Hi, have just bought an Avondale land ranger 6400 (2002) and it seems to be well built, no leaks as far as I can tell, did use a damp meter to check. The van has only been doing about 150 miles a year when it was taken home by the previous user over the Winter. I do not intend to use gas, only electric. My question is do I need to have a habitation check done ? I know the previous owner had the wheels off to check brakes etc so wondering about whether it needs a service as well. It is staying on site in 2017. Thanks for your advice.
Servicing and habitation checks
- Thread starter Holidaysforever
- Start date
- Aug 23, 2009
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I would suggest the first thing that you check is the age of the tyres. No matter how many miles they've covered you need to be replacing them every 5-7 years. I think any van that you buy second hand and especially privately should have a full service just for peace of mind in all circumstances. You say you don't intend to use the gas but you never know when you might be glad of it and is it worth the risk of there being a problem? You have no come back as to the previous owner correctly checking the brakes, running gear, hitch etc, therefore I would want all of this check professionally.
Good luck, enjoy the van and the next years' holidays.
Good luck, enjoy the van and the next years' holidays.
I would have a service/check to get a professional view of any possible damp - needs to be fixed as early as possible if any exists - and the electrics, particularly the RCD device.
Look on the web for a mobile member of the Approved Workshop Scheme in your area - you will get a full schedule of what has been tested and what has not, an opinion on the tyres and it can all be done without you having to tow it anywhere.
Look on the web for a mobile member of the Approved Workshop Scheme in your area - you will get a full schedule of what has been tested and what has not, an opinion on the tyres and it can all be done without you having to tow it anywhere.
We are planning to try caravanning for 2017 and if we want to continue to upgrade the van so slightly hesitant in spending loads of money on it. I looked at a mobile engineer and quoting 168 for service plus parts and vat and 100 for habitation check plus parts and vat, are these prices reasonable, he will go to site.. thanks.
The only recent issue I am aware of is the unit that charges the battery and drops to 12v cooked the battery and had to be replaced and he replaced the battery as well.
Because it is twin axle think it is slightly more expensive for the service. Just a personal opinion about using gas, as it is permanently on site and elec hopefully always available perhaps make it unnecessary for us. Think a check was 100 plus parts and vat
Holidaysforever said:
Does anybody know of an approved mobile Engineer in the Wimborne area. Thanks
Damian
Moderator
- Mar 14, 2005
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How important is it to go approved workshop, found someone local to van but not sure whether they are approved. What benefit would it give.. thanks
- Mar 14, 2005
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Holidaysforever said:
There are two main benefits, Firstly if the caravan has any manufacturers warranty left, having service carried out by a workshop or mobile techie who are approved by the NCC will preserve the warranty.
Secondly whilst doing good work is not the preserve of NCC approved workshops, there is a better chance the work will be carried out to a suitable standard.
- Aug 23, 2009
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Peace of mind if using a tradesman who is registered to a particular trade organisation would be the main benefit on a van the age of yours.
I am in no way knocking an engineer who is known and who's quality of work is known but who is not registered or their skills as it's quite a hassle to register and stay registered, not to mention expensive.
I am in no way knocking an engineer who is known and who's quality of work is known but who is not registered or their skills as it's quite a hassle to register and stay registered, not to mention expensive.
- Jun 20, 2005
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Morning ProfProfJohnL said:
I fully agree on your first point but certainly not the second.
You may recall a few years ago I had no end of problems with my main Bailey dealer. After four years they still couldn't fix our Trumatic electric gas heater. A local Caravan Medic chap , fully qualified like Damian fixed it perfectly . Took a few hours , entailed removal of the whole fire and replacement of the TODs. Also I had a gas explosion because the main dealer hadn't lubricated the gas oven tap which seized stuck in.
A local qualified guy has to be very good to survive. My guy is reasonable professional and I have now used him for three main services and gas things I don't do myself.
- Jun 20, 2005
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http://www.mobilecaravanengineers.co.uk/find-an-engineer/
http://www.thecaravanmedic-swindon.co.uk/
The choice is yours . Note they are all very well qualified and come to you :cheer:
My guy lists the towns he covers which are basically North Wiltshire ,and immediate adjoining counties.
http://www.thecaravanmedic-swindon.co.uk/
The choice is yours . Note they are all very well qualified and come to you :cheer:
My guy lists the towns he covers which are basically North Wiltshire ,and immediate adjoining counties.
- Mar 14, 2005
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Dustydog said:...
I fully agree on your first point but certainly not the second.
You may recall a few years ago I had no end of problems with my main Bailey dealer. After four years they still couldn't fix our Trumatic electric gas heater. A local Caravan Medic chap , fully qualified like Damian fixed it perfectly . Took a few hours , entailed removal of the whole fire and replacement of the TODs. Also I had a gas explosion because the main dealer hadn't lubricated the gas oven tap which seized stuck in.
A local qualified guy has to be very good to survive. My guy is reasonable professional and I have now used him for three main services and gas things I don't do myself.
Good afternoon,
Have you had your dog nap yet?
Dusty. as you have observed previously; I try to choose my words carefully;
I deliberately included that weasel word "chance" to imply that just because a facility is NCC approved means there is a chance it may not live up to expectations.It's certainly true that some mobile guy's will provide just as good if not better service.
But for someone new to caravanning, how do they know how to evaluate which is the best way to get a caravan serviced?, In the absence of experience and any personal recommendations, or any other form of benchmark it's a sensible starting point to consider an NCC approved service. rather ending up with what might turn out to be a cowboy playing on people's ignorance, And sadly some do exist.
Which ever way you go, there is a risk, but having some form of registration to a scheme, does show you may be trying harder than the next guy.
- Jun 20, 2005
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Ah Prof yes but not quite.ProfJohnL said:Dustydog said:...
I fully agree on your first point but certainly not the second.
You may recall a few years ago I had no end of problems with my main Bailey dealer. After four years they still couldn't fix our Trumatic electric gas heater. A local Caravan Medic chap , fully qualified like Damian fixed it perfectly . Took a few hours , entailed removal of the whole fire and replacement of the TODs. Also I had a gas explosion because the main dealer hadn't lubricated the gas oven tap which seized stuck in.
A local qualified guy has to be very good to survive. My guy is reasonable professional and I have now used him for three main services and gas things I don't do myself.
Good afternoon,
Have you had your dog nap yet?
Dusty. as you have observed previously; I try to choose my words carefully;
I deliberately included that weasel word "chance" to imply that just because a facility is NCC approved means there is a chance it may not live up to expectations.It's certainly true that some mobile guy's will provide just as good if not better service.
But for someone new to caravanning, how do they know how to evaluate which is the best way to get a caravan serviced?, In the absence of experience and any personal recommendations, or any other form of benchmark it's a sensible starting point to consider an NCC approved service. rather ending up with what might turn out to be a cowboy playing on people's ignorance, And sadly some do exist.
Which ever way you go, there is a risk, but having some form of registration to a scheme, does show you may be trying harder than the next guy.
You did qualify using "better" chance which implied imo an NCC approved dealer maybe a better bet. My personal experiences say that is not the case and a qualified
private guy will be a better proposition .
But that is my own experience of course.
Hi, we have found an Engineer in the area who has the following approvals -
QS mobile caravan MCEA QS approved Engineer
MCEA gas safe qualified Engineer
AWS approved workshop scheme Engineer
MCEA mobile Engineer.
My question is does this Engineer have all the right qualifications to do a service and habitation check. Many thanks
QS mobile caravan MCEA QS approved Engineer
MCEA gas safe qualified Engineer
AWS approved workshop scheme Engineer
MCEA mobile Engineer.
My question is does this Engineer have all the right qualifications to do a service and habitation check. Many thanks
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