When to service?

Hedgehurst
Hedgehurst Forum Participant Posts: 576
100 Comments
edited September 2018 in Caravan & Motorhome Chat #1

We have one more trip in the offing, then will probably put our caravan into storage for winter. It's not a modern heated one, other than a little plug-in oil heater, which is fine for chilly to cold,  but probably not so good for a real deep freeze smile


I'm wondering whether to get the van serviced before winter or at the start of the new season. I know our engineer would rather do late Autumn, because he's less busy then.
But it seems logical to me to service in before we start using it in Spring, to sort out anything which may have arisen while it sat idly and cold. There may be very good reasons for an Autumn service which I'm simply not spotting.

Anyone offering reasons to persuade me either way, I'll be most grateful to read these.

This year we had it done just as the Beast from the East was arriving, and both engineer and van were freezing as he worked! It's done between three and four thousand miles since then.

Thanks!

Comments

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited September 2018 #2

    We always get ours done February/March time. It gives us chance to get away for an early weekend to check everything's working or if there are any problems which need sorting. Last year switched from a main Bailey dealer to a local outfit and got a much more thorough job done so going to do the same next year. smile

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,427 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2018 #3

    Things usually stop working if they have not been used for a while? so it may be best to get everything checked out before your caravan season start?

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,607 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2018 #4

    Ours is August but that is principally to comply with warranty timetable.

    Anyway we tour all year round.

    When we had a choice we always chose March but made sure by booking a date well in advance. One year it backfired and we had to dig our way out of a foot of snow, including doing the access roads to the main road. Neighbours were happy (but I'll remember none of them helped.👿).

  • papgeno
    papgeno Forum Participant Posts: 2,158
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2018 #5

    Ours is always serviced in February also to comply with the warranty. However it's always worth checking the van immediately after service because even the best service engineers make mistakes.

    After one service I checked the service sheet and noticed that the winterisation box hadn't been ticked. I looked at the van and sure enough there was water in the heater and the taps were shut. I've also got the van back and found the door left unlocked and locker doors also left unlocked. 

    This was a dealer who I believed was one of the better ones. They don't service my van any more.

  • Hedgehurst
    Hedgehurst Forum Participant Posts: 576
    100 Comments
    edited October 2018 #6

    So far you're confirming my instinct - thanks :-) Anyone for Autumn?

  • Rufs
    Rufs Club Member Posts: 4,072 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited October 2018 #7

    yup just had mine done, caravan sits on some land next to bungalow so no trauma, but find weather better just now so engineer does not have to work in freezing cold, use van most of year sometimes just as a spare bedroom when we have guest so it is nearly always flashed up.

  • Randomcamper
    Randomcamper Club Member Posts: 1,062 ✭✭
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    edited October 2018 #8

    Yep.....

    My dealer was doing services in Autumn for £99........

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