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Service intervals.

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Jun 20, 2005
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Back to the OP.
So my very small thoughts are, shall I extend my AWS service inspections to every two years. Every time out on a clear road I give the car and van a good emergency stop to ensure all is working well, which it does.

Hutch. You hit the nail on the head.
Your coachman is now out of warranty. You are not restricted by Coachman’s T&Cs.
Ray has commented on the CAMC Insurance aspect “Competent Person”. Imo you and a number of other Forumites are either qualified engineers, you, or others who know their caravan inside out and have done their own servicing for years. BUT always best check your insurer is happy.
I believe comparing cars to caravans is incorrect.
Caravans have running gear . A failure could result in an accident. Are your motor insurers happy?
We have the habitation issues with gas and electricity. You know all that stuff
The most crucial is water ingress. You do that every 3 months
Do subject to the two insurance riders you get my vote😎
 
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Jul 18, 2017
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However if the caravan came with a 10 year water ingress warranty I would think that to maintain that warranty, it would need to be serviced annually by an AWS technician.

However by the same token the 10 year water ingress seems to apply only to permanently sealed joints so the chances of water ingress are extremely remote so is it worth servicing every year? I don't think any insurance police mentions annual service as mandatory, but rather states that the unit is in a roadworthy condition.

Our caravan is due for its 6th year service in late October and it has to be done by the anniversary date by a AWS technician or approved workshop, but after that I am unsure as currently our average mileage is under 1000 miles a year?
 
Jun 20, 2005
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However if the caravan came with a 10 year water ingress warranty I would think that to maintain that warranty, it would need to be serviced annually by an AWS technician.

However by the same token the 10 year water ingress seems to apply only to permanently sealed joints so the chances of water ingress are extremely remote so is it worth servicing every year? I don't think any insurance police mentions annual service as mandatory, but rather states that the unit is in a roadworthy condition.

Our caravan is due for its 6th year service in late October and it has to be done by the anniversary date by a AWS technician or approved workshop, but after that I am unsure as currently our average mileage is under 1000 miles a year?
That’s correct. Hutch’s like mine is over 10 yrs so we no longer have the water ingress warranty. That was Hitch’s point. Can he and I relax? In your case no😢
 
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Sam Vimes

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Sep 7, 2020
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Extract from my insurance.... see last sentence.

‘New for old’ cover
In the event of a total loss, for cover to be provided under the
‘new for old’ caravan cover, the sum insured of the caravan
and equipment provided at last cover start date by you must
represent the actual replacement value of the caravan and
equipment as new.
In addition, proof that your caravan is serviced annually will be
required.
 
Nov 16, 2015
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I have given up the New for Old insurance last year, due to caravan age and the insurance cost. So just market value. As for the Competent person, doing the servicing, on a motorcycle claim, the Insurance company accepted my UK government Issued Aircraft Engineers Licence as, a competent engineer.
I think I shall just go for every two year, AWS engineer to do the brakes as the hire of the torque wrench will be the same as the cost of the check.
 
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Jul 18, 2017
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Extract from my insurance.... see last sentence.

‘New for old’ cover
In the event of a total loss, for cover to be provided under the
‘new for old’ caravan cover, the sum insured of the caravan
and equipment provided at last cover start date by you must
represent the actual replacement value of the caravan and
equipment as new.
In addition, proof that your caravan is serviced annually will be
required.
Hard one to enforce if teh accident was due to another vehicle or the caravan is on a seasonal site?
 
Jun 6, 2006
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I don't think there is anything such as a "caravan" tyre and manufacturers have a choice of what tyre to put on a caravan. Perhaps it is time that mid range or even top of the range tyres were an optional extra allowing the consumer a choice?
There isn’t they are just commercial van tyres, you can get from dirt cheep to very expensive.

Only real difference is the technology in said tyre, the more expensive ones normally have better features for things like stopping, water displacement, grip ets, cheap will do the same but possibly not quite as well!
 
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Nov 11, 2009
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There isn’t they are just commercial van tyres, you can get from dirt cheep to very expensive.

Only real difference is the technology in said tyre, the more expensive ones normally have better features for things like stopping, water displacement, grip ets, cheap will do the same but possibly not quite as well!
There are tyres specifically designed to be used on trailer, or on non driven, non powered, non steered vehicle wheels The sidewalls are embossed. FRT (free rolling tyre) and there will also be a sidewall marking on some “ trailer use only”. If you look at my recent post above you will see photos of two examples from GT Radial, although Kenda also do them, and I’ve had both makes on caravans. Presumably other makes produce them too. I have seen the GT Radial Kargomax advertised on tyre website as suitable for powered vehicles but this is now illegal unless the fitment position meets the usage description. This link describes:






 
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Jun 6, 2006
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There are tyres specifically designed to be used on trailer, or on non driven, non powered, non steered vehicle wheels The sidewalls are embossed. FRT (free rolling tyre) and there will also be a sidewall marking on some “ trailer use only”. If you look at my recent post above you will see photos of two examples from GT Radial, although Kenda also do them, and I’ve had both makes on caravans. Presumably other makes produce them too. I have seen the GT Radial Kargomax advertised on tyre website as suitable for powered vehicles but this is now illegal unless the fitment position meets the usage description. This link describes:






I know a caravan is a trailer and the tyres can be used on a caravan, but they don’t say specifically for caravans as nor do commercial tyres, I know it’s splitting hairs but !
 
Nov 11, 2009
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I know a caravan is a trailer and the tyres can be used on a caravan, but they don’t say specifically for caravans as nor do commercial tyres, I know it’s splitting hairs but !
You clearly haven’t looked at the links in my post. They do say “caravans”. GT Radial Kargomax ST4000/6000 have been around since 2010 and I fitted them to a Bailey that had a MTPLM upgrade to 1400 kg and the tyre weight capability was 1420kg. That’s when I chose GT Radial to give me more margin on Load Index.
 
Jun 20, 2005
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Martin
I have next to no Wi-Fi as away. Use the search engine and you will see we have done tyres to death on here,Therein lies the answers for you
 
Jun 6, 2006
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You clearly haven’t looked at the links in my post. They do say “caravans”. GT Radial Kargomax ST4000/6000 have been around since 2010 and I fitted them to a Bailey that had a MTPLM upgrade to 1400 kg and the tyre weight capability was 1420kg. That’s when I chose GT Radial to give me more margin on Load Index.

I think Bailey used TrailerMax (or something with a similar name)they had trailer use only, they were around in 2004
 
Sep 29, 2016
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I have given up the New for Old insurance last year, due to caravan age and the insurance cost. So just market value. As for the Competent person, doing the servicing, on a motorcycle claim, the Insurance company accepted my UK government Issued Aircraft Engineers Licence as, a competent engineer.
I think I shall just go for every two year, AWS engineer to do the brakes as the hire of the torque wrench will be the same as the cost of the check.
A digital torque adapter is a cost effective tool for Alko one shot hub nuts, and virtually all other uses likely to be required by most enthusiasts of diy servicing.
 
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