Following on from part one of our ‘Caravan Service’ series – Caravan Servicing at Swindon Caravans Group – Part 1, Dan Trudgian sat down with John Hosking, who heads up the Aftersales team at our Swindon branch, to run through some frequently asked questions.

Caravan Service FAQs:

Below is a summary of the video.

Why bother with a Caravan Service?

• Safety checks
• Peace of mind
• Most importantly, warranty cover

Note: All new and used caravans that hold a warranty require an annual service.  Please ensure that the yearly service is completed before the anniversary of the purchase date to avoid invalidating the warranty.

Should I empty my caravan before the service?

This can depend on the type of caravan service that is being carried out. But for all services, John asks customers to ensure a walkway is free so our engineers are able to walk through the van with ease. Remove all personal possessions and remove large items out of the van.

What we will say is remember that damp test in part one!?! 

Which brand of caravan do the Swindon Caravan Group Service?

We currently sell and can, therefore, service the following 3 franchises of new caravans:

• Swift
• Bailey
• Lunar

We sell a range of different brands from our used stock.  Please remember that if we sell a caravan then we will service it.

Unfortunately, due to capacity limitations in our workshop and our need to concentrate on customers who purchase caravans from us, we are not able to do any servicing & warranty work on your caravan if it has not been purchased from us.  You will need to refer any warranty to your supplying dealer.

How long does a caravan service take to complete?

A caravan service will take between 2 and 4 hours to complete, depending on the type of service selected. Usually, we will load the yard on a Saturday and carry out services Monday to Friday the following week. All customers will receive a phone call when their service is complete. If you need your caravan service within a specific timeframe, please speak with the office at the time of booking.

Will gas appliances be serviced?

A gas safety check is completed on all gas appliances. A printout of results is provided with your service forms. Proof of this safety check will be required for insurance purposes.

What is the main difference between a standard and premier service?

A standard caravan service covers all safety and chassis checks and is better suited to those who use their caravan regularly.

A premier service is recommended for those customers that are:

• First-time buyers
• Do not often use their caravan
• Need their caravan checked at the beginning of the year.

All information regarding our servicing packages can be found here>> Caravan Service Information.

Note: Both the standard and premier service will cover your caravan for the full manufacturer’s warranty.

Did you enjoy this video?

Let us know what you think and fill out our enquiry form below along with what other topics you would like to see covered in our caravan video series. We aim to provide you with a video hub filled with tips, maintenance and serving know-how to ensure you get the best out of your caravan.

Why not subscribe to our newsletter? Or stay up to date by following us on Facebook.

Want to talk to one of our friendly team members? Call your nearest branch and a member of the team will assist you:

SWINDON 01793 772096  OXFORD 01844 339566  READING 0118 9888111

At Swindon Caravan Group it is fair to say that a healthy proportion of enquiries received relate to caravan servicing.

So, when Dan Trudgian approached us about a behind the scenes vlog covering a service in detail, naturally we agreed; keen to shed as much light as possible on the caravan servicing process.

In this video ‘Caravan Servicing Part One’ you’ll see behind the scenes footage of a ‘basic caravan service’ completed in June 2017.

And while this is a basic service, all information regarding our other caravan servicing packages can be found here > Services <. We also thought you may want to also view our full-service checklist, which you can do so here > service checklist <.

Note: Both servicing levels offered will cover your caravan for the full manufacturer’s warranty.

Here is our at a glance summary of the servicing process:

Booking in & Pre-Assessment.

1. Book in with the Aftersales team and complete any required paperwork.
2. Your caravan will be checked over, so any existing imperfections (dinks, dents, scratches, etc.) are documented in a pre-service report. Both parties sign this before the service begins.

The Service.

Tyres.

1. The caravan is hoisted. Wheels removed and checked (sidewall/tread/date) for roadworthiness
2. The single use nut is removed and discarded
3. Inside the drum, shoes cleaned and everything is liberally degreased
4. The spindle is degreased, the hub replaced, and a brand new single use nut is fitted to the specified torque.
5. Tyre pressure checked
6. At the end of the service when the caravan is lowered to the floor, locking wheel nuts are torqued up to the required spec. This is always double checked and signed off accordingly.

Brakes.

1. Adjust brakes to ensure they aren’t binding
2. Handbrake adjusted

Spare Wheel.

1. Tread, depth, & date checked.
2. Wheel carrier greased & cleaned.
3. New copper grease applied to nuts.

Housekeeping.

1. All steadies around the caravan greased & cleaned
2. Handbrake assembly cleaned
3. All locks & hinges are checked
4. Full visual check – Any faults at this time are documented.
5. Smoke alarms & carbon monoxide alarm checks

Hitch.

1. Jockey wheel removed
2. Hitch handle cleaned & inspected
3. Jockey wheel dismantled, cleaned and re-lubricated
4. Hitch refit & testing
5. Pads cleaned
   

Electrical.

– Road Light Check

1. 13 pin connection tested.
2. Markers, brake lights and rear lights all checked.
3. Bulbs checked

– Leisure Battery

1. This will be disconnected.
2. Battery analysis performed with report
3. Battery charger performance check

– Safety

1. Visual check of all plug sockets
2. RCD safety checks

 – Gas

1. Gas Pipes
2. Visual & date checks
3. The gas system is pressure checked
4. Hob check
5. Gas leak check
6. Flue checks
   

And finally…

Thorough damp test inc cupboard & lockers.

NOTE: Make sure cupboards and lockers are empty.

At the end of the service, a full-service report will be issued.

Looking for more detail on caravan servicing?

Keep an eye out for ‘Caravan Servicing Part Two’ in which our Aftersales Manager John will be answering frequently asked questions regarding caravan servicing, put to him by Dan.

Did you enjoy this video?

Let us know by filling out our enquiry form below along with what other topics you would like to see covered in our caravan videos. Our goal is to provide you with a video hub filled with tips, maintenance and serving know-how to ensure you get the best out of your caravan.

Why not subscribe to our newsletter? Or stay up to date by following us on Facebook.

Want to talk to one of our friendly team members? Call your nearest branch and a member of the team will assist you:

SWINDON 01793 772096  OXFORD 01844 339566  READING 0118 9888111

Do you enjoy the great outdoors as much as we do? If so, owning a caravan is one of the greatest investments you can make. However, it may seem a daunting process if you’re unsure of where to start. That is where our Swindon Caravan Group Meets The Trugians new caravan video series can help!

We have partnered up with The Trudgians, a family based in Wiltshire who documents their caravanning experiences and adventures around the United Kingdom on their blog and YouTube channel. The useful information includes tips and tricks of owning a caravan focusing their efforts for those who are first-time owners. Why this partnership? Dan Trudgains explains

We purchased our caravan from Swindon Caravan Group back in 2014. As complete novices we were educated about every aspect of our caravanning. I hope that we can continue to inspire newcomers, veteran caravaners and those who are just curious to caravanning, by sharing our gained knowledge with the backing and resources of Swindon Caravan Group. We have a lot of videos and articles planned for the future and, it’s great to have the perspective and knowledge from a well established and respected dealership.

So by combining forces, we aim to produce caravan videos that:

• answer the questions that first-time owners may have about owning a caravan,
• look at the new models that are coming to the market
• ensure that our current customers learn something new as well

Introductions & What To Expect From The Videos

In this first video, Dan Trudgian introduces the caravan video series, covers what to expect and has a short interview with Tom our General Manager

Did you enjoy this video? 

Let us know by filling out our enquiry form below along with what other topics you would like to see covered in our caravan videos. Our aim is that every month we will provide you with a video filled with tips, maintenance and serving know-how and more to ensure you get the best out of your Caravan.

So you don’t miss it why not subscribe to our newsletter, and we will email each one out to you, or follow us on Facebook.

Want to talk to one of our friendly team members? Call your nearest branch and a member of the team will assist you:

SWINDON 01793 772096  OXFORD 01844 339566  READING 0118 9888111