Two weeks ago we bought a second hand caravan from a couple who had been caravanning for 25 years.(1997 Elddis Typhoon) They were having to sell because of ill health and had owned the van from new. All the original paperwork,instructions and even the original reciept came with the van and it was immaculate inside, just needed a clean up and washing. Towed it back home the sixty miles or so with no problems.So today we thought we would take it for a test run before our main holiday to check the awning and all the usual stuff, like you do. Packed the car with three labs and the kid and off we went.Ten miles down the motorway I heard a rumbling but could not pull over as there was no hard shoulder for another three hundred yards or so,puncture I thought. Seconds later the van rocked and I saw the nearside wheel making its way accross the motorway behind me,had to keep going a bit further to get to the hard shoulder and the van didn't really move much as it was travelling on the drum.
So four hours later here we are back home pretty cheesed off but safe. When we bought the van everything we needed came with it so when we sold our cherished 1985 Alpine we gave the new owners everything they needed. What came with ours were some winter wheels!!!! Putting two and two together we reckon that the old boy had taken them off and put the wheels back on but not tightened up the wheel nuts. The lesson is obviously, no matter how much something has been looked after you should not take it for granted that its right,even if it is spotless. Under normal circumstances we would have given them a call for an ear bashing but they were a nice old couple who did not really want to sell and one of them had a terminal illness.
We managed to get the spare wheel on and tow back home instead of having it recoveredby using two bolts from the opposite side but when we got back the drum was red hot.
Gotta spend the weekend ringing round now to get it checked over, instead of relaxing by the river.
Just a footnote: If you are unlucky enough to have a problem with your caravan after 5pm on a Friday or before 9am Monday you may find it difficult to get hold of anyone that can really help you. My wife spent three hours on the phone today only to be told that there was nothing much they could do until Monday.We managed to recover the van ourselves and drive the ten miles home.The breakdown "Recovery" truck driver wanted to drag it onto the back of the truck thus causing more damage than the actual incident, and then leave us at the next junction(recovery??) I read lots of posts before comitting to any insurer but you never know what they are like until you need their help or advice. We cannot be the first to come accross this problem.
Thanks for your responses.
Rob
Post last edited on 15/07/2006 22:45:44
Post last edited on 15/07/2006 22:48:09
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Topic: Food For Thought
