Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Jay w]

This isn't one of my rants about pike wagons this is a serious post......

correct me if i am wrong but the current regs do not force caravans to have an annual test, however there are more and more of them on the roads these days and there seem to be more accidents involving 'vans.
Im not saying hat the accidents are caused by lack of maintainence but there must be an element.

Some of these vans sit in compounds for months and then get dragged out for a couple of weeks of the year, that cannot be good for them, wheel bearings and tyres must be the main items that suffer as a result

[JamesV6CDX]

This isn't one of my rants about pike wagons this is a serious post......

correct me if i am wrong but the current regs do not force caravans to have an annual test, however there are more and more of them on the roads these days and there seem to be more accidents involving 'vans.
Im not saying hat the accidents are caused by lack of maintainence but there must be an element.

Some of these vans sit in compounds for months and then get dragged out for a couple of weeks of the year, that cannot be good for them, wheel bearings and tyres must be the main items that suffer as a result

I think trailer rules apply - Eg no MOT needed?  :-/

I can't say with certainty, though..

[Vamps]

No MOT is needed, as with trailers, I agree that sat for many months then taken out, perahps there should be some form of Mot but where do do you stop with trailers.

[Jay w]

This isn't one of my rants about pike wagons this is a serious post......

correct me if i am wrong but the current regs do not force caravans to have an annual test, however there are more and more of them on the roads these days and there seem to be more accidents involving 'vans.
Im not saying hat the accidents are caused by lack of maintainence but there must be an element.

Some of these vans sit in compounds for months and then get dragged out for a couple of weeks of the year, that cannot be good for them, wheel bearings and tyres must be the main items that suffer as a result

I think trailer rules apply - Eg no MOT needed?  :-/

I can't say with certainty, though..

pretty much as i thought, so effectively there is no control on something that is a big/bigger than a car and coupled with a car/4x4/truck can do massive damage.....

madness, sheer madness

[Vamps]

This isn't one of my rants about pike wagons this is a serious post......

correct me if i am wrong but the current regs do not force caravans to have an annual test, however there are more and more of them on the roads these days and there seem to be more accidents involving 'vans.
Im not saying hat the accidents are caused by lack of maintainence but there must be an element.

Some of these vans sit in compounds for months and then get dragged out for a couple of weeks of the year, that cannot be good for them, wheel bearings and tyres must be the main items that suffer as a result

I think trailer rules apply - Eg no MOT needed?  :-/

I can't say with certainty, though..

pretty much as i thought, so effectively there is no control on something that is a big/bigger than a car and coupled with a car/4x4/truck can do massive damage.....

madness, sheer madness

About rignt

[Jay w]

the other upside to a regular check on caravans would be checking to see if the caravan s what is claims to be.

Caravan theft and 'ringing' seems to be reasonably popular with some elements of the criminal fraternity, and there is serious money paid for some of these 'vans, this may also go some way to help in that respect  

[Lazydocker]

TBH Jay, the majority of Caravan related accidents are due to bad driving. Either too fast or inexperienced!

[Dave-C]

I'm quite a keen towablehomer (caravaner) I have an older 1990 van, I keep it in reasonably good condition and personally service it myself prior to the main holiday away in it.  As you say tyres are the main issue, the walls do crack due to standing in one place whilst in storage, appetite for destruction when tyres are over 5 years old.  

Though I don't need another bill to pay, I strongly agree with an MOT for caravans...   not trailers though..  reason for this is that most caravans have well over a tonne distributed over one axle, excessive stress to say the least :-/  How many towed vehicles do you witness with a defective light / lights, indicating the opposite way and no brake light is a fine example.

You'd still get the odd gypo who'd flout the regulation, but, that's par for the course I'd say.

So, yes, bring it on, let's make our roads safer

[Marks DTM Calib]

I have always thought they should have an MOT, tyres and brakes are a key factor on the safety of these things and the majority never get them properly serviced.

In fact I think all braked trailers should be tested.

[stevief]

I have always thought they should have an MOT, tyres and brakes are a key factor on the safety of these things and the majority never get them properly serviced.

In fact I think all braked trailers should be tested.

All trailers should be tested. Anyone can build a trailer, stick a load of weight in it and then bomb down the road at 50 without it havng to pass any kind of engineering standards review.

As for the caravan it should either require an MOT, without the three year grace period for the reasons above, or a dealers service stamp on the service book.

Unfortunately due to the lack of facilities able to provide an MOT service it would be another reason for ridiculous charges and additional unrequired work being carried out, but that may just be the cynic in me. :-/

Personally I get mine serviced every year for warranty reasons and due to the van costing more than the car so deffo don't want any problems that would lead to an accident happening.

Steve

[Martin_1962]

I have quite a few thoughts on this, firstly it is unpolicable, secondly servicing is DIYable.

The main reasons for crashing are

Old tyres, need to change them every 5 to 7 years

Poor loading, over heavy or too light over the tow hitch will cause massive stability problems.

Unsuitable tow cars, Golfs and Astras have been seen towing twin axle caravans

Too fast down hill - the most unstable condition, can be made a LOT worse by inconsiderate lorry drivers coasting up to 70mph or more.

Factors to make it worse
Strong cross winds, if you do not expect them they can cause havok

Lorries & coaches overtaking, they produce huge bow waves which can make it very unnerving on motorways, especially when they have removed their limiters (quite common - get one per long trip quite often).

idiots in cars, this caused my only significant snake, I pulled out to pass a lorry and an impatient TIC went up the inside pulled in front of me and I had to swerve to miss him.

[Entwood]

It matters not how often the 'van is serviced/MOT'd .. if the idiot behind the wheel decides to overload it then drive at 70 mph on a windy day.

90% of 'van "incidents" are driver error.

Actually, statistically there are not that many 'van accidents .. it's just that those that occur

a) look messy as the 'van disintegrates - not "impact" designed like a car
b) cause disruption that gets publicity
c) are pounced on by the anti-van brigade.

AFAIK there are more "incidents" caused by foreign LGV drivers than 'vans ... but that doesn't sell papers does it ..  :-/ :-/ :-/

I would happily have mine MOT'd, BTW ... not against that, just don't see the point .... unless you like helping Gordon the Moron raise money ....  

[Varche]

It will come! Give the EU chance.

One of the better things I have observed here in Spain is the MOT system. Fewer places, hugely efficient - all Government run (no axe to grind etc).

Larger trailers are already MOT'd and I believe that applies to caravans too. The farmers around here carry caterpillar tractors on trailers and so it is reasonable that they are serviceable.

All new trailers have VIN numbers and you get a log book even for sub 750Kg non braked jobs.

varche

[Kevin Wood]

In fact I think all braked trailers should be tested.

This is probably a sensible compromise. A sub-750kg trailer is not going to make a huge mess whatever happens, as long as it remains attached to the towing vehicle. It's a different story for a twin-axle caravan.

Add to that the fact that, if left in a field for 50 weeks of the year, the braking system on a trailer WILL sieze up and fail, if it's not maintained to some degree, and a working braking system is key to the safety of larger trailers.

I'm sure there are plenty of mechanically disinterested trailer owners who will happily drive them until they get a blowout / a hub falls off due to wheel bearing failure. Having said that, if the problem were as bad as is percieved, wouldn't insurers be pressing for a solution?

Kevin

[Andy B]

......
 if the problem were as bad as is percieved, wouldn't insurers be pressing for a solution? ....

Some insurers make a service stap a stipulation of cover. But you don't legally require a separate insurance policy on your 'van.