase, albeit with some on a credit card, offering a little more protection, hence the concern, which you have helped to reduce.

Will you be tourng with it or will it be on a seasonal site? You stated that the caravan was on a seasonal site so it is highly unlikely the tyres have bene chnaged since new. As mentioned above, it is very important for the sake of your family that you chekc the age of the tyres. It does not matter that they look like new as they coudl have cracks on them that you cannot see. The average life span of a caravan tyre which is normally the cheapest budget tyre is about 5 years or less.

 

[Conkydonk]

Will you be tourng with it or will it be on a seasonal site? You stated that the caravan was on a seasonal site so it is highly unlikely the tyres have bene chnaged since new. As mentioned above, it is very important for the sake of your family that you chekc the age of the tyres. It does not matter that they look like new as they coudl have cracks on them that you cannot see. The average life span of a caravan tyre which is normally the cheapest budget tyre is about 5 years or less.

We will also, have the van on a seasonal pitch

 

[Dustydog]

The Habitation service should have tested all the gas and electrical items. Hopefully they checked / renewed all the flexible gas pipes? Make sure the supplying Dealer tells you the life expectancy left.

 

[Beachball]

We will also, have the van on a seasonal pitch

I hope you enjoy having the caravan on a seasonal pitch, we did the same when we had our twin axle

 

[Oscarmax]

The Swift warranty is only 6 years for there second owner, I personally have a thorough independent inspection just for peace of mind.

 

[ProfJohnL]

The Swift warranty is only 6 years for there second owner, I personally have a thorough independent inspection just for peace of mind.

The Op like yourself is getting a 2016 caravan, at this age there is no manufacturers warranty. The only warranty will be dealer issue, and the Consumer Rights Act.

 

[ProfJohnL]

The OP is buying from a dealership so will have the protection of UK consumer law under CRA2015.

I don't think I implied anything counter to that, the question is about the value of an FSH.