Time for an annual caravan health check?

To make sure your caravan continues to provide enjoyable, hassle-free holidays for many years to come, it is essential that it is given an annual ‘health check’ by a professional organisation. This is usually conducted by the dealer from whom you purchased your leisure vehicle. It isn’t just for your piece of mind – it may be a condition of your warranty.

If you’re buying a brand new caravan, many manufacturers now offer up to a ten-year warranty, with some also offering six-year water ingress warranties (ensuring your seals will be covered). Dealers supplying second-hand caravans tend to offer a range of warranties from 12 months to three years. Whether you buy new or second-hand, an annual service will be an essential element of the warranty, and for good reason.

The annual check-up is vital to make sure your caravan remains legal for road use and, just like the servicing you have on your car, it also highlights any slight niggles which could potentially become dangerous problems if left unchecked. The number of police spot checks has also increased in certain areas, so towing something that does not come up to scratch could easily land you in hot water.

There are a number of specialist firms that deal in caravan servicing, but as well as getting advice from friends, you should also look out for the Independently Assessed red flag symbol.
This means the firm fits into the Approved Workshop Scheme, formed by the National Caravan Council, and the two national clubs such as The Camping and Caravanning Club.

It ensures they comply with an industry-wide code of conduct. You will get a fully-qualified technician dealing with your caravan and usually a six-month guarantee on any work performed. You should also ask for the engineer’s report listing exactly what was checked and what work was carried out. If you’re still under warranty, not having proof of this may well invalidate that.

If you still have a warranty with the dealership you bought the caravan from, they may insist on doing the servicing themselves. If your caravan is out of warranty, you are effectively a free agent when it comes to servicing.

Clearly, there aren’t as many caravan-servicing specialists as there are car mechanics out there, and the thought of towing your caravan 30 miles when there isn’t a holiday at the end of the journey doesn’t appeal to most people.

Fortunately, some of these firms offer to come to your driveway or storage site, which has the added advantage that you can watch the engineer do the work while they’re on your home ground – something some owners may find reassuring.

The service will include basics such as inspecting the chassis, cleaning and adjusting brakes, checking tyre pressure, road lights and grease couplings, as well as checking all the gas and electric appliances and making sure there’s no damp.

Is it time for your touring caravan’s annual health check?