Member Since: 13 Jun 2016
Location: Dalgety Bay
Posts: 817
Caravan servicing and warranty work
Ok question on a new or nearly new van , if I buy down south can I take it to a local service point near me for all warranty work? Had it my head I would need to use whom I bought from ?
16th Aug 2018 4:51 pm
Pelyma
Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Patching, Sussex
Posts: 15496
Yes you can, our Fleetwood was supplied by Droylesdon Caravans near Manchester, but serviced in Havant Hampshire. I would check with your manufacturer though.DS3 TDV6 HSE - Silver with Alpaca (old one) Gone
DS3 TDV6 HSE- Silver with Alpaca (new one) Gone
D4 HSE Lux - Montalcino Red Gone
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16th Aug 2018 5:09 pm
Russell
Member Since: 23 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564
Legally you are supposed to be able to, but many dealers will make it difficult to get booked in etc or even do the work if you did not buy from them so suggest talk to your local dealer firstMY17 D5 1st Edition Namib Orange
MY15 D4 HSE Kaikoura Stone
MY12 D4 HSE Nara Bronze Sold and gone
MY11 D4 HSE Stornaway Grey Sold and gone
D3 S spec Silver Sold and gone
Tow bar, full length roof bars, side steps, tow bar storage unit, surround camers.
D4 camera club
16th Aug 2018 5:49 pm
nigel207
Member Since: 26 Mar 2009
Location: Nottinghamshire
Posts: 1359
As Russell says, in theory yes, but dealers don’t have to take on any work, and often adopt the attitude of “If you didn’t buy it from us, why should we do any work on it?” Most dealerships are very busy working on their own customers caravans so don’t need the extra work.
We often mistake/compare the caravan industry with the motor industry. In reality, they are nothing alike.
People often find out the hard way. They get what looks like a cracking deal at one of the shows (NEC) from a dealer who is several hundred miles away. That’s fine until they need some work doing and then find out that they have to take it back to the supplying dealership, which in the long run negates the initial savings.
16th Aug 2018 5:58 pm
Russell
Member Since: 23 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564
I was very lucky when I brought a Bailey Unicorn from up north and then took it to my local Bailey dealer for waranty work, thye did it and serviced it for the next three years. When I chnaged at the NEC i ended up buying from my local dealer following "A" the service and "B" only being £200 dearer than another dealer up north.MY17 D5 1st Edition Namib Orange
MY15 D4 HSE Kaikoura Stone
MY12 D4 HSE Nara Bronze Sold and gone
MY11 D4 HSE Stornaway Grey Sold and gone
D3 S spec Silver Sold and gone
Tow bar, full length roof bars, side steps, tow bar storage unit, surround camers.
D4 camera club
Dealer near me refuses to undertake any work now unless you bought from them, that covers three dealers, Swindon, Oxford and Reading, they are not alone in this and nothing the manufacturer can do about it.
Caravan industry doesn’t work like the car industry, your Disco is made up of lots of parts and assembled by LR and the warranty for all the parts is via the dealer with LR, caravans, same again, lots of parts assembled by, Bailey/Lunar/Swift etc, but the warranty is covered by each different supplier, Alde for the heating, Whale for the water, Dometic for the fridge, Alko the chassis, etc, hence each problem the dealer has to deal with each supplier, not the caravan manufacturer, they only cover the shell.
Lots of hassle for little reward.
16th Aug 2018 6:42 pm
Peakwayfarer
Member Since: 25 Apr 2016
Location: Uk
Posts: 434
Just bought a new caravan from a dealer in East Sussex, we live in Derbyshire!
And we had a great two week holiday in that lovely part of England.
However the deal was very good, much better than any of the dealers within a 50 mile radius to our home.
So far very pleased with the caravan, a couple of minor and easy niggles that are being sorted by the dealer who is posting the bits to me to effect a repair.
It’s already booked in for its first service next year “down South” and we have planned and booked another holiday in that part of the world which we are looking forward to which makes it all the more worthwhile.
16th Aug 2018 7:08 pm
Russell
Member Since: 23 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564
Is it by any chance Caravan Tech?MY17 D5 1st Edition Namib Orange
MY15 D4 HSE Kaikoura Stone
MY12 D4 HSE Nara Bronze Sold and gone
MY11 D4 HSE Stornaway Grey Sold and gone
D3 S spec Silver Sold and gone
Tow bar, full length roof bars, side steps, tow bar storage unit, surround camers.
D4 camera club
16th Aug 2018 7:48 pm
Peakwayfarer
Member Since: 25 Apr 2016
Location: Uk
Posts: 434
Not caravan tech, but visited them for a few bits and pieces, a very good selection of bits and bobs
Bought my Swift challenger for Marquis leisure 18 months ago when last serviced it needs a new alarm
I could have had it done by a mobile caravan engineer or anywhere as long as it was an approved and vat reg business
16th Aug 2018 8:01 pm
npinks
Member Since: 30 Jan 2008
Location: Leeds
Posts: 1943
Check what they requirement for body work is, most likely approved garage etc
But you don’t want to throw away many years cover for a small mistake
16th Aug 2018 8:13 pm
al cope
Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
Location: Oldbury, WM
Posts: 10360
with Elddis there are some just service centers, so not selling dealships, and these will do warranty work and servicing irrespective of where the 'van came from. I checked this my my local one in the midlands before buying from Preston.
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Gone - MY18 D5 HSE - Corris on 22's with Black Pack
Now gone - MY16 D4 SE Tech, Loire Blue, Almond Leather, Privacy, plus some other goodies.
Old - MY12 D4 SDV6 XS Auto - Ipanema Sand with Almond Leather - Plus other niceties, and D4.com sticker
Older - D3 TDV6 XS Auto - Lugano Teal with Almond Leather, 20" Stormers, Shiny Tailpipes, DVD/TV - and obligatory D3 sticker
Ancient - D3 TDV6 S - Tonga with Ebony, 20" Stormers, satnav & DVD
17th Aug 2018 7:48 am
Biffysun
Member Since: 09 Jul 2011
Location: Central
Posts: 1790
Re: Caravan servicing and warranty work
Ali1971 wrote:
Ok question on a new or nearly new van , if I buy down south can I take it to a local service point near me for all warranty work? Had it my head I would need to use whom I bought from ?
As said above most local dealers will happily service the van but will not take on warranty work. I bought my new van in Preston (great deal) and as long as its serviced by a NCC approved agent then the warranty will be fine. When it comes to warranty work, major issues are usually referred to the 'supplying dealer' but minor stuff can (and has been) rectified by my local 'approved' service agent without issue.
I see you (OP) are in Fife and the agent I use who is Bailey and Elddis approved (Possibly Lunar too) is in Dunfermline so maybe worth speaking to him.
17th Aug 2018 8:17 am
Ali1971
Member Since: 13 Jun 2016
Location: Dalgety Bay
Posts: 817
Dunfermline?? Who is that ?? Not far from me ? Perthshire caravans has a nice 1yr old van but not budging on price as it’s cash only! Might be best waiting till the depths of winter to buy lol
17th Aug 2018 5:07 pm
Biffysun
Member Since: 09 Jul 2011
Location: Central
Posts: 1790
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