We are relatively new to caravanning - have survived 2 weekends away so far
My question is should we be getting our caravan (buccaneer caravelle about 12 years old) serviced regularly? If so, what sort of things would a normal service cover?
There are a few things we are not sure about, such as a dodgy water pump connection and I noticed recently that part of the awning rail is coming away from the 'van at the bottom - would this sort of thing be picked up on a service?
Do you know whether the van has been serviced recently? I have my van serviced every year as I generally do quite a high towing mileage. If you are unsure when it was last done it would be afvisable to get it done. The things you mentioned need to be discussed with the service agent as they might not be simple jobs. Whether you then have it serviced annually would I think depend of how much you use and how far from home you go. Proably the first thing you should do is replace the tyres, unless you know as a fact that they less than five years old.
Regular servicing like on any vehicle can only be a good thing,we get ours done every year because theres some things like the gas system that id like to know are working correctly when im lying in my bed at night, and that they keep an eye out for the dreaded damp.
We've always had our vans serviced annually when we've used them a lot but I must confess there was a period when we weren't caravanning much other than the annual hols due to work commitments so we missed one year.
Current van wasn't serviced last year when we bought it, although it had been serviced every year up to then, so I got it done earlier this year.
It's worth it to know everything is working, get any little repairs done before they turn into big jobs, and also keep a check that there isn't any damp or remedy it before it gets too bad.
------------- Caz
If you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, just keep going till you go round the bend.
We have ours done every year, we've found a brilliant man who comes to the house & goes through the van from front to back, gives us a damp metre report & a reciept as well as stamping the service book. However, now we've just bought a new one I reckon I'll have to go to the dealers for the first two services to keep the three year warranty up together but I'll only do it if I have to because I no longer trust any commercial workshop be it for my Cars, my lorry or my caravan. I'm convinced thay you no longer get what you pay for from any of them.
We've just had ours done, owned the van for 2 years and discovered that the previous owner obviously never bothered with servicing it. A gas pipe had to be replaced that had been made illegal 10 years ago and several other things were found to be wrong, it cost us a lot but at least I know we're safe now!
I'm not sure if the previous owner had it serviced - a friend of a friend iykwim!! So I know it would be a good idea to get it done, just crossing my fingers it's not gonna cost too much.....
Good point re the tyres, don't even think twice about servicing the car do we?!
Anyway anyone know of a reputable servicer in Cambridgeshire?
As we speak mine is in micheal jordons for its second service should cost just under £200 fingers crossed , plus thay are going over the repairs for the insurance company......