One of the best things about caravanning is the ease with which you can get up and go. But it's all too easy when buying a new tourer to think only of that first trip and not of the teething problems you might encounter.
All caravans are built by hand, so occasionally human errors will creep in and cause minor faults. But such niggles are mostly picked up early on. Manufacturer's make their own pre-delivery inspection (PDI) before dispatching vans to dealerships. The dealers then run their own inspections, under the terms of their franchises.
By following a comprehensive checklist, workshops will usually pick up on most faults.
When a customer comes to collect their van, many dealers will run a demonstration in which they hook-up the tourer to the gas and mains electricity to show how everything works. This allows the buyer to test everything there and then.
Teething problems are much easier to sort out with an expert on hand than, say, when you're half-way across the Continent. But you really need to make
a thorough check of your own.
The way to do this is to take your van for a short overnight stay, preferably at a site close to the dealership. Not only will this give you the chance to make your own thorough inspection, but by actually living in the van you will get to test out all its equipment and any faults will become immediately apparent.
And because of your close proximity to the dealership, it will be easy enough to return with the caravan the following day for more advice or to get any problems remedied.
Remember though that the dealer's corrective efforts could take time. So it helps to ask for your van to be delivered before the pre-touring-season rush that inevitably has workshops booked solid.
If possible, choose your van in the autumn, and take
delivery as soon as possible thereafter. This will give you
a useful window in which
to try it out before the summer.
Key areas to check
All external lights
Make your first check before you set off for the first time. Test your indicators, brakes, hazards and sidelights, with someone else watching to see if the caravan's rear lights function in tandem with your car's.
Mains input socket
On arrival at the local site, you should hook-up and check that you're plugged in correctly. Some hook-ups need to be twisted into position, so make sure the cable is properly connected.
Hooking-up lets you test all the mains-powered equipment (such as the heater, stereo and corner lights). If there doesn't seem to be any power, first check that you haven't tripped the cut-out switch on the hook-up bollard or the site's fuse box. Ask a warden' for help if you're unsure.
If you can access the box, look for a switch that has flipped into the ‘off' position – it will stand out because it will be pointing in the opposite direction to the other switches. Reset it by pushing the switch up. Or try another hook-up bollard to see if the problem lies with that rather than with the van.
Ensure that the master power switch is on ‘230V' or 'mains', rather than ‘battery' or ‘12V'. Find the main RCD cut-out switch. This is usually near the exterior mains socket in a locker or at the bottom of the wardrobe; your handbook will help you find it. Ensure it is in the ‘up' position, otherwise, power to all internal circuits will be shut off.
Often the problem is something as simple as a tripped switch, but if you really can't get the electrics to work, you should take it back to the dealer and ask for help
Refrigerator
If your 12S wiring and battery are working correctly, your fridge will start to cool as you drive, provided you set its dial to the 12V ‘electric' setting before you depart. When you arrive, set the fridge to run on gas, or mains electricity if there is hook-up.
Adjust the fridge to its coldest setting so that any drop in temperature is easy to detect, but allow about half an hour of operation before checking whether there is any change.
12V system
Switch on the main lights (the ceiling lights and fluorescent strips usually run on 12V) before plugging into the mains hook-up. You can also test it when you're hooked up by switching the electrics over to ‘battery'.
The water pump runs on the 12V system only; test it by attaching a full Aquaroll and flicking on the pump. You should hear the pump suck up water from the Aquaroll.
Water pump, hot/cold water system and drainage
With the Aquaroll full and the pump on, you are ready to try the water system. It might take a minute or two but then the water should flow freely.
Now switch on the water heater. Wait 45 minutes before checking the hot water flow, but allow a couple of hours for it to get hot.
Make sure your van is level before testing the drainage. Sinks should drain quickly
and completely.
Hob/oven/grill
Make sure the straps that hold the gas bottle are sufficiently tight, and that the yellow tap
is turned to the ‘open' position. Inside, you'll find a separate gas tap for each appliance. These are cut-off valves and should also be in the ‘open' position. Try each burner, as well as the oven and grill. They should burn with
a blue flame. If the flame is
yellow, turn it off and get the cooker's gas supply checked.
A fail-safe device fitted to modern caravans prevents the hob lighting if the cover isn't fully open, so check this if you have problems
Space heater
The most likely problem is that, when used with gas, the heater won't ignite. Turn the thermostat dial on the heater to the highest setting and depress the ignition button for five seconds. If it lights up, you'll see the flame through the small inspection hole on the front of the heater. If it doesn't light, check the gas cylinder valve and the stopcock (which will be under the kitchen sink) are fully open, and try again.
The heater takes longer to warm up when run on mains electricity. Switch it to full power for 15 minutes to see whether it is functioning.
A common problem with modern heaters is that, when you use the blown-air function, the air from the van comes out cold until the heater gets hot. To avoid a cold draft, let the heater warm up on the convection, or ordinary, setting and switch to blown-air once the heating element is hot.
CD/radio
Try the CD, radio and other functions such as sound
balance and volume. Check that all the speakers are
working and that the radio
signal is clear. If the radio shares the aerial with a TV, ensure the booster is switched on for best results.
Cassette toilet
Follow the instructions in
your handbook for correct operation. Ensure that the exterior door opens and shuts easily, and that the cassette doesn't stick in the aperture. Add the correct volumes of water and toilet chemicals. Then there's only one way
to test it properly…
Wheelnut torque and tyres
The handbook will list correct tyre pressure torque for the wheelnuts. Check the latter with a torque wrench, and the former with a tyre compressor gauge. You shouldn't need to check tyre wear on a new van, but look out for damage to the wheel rim, or tyre walls. Ensure that wheel covers are firmly in place before setting off and that, if locking wheelnuts are fitted, you have the key to undo them.
Don't worry: you're covered
Fortunately, all new caravans come with a warranty. Parts and servicing warranties usually last for two or three years after
purchase but vary depending on the manufacturer. If you meet the servicing requirements stated by the manufacturer, and use your caravan appropriately, then any work carried out within this time should be covered by the warranty.
If your test-run doesn't throw up any concerns, but
problems crop up later on, you should let the dealer know straight away. If the dealer is not helpful, send him a concise and polite letter of complaint. Reputable dealers will be keen to resolve the problem quickly.
Bear in mind that a dealer might be overwhelmed with work, or that parts might be hard to obtain, so give him every opportunity to resolve the issue. If you eventually have to go to court, your case will be helped by your having made a reasonable effort to sort out the problem in the first place.
If you do decide to take
your case to court, ensure
you have a record of all
letters and get a second
opinion from an independent professional, such as
a workshop technician.
But remember, that the
key to relaxing, stress-free
times in your new caravan
is checking it thoroughly
to begin with. |
