After the wheel comes off - what then?
Comments
-
I think the original question was regarding if the van should be repaired or a new one in replacement not whos fault it was....
The insurance T&C's will state at what point a new van is ordered and I thin its probably around 60% of the cost of the van so I am guessing this is below 60% (or whatever is in the policy document) so the insurance company is withing their right to repair
it. However the repair should put the vehicle back int he condition it was before, obviously having had a prang its never going to be exactly the same but should be near as dammit. If the repair is not to your satisfaction for any reason you ahve the right
to reject it and go throught he complaints procedure and the ombudsman. If it is just the part about unkown damage then ensure you get in writing from the insurer they are going to cover ALL costs of repair. Of course finding some unseen damage could push
the cost over the 60% mark but hopefully there is none and they can repair it in good time.As for torqueing the wheels it does clearly state normally that it is the customers responsibility to check the wheels after X miles to ensure they are coorect both on handover and after each service or wheel change. If you are not capable of this then
you should really employ a competent person to do this.0 -
So if I tighten the wheel nuts after 20 miles the wheels won't fall off. What's that tell me about the way they failed to tighten them properly in the first place?
0 -
So if I tighten the wheel nuts after 20 miles the wheels won't fall off. What's that tell me about the way they failed to tighten them properly in the first place?
Write your comments here...On caravans they are wheel bolts not nuts like a car. I do not think it is anything to do with not being done properly in the first place but a precaution and probably from the chassis maker ALKO.
0 -
So if I tighten the wheel nuts after 20 miles the wheels won't fall off. What's that tell me about the way they failed to tighten them properly in the first place?
Despite the opinions genuinely held by others it tells you nothing; it could well be they were not tightened correctly but it could also be because the mating surfaces bedded too much for the bolts elasticity to accommodate. Surface irregularities, machining quality or lack of it, surface finishes such as plating and paint, together with contaminants can all yield when subjected to the fluctuating loads encountered on the road.
They have to be done up correctly to have any chance, but failure does not necessarily mean they were not done up correctly.It is wiser to follow the makers instructions.
0 -
So if I tighten the wheel nuts after 20 miles the wheels won't fall off. What's that tell me about the way they failed to tighten them properly in the first place?
Write your comments here...On caravans they are wheel bolts not nuts like a car. I do not think it is anything to do with not being done properly in the first place but a precaution and probably from the chassis maker ALKO.
Wheel nuts or bolts there is basically no difference.If either is tightened up properly then neither will fail.If they do then there is a design issue which would mean all caravans with that design would be at risk and that is clearly not the case.Done up
properly wheel nuts or bolts just dont come loose and fall off.v9
1 -
......On caravans they are wheel bolts not nuts like a car. ....
Either could have either, all our cars have bolts ..... never looked yet at the caravan, but the previous one was bolts. Our caravan from eons back had nuts, as did my MKI Cavalier
0 -
The policy gives the insurer the option to repair, replace or pay the replacement cost. I have not seen the damage or the estimate but must assume that the estimate is well below the replacement cost. If that is the case the engineer for the insurer will have made an allowance for any extra damage coming to light and still come up with a viable repair. On that basis you have no right to demand it be declared a write off and would be treated no differently by any other insurer.
You wonder what would happen if further damage comes to light on starting the repair. If it does and it is serious then the engineer will have to look at it again and see if the repair is still economical. At that point though the parts identified as needed will have arrived and need paying for so the repair might have to go ahead even when it might otherwise not have. Because of the make there would be little demand over here for those parts so returning them might not be possible.
Frankly the engineer will almost certainly have given himself a good safety margin and this should be unlikely.The engineer will want more work from the insurer in the future so will certainly not be trying to repair if it is not economical. In practice it is far easier for him to write it off if there is any doubt about it repairing economically.
You say you do not believe the floor cannot be repaired satisfactorally but do not say why. If you have good grounds for this and you would need expert evidence then you need to produce this. Again I cannot see an engineer risking his reputation allowing a an unsatisfatory repair.
Against this I do not know who the engineer is or his qualifications. There are some engineers out there who are not experts on caravans whose reports are not that good but I would hope the clubs insurers are making sure they are using the correct engineers.
0
