Caravans to face MOTs

[williredale]

I'm no caravanner but I really can't see a problem with this idea. A yearly check to make sure it's safe? Maybe it'll result in fewer wrecked ones down here in the West Country!

[littlebasher]

williredale said:

I'm no caravanner but I really can't see a problem with this idea. A yearly check to make sure it's safe? Maybe it'll result in fewer wrecked ones down here in the West Country!

Almost all the caravans under 5 years old will be serviced every year, to maintain their warranty

The rest are old and skanky, therefore should probably be crushed

Joking aside, how many accident involving caravans are due to poor maintenance? Recently i've seen both a Toyota Avensis and a 3 door Golf pulling huge TA Hobby vans, the sort that (legally) you're probably only allowed to tow behind a commercial. Nutcases

[Nigel Worc's]

Krikkit said:

Exige77 said:

Seems perfectly good idea.

If they are on the road they should be safe.

Ex77

Agree 100% - why not test them? It won't be a complicated or difficult thing.

And another in agreement here, and for trailers ........ I can't think of one reason why not !

[Petemate]

littlebasher said:

Almost all the caravans under 5 years old will be serviced every year, to maintain their warranty

The rest are old and skanky, therefore should probably be crushed

Joking aside, how many accident involving caravans are due to poor maintenance? Recently i've seen both a Toyota Avensis and a 3 door Golf pulling huge TA Hobby vans, the sort that (legally) you're probably only allowed to tow behind a commercial. Nutcases

I take exception to your comment intimating that caravans over 5 years old are skanky. My 2006 Sterling Eccles Topaz is as immaculate as when it left the factory, having been extremely well looked after by the (only) previous owners. Also my previous caravan, a 1999 Swift Classic Coronette, of which I was also the second owner, had only a couple of small dings near the door otherwise it looked like new. Annual servicing, as I have previously stated, is likely to be the requirement of owners' insurers in most cases. My Topaz was fully serviced the day before we collected it; it has had an annual service every year since new; all three tyres are less than 2 years old and fitted with Tyron bands and I pay scrupulous attention to safety aspects of both caravan and the car prior to every trip, out and back. I hope that the 5 year figure was tongue in cheek; (I did see the !!)if not, you clearly do not know a lot about caravans.
That aside, you have made good points regarding the stupidity of some car owners who look only at their car maker's towing limit, which bears no relation as to how the safety of an outfit with a caravan of that weight would be affected. Of course, MOT testing would have NO bearing on such a situation in the same way as a vehicle with a valid MOT either on the day of issue or later would fare if severely overloaded.

Sorry littlebasher - just seen your profile and that you are a 'vanner, also with an impressive list of former cars. (do you tow with the Laguna?)
No offence meant!
Pete

Edited by Petemate on Friday 9th August 23:28

[Nigel Worc's]

Petemate said:

littlebasher said:

Almost all the caravans under 5 years old will be serviced every year, to maintain their warranty

The rest are old and skanky, therefore should probably be crushed

Joking aside, how many accident involving caravans are due to poor maintenance? Recently i've seen both a Toyota Avensis and a 3 door Golf pulling huge TA Hobby vans, the sort that (legally) you're probably only allowed to tow behind a commercial. Nutcases

I take exception to your comment intimating that caravans over 5 years old are skanky. My 2006 Sterling Eccles Topaz is as immaculate as when it left the factory, having been extremely well looked after by the (only) previous owners. Also my previous caravan, a 1999 Swift Classic Coronette, of which I was also the second owner, had only a couple of small dings near the door otherwise it looked like new. Annual servicing, as I have previously stated, is likely to be the requirement of owners' insurers in most cases. My Topaz was fully serviced the day before we collected it; it has had an annual service every year since new; all three tyres are less than 2 years old and fitted with Tyron bands and I pay scrupulous attention to safety aspects of both caravan and the car prior to every trip, out and back. I hope that the 5 year figure was tongue in cheek; (I did see the !!)if not, you clearly do not know a lot about caravans.
That aside, you have made good points regarding the stupidity of some car owners who look only at their car maker's towing limit, which bears no relation as to how the safety of an outfit with a caravan of that weight would be affected. Of course, MOT testing would have NO bearing on such a situation in the same way as a vehicle with a valid MOT either on the day of issue or later would fare if severely overloaded.

Doesn't the present licencing structure go some was to correecting some of your very valid concerns.

I realise the changes are quite recent, by my standards, but the days when you pass your test and are entitled to tow anything have gone. They have to be qualified now, so will hopefully actually learn about the subject.

[littlebasher]

Petemate said:

littlebasher said:

Almost all the caravans under 5 years old will be serviced every year, to maintain their warranty

The rest are old and skanky, therefore should probably be crushed

Joking aside, how many accident involving caravans are due to poor maintenance? Recently i've seen both a Toyota Avensis and a 3 door Golf pulling huge TA Hobby vans, the sort that (legally) you're probably only allowed to tow behind a commercial. Nutcases

I take exception to your comment intimating that caravans over 5 years old are skanky. My 2006 Sterling Eccles Topaz is as immaculate as when it left the factory, having been extremely well looked after by the (only) previous owners. Also my previous caravan, a 1999 Swift Classic Coronette, of which I was also the second owner, had only a couple of small dings near the door otherwise it looked like new. Annual servicing, as I have previously stated, is likely to be the requirement of owners' insurers in most cases. My Topaz was fully serviced the day before we collected it; it has had an annual service every year since new; all three tyres are less than 2 years old and fitted with Tyron bands and I pay scrupulous attention to safety aspects of both caravan and the car prior to every trip, out and back. I hope that the 5 year figure was tongue in cheek; (I did see the !!)if not, you clearly do not know a lot about caravans.
That aside, you have made good points regarding the stupidity of some car owners who look only at their car maker's towing limit, which bears no relation as to how the safety of an outfit with a caravan of that weight would be affected. Of course, MOT testing would have NO bearing on such a situation in the same way as a vehicle with a valid MOT either on the day of issue or later would fare if severely overloaded.

Only joking!

I know that age isn't related to how a caravan is looked after. A friend has a 4 year old caravan that he uses as a seasonal. It's not moved from the same spot in those 4 years, if he decides to move it elsewhere then I'd have worries about the brakes / tyres that haven't turned in all that time.

[Petemate]

Also only just seen "joking aside". Must learn to engage brain a bit more. Sorreeee!
Your friend with the 4 year old caravan having not moved in all that time - good point, that would be a worry. At the least he should have a mobile service should he ever want to move it.
All the best
Pete

[Jawaman]

Our caravan is 21 years old (swift corvette if anyone is interested. Caravans have some comical names....)

Admittedly most 'vans I've seen around this age are scary, and I would welcome a caravan MOT. The frustrating thing is they really aren't hard to look after.

The braking system is fantastically simple, there are two tyres which are usually on 13" wheels on a caravan of this vintage so uber cheap and the wiring for the road lights is beyond basic.

If a caravan MOT ever came to being, I'd like to think it would include a gas safety check of some sort. That's probably the biggest safety issue with a caravan IMO

[zed4]

I'm waiting for trailers to have MOTs, as Germany do. Some of the boat trailers I see at work are laughable, or at least they would be if they weren't so dangerous!

[Jawaman]

zed4 said:

I'm waiting for trailers to have MOTs, as Germany do. Some of the boat trailers I see at work are laughable, or at least they would be if they weren't so dangerous!

I was following a fairly new disco about a month ago, towing a reasonable looking speedboat. I was just thinking how crap the trailer looked when the near side wheel collapsed. Thankfully only doing about 20mph at the time through road works...

Why spend all that money on a boat and risk your investment by carrying it on a cack trailer?

[aw51 121565]

How will it be policed? By the registration mark on the back??? Or - sinister cynicism - special new marks secreated around he place that can be noted from the front and rear?

Cue hollow laughter ... nay ; tourettes coming on !



*Sigh* Another non-news item in the non-credible mainstream press, and we're commenting on it .

[pingu393]

I would suggest that most caravans (and trailers in the future, maybe) are on private land except for the 8 hours that they take to get from the Midlands to Cornwall. This means that the only chance to police the "MOT" is on the journey. Or are all caravans going to need a test, even the ones in back gardens that are used as hen-houses?

I declare a personal interest as I have a trailer that is used for storage only and I can't get it to the test station unless I knock down the neighbour's garden wall.

[Crafty_]

aw51 121565 said:

How will it be policed? By the registration mark on the back???

In some, if not all states in the US trailers have their own registration.

[lescombes]

Think of all the caravans that would need to be registered first.... before any MOT... being a 'van owner I welcome such a test..get rid of some of the 1 or 2 week a year moss covered sheds where the brakes n tyres are not checked year on year.
I am an all year Caravan and Campervan user...and my Caravan is checked before every trip out, tyres,brakes,lights,hitch,wheel torque etc... little OTT perhaps but that is me..safety is paramount. My Bongo Camper (also my tow car) is checked in a similar way inc torque the alloys.
This test could be easily done by a mobile 'van mechanic and really it should be bi-annual and about £20
They still need to tackle the registration on all the caravans in the UK...

My only gripe is industrial trailers plus some DIY specials like I saw today are exempt from these proposals...

[corozin]

Given that it seems that 90% of all caravans end up in either Dorset, Somerset or Cornwall every summer I suggest MOT checkpoints are set up at the borders of all three counties.

Upon arrival your "van" will be inspected for the requisite fee and only allowed to continue if:
a) It passes the test and you've paid the fee
b) you can prove you are willing to tow it at at least 50mph and not the bloody 35mph that most of them seem to go
c) you're not towing it with a transit flatbed
d) you don't have a fake "oirish" accent and you're not on the benefits.

[Searider]

zed4 said:

I'm waiting for trailers to have MOTs, as Germany do. Some of the boat trailers I see at work are laughable, or at least they would be if they weren't so dangerous!

Dan, do you offer trailer servicing - I know it's not really your core business - but a good opportunity to up sell a service?

The outboard mechanic I use also does trailers - get both serviced at he same time.

[zed4]

Searider said:

zed4 said:

I'm waiting for trailers to have MOTs, as Germany do. Some of the boat trailers I see at work are laughable, or at least they would be if they weren't so dangerous!

Dan, do you offer trailer servicing - I know it's not really your core business - but a good opportunity to up sell a service?

The outboard mechanic I use also does trailers - get both serviced at he same time.

Hi Duncan,

Yes, we do. But it's very labour intensive as with most boat trailers, everything is usually rusted up!

By the way, with regards to trailer registration, the new boat trailers I'm getting in comply with EU regs with LED side marker lights (wonder how long they will last after being dunked in the sea?!) and lots of other things to comply. They're also coming with customer registration forms which must be filled in by law. I can see proper registration documents coming soon.

[zed4]

Jawaman said:

zed4 said:

I'm waiting for trailers to have MOTs, as Germany do. Some of the boat trailers I see at work are laughable, or at least they would be if they weren't so dangerous!

I was following a fairly new disco about a month ago, towing a reasonable looking speedboat. I was just thinking how crap the trailer looked when the near side wheel collapsed. Thankfully only doing about 20mph at the time through road works...

Why spend all that money on a boat and risk your investment by carrying it on a cack trailer?

Sounds about right, amazing isn't it?

People often bring boats in for me to sell with worn out trailers, and then complain when I give them an estimate to get it up to scratch!

[jagracer]

zed4 said:

I'm getting in comply with EU regs with LED side marker lights (wonder how long they will last after being dunked in the sea?!)

As they're sealed I would think they'd last a lot longer than bulbs, that's if boat trailers need to be fitted with side markers at the moment.

[Petemate]

zed4 said:

They're also coming with customer registration forms which must be filled in by law. I can see proper registration documents coming soon.

Good post zed4. I would think that it would not take the brain of an Einstein to expand the CRIS registration scheme to encompass most if not all caravans. This system, now run by the NCC, is quite involved and includes etching of the caravan's VIN on all the windows, and some manufacturers (AFAIK) even have a microchip planted somewhere in the body for security. The scheme has a nice registration document (like a car's 'log-book') and we have just sent our £12 away for the registration in my name (bought the 'van in June but with the backlog following the NCC takeover there was a delay)
The system could well be the future for caravan control and ultimately the organisation and incorporation of an MOT set-up.
For those established caravanners on here, I know you are probably all aware of a lot of what I have posted but I know that there will be non-caravanning contributors who will venture into this section out of curiosity. Come and join us! It's a great life with benefits a-plenty.