Servicing your caravan or motorhome

                       Image via Wikipedia

It has been a beautiful day in Derbyshire and its been very busy for Chatsworth Motorhome & Caravan Servicing.

I have had numerous calls over the last few weeks with people asking to have their caravan serviced "next" week. Any good service company is going to be very busy in spring as everyone gets their van out and ready for the new season.

Please plan ahead or consider having your van serviced a bit later in the year.

Caravan Fire in Lancashire

(Photo credit: HeatherMG)

http://www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/2012/03/incident-0003-01-03-12-0018hrs-caravan/

I think that this once again shows the importance of a caravan service. Caravans are very flammable in their own right and add to that LPG then you have a real risk.

Fit a smoke alarm, CO alarm, service your van and check it over before every journey.

IMPORTANT NEWS FLASH - Bailey Alu-Tech caravans

I am pleased to say that we are now able to service Bailey Alu-Tech caravans at any age. Previously in year three the van had to go to a Bailey dealer for a specific type of service. This is no longer the case and Chatsworth Motorhome & Caravan Servicing is now able to service Bailey Alu-Tech caravans at any age and still maintain the warranty. You no longer have to hitch up your caravan and tow it away for a service, I will come to you and service at your home, storage site or even on a pitch.

Damp Caravans

I have put this post together to show just what a damp caravan looks like and more importantly how much work is involved in repairing one. The workshop belongs to my friends at S & C Caravans who carry out the damp and bodywork for my customers.

 The start of the process, the windows are out and the cupboards are being removed.

This is the rear of the caravan and we are starting to see the extent of the damp and the damage. Its not possible to predict the full extent of the damp until you start removing wall boards. You can't tell from the photograph but the wall was actually wet.

This is the rear panel with all of the insulation and timber removed. You can see the damp spores on the back panel. At this point the smell is very unpleasant but you can't smell it until you have broken through the wall boards. We often hear customers say that my van isn't damp because I can't smell anything - you wont until you expose you it.

This is the front panel and when the awning rail and sealant is removed you can see the fractures in the panel. There is no doubt that damp gets in this way. This will be plastic welded before the van is resealed and made water tight once again.

This is the back corner that is in the earlier pictures. We have started to replace the wall boards and the furniture is starting to go back in. It took a long time to strip out and clean but the reconstruction went smoothly although the extent of the damage was far worse than expected.

You can now see the rear of the caravan which is waiting for the window to be refitted.

At this point the back end is almost complete and attention has turned to the front of the van. As you can see the water heater has been removed along with all of the furniture. The damp is significant but it hasn't spread as much as it had in the rear of the van. There is still a significant amount of work to repair, reseal and make good.

So here we go with a selection of pictures which show the finished job. Once again another great job by S&C Caravans and Chatsworth Motorhome & Caravan Servicing. If you look at the photos below you will see that the front windows are back in, new seals have been fitted, the awning rails have been refitted and the lights have been put back in place. The final job was putting back all of the soft furnishings and cleaning up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Related articles

• Tips for winter caravan care (confused.com)
• Tips for caring for your caravan (ukcredit.com)

Ex Discover Leisure Customers

If you are a customer of the now defunct Discover Leisure and you need your caravan or motorhome servicing to maintain your warranty then we can help. Chatsworth Motorhome & Caravan Servicing are an AWS approved mobile workshop and we can service your nearly new ex Discover Leisure vehicle.

Spring time for your caravan or motorhome

It's that time of year when you should be thinking about getting your caravan or motorhome ready for the new season. Here are a few hints and tips.

First, get your annual service booked now. Its going to get busy for engineers and workshops and if you leave it too late then you will struggle to get it booked in.

Inspect the vehicle for any damaged caused over winter. Look for cracked seals, roof damage and probably most important take a look at your tyres.


Give your vehicle a good wash down and follow with a wax. I have started using the dry wash fluids which I find excellent on my motorhome.

Flush through your water system and then disinfect it with a proper caravan system disinfectant. Check your taps and water heater.

Clean out the toilet and put in some fluid.

Get the van on charge and make sure that the battery is holding that charge.

Run the fridge on 230v and gas and make sure it works on both. A lot of people say - we never use gas so why bother. The answer is simple, one day your 230v element will fail while your on holiday and being able to run the fridge on gas means your holiday is saved. If you don't run it on gas regularly when you do come to use it you will find that it doesn't fire up.

Storage sites in Derbyshire

I often get asked about storage sites in Derbyshire. I can recommend a really good CaSSOA Gold site. Its Wayside Farm near Matlock, see the CaSSOA wayside farm information page. Its important to know that your vehicle is going to be safe and this site has everything that you would expect when using a storage site.

Bailey AluTech servicing.

There seems to be a lot of confusion over servicing the new Bailey AluTech caravans. This hasn't been helped my some misinformation coming from some dealers. AluTech caravans can be serviced by any AWS  approved workshop in years 1 and 2 but the year 3 service needs to go to a Bailey approved workshop. After this 3rd year service then AWS workshops can carry on with servicing.

New web site

I have updated my web site today to reflect the fact that I am now an AWS approved mobile workshop. This means that I can service your new caravan or motorhome without affecting your warranty.

The weather

So 60mph gales in Derbyshire today. Not a good place for working outside so some jobs being rescheduled to hopefully a better day.

2012 servicing

I hope that you all had a good Christmas, everyone is now thinking about the New Year. So while your thinking about booking holidays and losing weight spare some thought for your motorhome or caravan. Remember you have a legal obligation to make sure your leisure vehicle is safe. So why not book in your 2012 service now so that you aren't disappointed when you eventually think about it. Chatsworth Motorhome & Caravan Servicing will be offering Approved Workshop Scheme (AWS) servicing during 2012 which means we can service new vehicles without affecting your warranty.

Study, study and more study.

Its been a very busy few weeks as I go through the process to become an Approved Workshop. My van inspection went very well last week and I just have the final practical examination (C&G) to do. Wish me well.

Is your caravan or motorhome three years old or older?

The National Caravan Council, British Standards and the MCEA all recommend that any Leisure Vehicle should have a Periodic Inspection (PIR) or Electrical Installation Condition Report (ECIR) after three years and then at appropriate intervals (probably every three years). You can see the details within BS 7671:2008 A1:2011 (the 17th edition of the IEE Wiring Regulations). The Caravan training organisation CITO also have a document covering this important safety area which is issued to engineers.

Any engineer wanting to offer this service has to be trained and must be able to prove competence in this area. Chatsworth Motorhome & Caravan Servicing is pleased to announce that they are now offering EICR testing and reporting.

Trusted Trader

Great news, Chatsworth Motorhome & Caravan Servicing is now a member of Derbyshire County Councils Trusted Trader scheme.

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Charger in and around Matlock

In the last 24 hours I have replaced 4 battery chargers in caravans and motorhomes. They have all been within a few miles of Matlock and it seems very unusual.

Matlock had a major power outage last week and I don't know if is related.

Derbyshire Today

So here we are at the end of September. The temperature out there is 28'c and the sky is blue. So if your looking for somewhere to go this weekend then Derbyshire could be just the place. Get the van ready, call the many camp sites and get on over here - you will not be disappointed.

September 2011

I just wanted to post a few observations from a recent trip to France.

Firstly when getting on and off a ferry you need to take it slowly and carefully. When the tide is out the ferry can be quite low and the ramps steep. I observed a number of caravans grounding and the owners didn't even seem aware - until they get home and spot the damage or missing weight spreading foot.

230v cables, you will probably need an adapter to allow you to plug in to the older power bollards that have the continental type sockets. All new installations across the EU have the modern blue connectors.


Water is scarce in southern Europe don't waste it.

Beam converters are needed on cars and motorhomes to stay legal.

Watch the speed limits, it might not always be obvious and often caravans and motorhomes have lower limits. If you get caught you might have to find the money there and then. If you get caught by a camera just because you are not in the UK doesn't mean that the fine will not turn up at your home.

Where do you work.

Image by Terry Waller via FlickrI am often asked how big the area is that I cover. I am happy to travel anywhere in Derbyshire and large areas of Nottinghamshire. This week has seen me in Alfreton, Matlock, Darley Bridge, Chesterfield, Buxton, Baslow, Tansley, Sheffield and Mansfield amongst other places.

The MCEA web site seems to indicate that I only cover the Peak District but this is not the case.

If you want your motorhome or caravan servicing then please give me a call or drop me an e-mail. Please remember that when I am servicing its not always possible to answer the phone. Please try later.

I also do repairs but for bodywork you really need a workshop and I am happy to recommend engineers that can help.

We specialise in call outs to get you going whilst on holiday. If your on a site and having problems then we can help.

So remember if you have a caravan or motorhome then you need to remember how to contact Chatsworth Motorhome & Caravan Servicing.

Call 07918 121085
or
e-mail info@chatsworth-service.co.uk

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Look out for this stolen caravan

Stolen - any information please contatc the Police or Crimestoppers.

 

2007 Swift Charisma 590 twin axle.

Chassis number is SGDDT4ASW70325899

 

 

It is likely to have some panel damage to the near side as it collided with the gate on the way out so they may be looking to get it repaired.

 

distinguishing features:

The caravan has a 2 WD powertouch fitted

an added external power socket on the near side near the wheel arch.

Awning has LED's fitted and a reflective foil has been fitted to it.

Yet another caravan fire

I think the title gives you a clue?

http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/9194900.Investigation_continues_into_fatal_caravan_blaze_in_Hastings/

 I guess this is yet another reminder of how important a service is for your van.

Caravan fire

You really can't take a risk with safety in caravans. Take a look at this newspaper story to see just how much damage can be caused. Shropshire Star.

If your unsure what to do then talk to your caravan or motorhome engineer. We can advise on gas checks, provide smoke alarms, fire extinguishers and service your van. from my own website you can purchase smoke alarms etc. or just ask me next time you see my van.

Electrical problems

Image via WikipediaI seem to be having a spate of electrical problems right now. I don't know why but chargers seem to be failing on a regular basis, its not a single brand or caravan company which is odd.

Its the Bakewell show this week and travel around North Derbyshire has been significantly affected. It has been excellent weather and this brought out the tourists in big numbers.

Related articles

• 28/05/2011 - Matlock Bath to Bakewell (worcwalk.wordpress.com)

How the mighty fall

This might not have anything to do with caravans or motorhomes but having just watched the Head of the Metropolitan Police resign because of the News International bribery and phone hacking investigation it makes me realise that the truth will eventually come out. The establishments seems to have covered things up for years but people power, investigations by other newspapers and some politicians standing up to be counted the truth is eventually coming out.

What a nice day

It was very hot working in this field not far from Alfreton. It certainly makes working outside a pleasure.

Sent from my HTC

I can smell gas

There are days when you come across things that make you wince. Look carefully and you will see a high pressure hose and a low pressure hose joined together.  You will also see two regulators.... When I opened the gas locker the smell of gas hit you straight away, another good reason to have your van serviced.