Newbie question re servicing
So the caravan we purchased has been serviced every year from its original purchase in 2015 , shown by stickers and some invoices. I trust the person we bought from.
What does a service include or should include. What is an average price and is a dealer a better better than an independent Caravan Engineer ?
Really grateful for any answers from you "Old Hands" out there!
Comments
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A mobile servicing technician is likely to be cheaper and less likely to rip you off than a dealer.
Personally, I think most servicing is unnecessary.
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If you type Caravan Servicing List into your Google search box you will get lists of what is included - the one from Practical Caravan magazine is very thorough. Many items, as TW says, are over the top. Prices vary in different parts of the country - phone around and speak to dealers as well as mobile engineers. I have found good and bad on both sides.
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The service will included habitation check ie electric, gas, CO2 & fire alarms if fitted and a damp check also a chassis service will included brakes, tyres etc plus advice on items that may need your attention for example we were told last year the tyres needed changing prior to this summer because of their age. We use a mobile Workshop approved engineer the cost is around £160 and as you can imagine you need to book early
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I too use a certified mobile engineer to service my caravan. He comes to my home and for a full service (chassis and habitation) charges about £170. He also does some minor repairs free of charge eg gas lead pipe and breakaway cable. I have been using the same engineer for many years and I am very happy with his service. The local agents charge much more, I think about £270 for a service and I wonder if they would do the little extras; you can also see a mobile engineer at work which is reassuring. He gives me a full report, including a damp check, after the service and of course the little sticker.
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Thanks everyone that is great information and I appreciate the time people have taken to reply.
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We have used both dealers and mobile servicing and definately prefer mobile as we dont have to empty everything out as we had to for the dealers.
I prefer how it is easy to actually talk to the guy doing the work rather than a receptionist who just deals with the paperwork.
Check whoever you get to do the service are registered with the NCC as this is important for any warrranty that may cover the caravan.
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I think there are always pros and cons to home servicing verses a dealer. We have always used a dealer particularly on our later caravans and now motorhomes. The four caravans we purchased from new we had very little problems with any of them so I imagine that home servicing would have been fine. We once had to have a Dometic engineer ( as rare as hens teeth!) out to look at the fridge on one van. Our last caravan needed to have the gel coat attended to so I would think that is something a mobile workshop might not be able to deal with as its quite specialised. However the dealer was able to have that done. Having said that if the van is out of warranty I can't see you would be at a disadvantage using a mobile service agent, particularly if they were approved by the caravan manufacturer.
David
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For the first 26 years of caravanning I did my own service and repair. Gas was checked by people who serviced my boiler as they were each qualified in LPG and the present one used to check mine 33 years ago and the 230 volt etc. and also works on mobile homes.
The last 14 years I have used a dealer. I also stopped car servicing and repairs for myself at same time
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