Although it might not be at the top of anyone’s list when it comes to ‘fun ways to spend £200 to £400 each year’, caravan servicing is definitely one of the more essential options, which, in the long-term, should pay dividends.
After investing in one of the best caravans, it’s understandable that you’re going to want to do all you can to look after it, so you and your family can enjoy making memories on the road. A high-quality caravan service by an experienced – or better still, accredited – technician will keep you and your family safe and sound on site and on the road.
It will also prolong the life of your tourer, minimise the chance of breakdowns and malfunctions when you’re on holiday, and fulfil your warranty obligations. It could pay back big time when it comes to selling on, too.
In a standard annual caravan service, your technician should use a checklist of tests to ensure that all parts of the running gear and habitation are in good nick, safe to use, and ready for another year of touring.
Approved Workshop Scheme
The Approved Workshop Scheme (AWS) is the UK benchmark for caravan servicing and maintenance. It’s a joint venture between the NCC, the Camping and Caravanning Club and the Caravan and Motorhome Club. The scheme ensures that AWS-accredited servicing is always undertaken by trained and experienced professionals.
The AWS supplies a formal checklist to its technicians, who might work in a dealership or an independent workshop, or provide their services in a mobile capacity. This list includes more than 100 individual checks, across the following categories:
- Chassis and running gear
- Electrical systems
- Gas systems (including fridge)
- Caravan water systems
- Ventilation
- Fire and safety
- Bodywork
- Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
- Fire extinguisher date
- Wheel nut torque checks
- Damp report
- Battery checks
A full caravan service typically takes three to five hours to complete, depending on the type of caravan you own. For instance, if you own a twin-axle caravan, bear in mind that it is likely to take longer.
To find a certified AWS organisation or check the technician’s AWS credentials, on the Approved Workshop Scheme website.
To learn more about what is required for a technician to achieve AWS accreditation, visit the Caravan Industry Training website.
Prepare your own list
The technician will assess all parts of your caravan, but it’s wise to prepare a list of any problems that you might have spotted when using your van – and that means everything from a loose locker handle, to the fridge not functioning on gas, for example. Keep your list in a caravan drawer while you’re away, and add any queries to it.
Better safe than sorry
Safety-wise, some of the most important things to check and maintain in an annual service are those parts that ensure you can tow safely. These include the caravan brakes, hitch, lights, wheels and tyres.
Just as important are the gas and electrical systems, which could be highly dangerous if faulty. These include the leisure battery, the RCD and cabling on the electrical side, along with the cylinder(s), regulators, hoses, pipes and burners in the gas system.
Caravan warranties
If you buy a new van with a long warranty, this will only be honoured on the basis that it is serviced annually by an approved technician or dealership, following a rigid timetable. This varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, with some offering a six-month window and others, a tighter 60-day schedule. This will be explained by the dealership you buy from.
Likewise, any extended used-van warranties are likely to have servicing guidelines.
This is important for all elements of your tourer, including the heating and lighting, but it’s particularly crucial when it comes to water ingress warranties, which might be active for six to 10 years. If your caravan develops a leak after five years, the manufacturer will need to see proof that the vehicle has adhered to its servicing regime. Failure to do so (and to show the proof) is likely to invalidate any guarantee.
Annual services for your caravan will help to boost the early detection of any problems. This could mean the difference between a bit of resealing with silicone and a drying-out period, and the need for a full-blown interior panel or floor section replacement. The latter could take your van off the road for an entire season.
It makes sense to book next year’s service on the completion of your latest one. Good dealerships have very busy workshops, and trying to book in late could make it difficult to get the slot you will need to maintain the validity of your warranty.
Each manufacturer will have their own servicing criteria, as Bill Chilver, Operations Director at Raymond James Caravans in Atherstone, Warwickshire, explains:
- Bailey: The final annual service in any warranty period must be carried out before the end of that warranty period, but all other annual services may be carried out within six weeks either side of each anniversary of the original purchase date. The original VAT invoices must be retained as proof that these annual inspections have been carried out.
- Coachman: Services must be carried out within 90 days either side of the anniversary of the date of purchase, for interim years before the anniversary date of the third year.
- Erwin Hymer Group: In years one, two and four through to nine, the service must be completed no more than 60 days either side of the anniversary of the purchase date. In years three and 10, the service must be completed no more than 60 days before the anniversary of the date of purchase. No service interval should exceed 14 months.
- Swift Group: Annual caravan servicing must take place within 90 days before or 60 days after each anniversary of the original date of purchase.
Safety and insurance
Annual services help to keep your tourer in road-safe condition. Chassis and hitch condition, brake shoes and caravan tyre wear (including the spare) are all monitored.
Failure to maintain a sensible servicing regime might complicate any insurance claims, especially if you are deemed negligent. Good quality, annual services offer peace of mind.
What about extra devices?
If you’ve added any appliances or devices to your caravan, such as the best caravan mover, air conditioning, or a satellite dish, the fitting work should have been carried out by an approved expert technician.
While your annual service may check the basic function and safety of these devices, any maintenance or repair is unlikely to be included and should be booked as a separate job with the business that fitted it, or with another appropriate expert.
Who to choose for your caravan servicing?
Your van’s warranty is likely to dictate that you use a manufacturer-approved service facility or an AWS technician for your annual caravan checks. Most owners take their caravan back to the supplying dealership, but if you bought yours from a more distant outlet, to bag a great price or unmissable deal, this could be inconvenient.
In that case, you might need to locate a local, independent NCC/AWS outfit to service your tourer. This is because many dealerships are not interested in servicing or carrying out warranty work on caravans they didn’t sell.
Always make sure you discuss the servicing requirements and limitations when you purchase your tourer.
If your dealer goes out of business, contact the manufacturer to find a replacement service centre with the required accreditation.
If you’re after ideas for other maintenance tasks that can be done to look after your van, check out our guide to how to clean a caravan roof – it’s often the dirtiest part of any tourer.
Future Publishing Limited, the publisher of Practical Caravan, provides the information in this article in good faith and makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Individuals carrying out the instructions do so at their own risk and must exercise their independent judgement in determining the appropriateness of the advice to their circumstances and skill level. Individuals should take appropriate safety precautions and be aware of the risk of electrocution when dealing with electrical products. To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither Future nor its employees or agents shall have any liability in connection with the use of this information. You should check that any van warranty will not be affected before proceeding with DIY projects.
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