We took possession of a brand new Nova reviver caravan on the 15th of June, Very nice van, comfortable and working wel....until after having travelled about 600 km on our first trip, just outside Dubbo, we were traveling at a speed of between 80 and 90 on a 100KM/H road, when I looked in my mirror and thought we had a flat tire, as the van showed a lean to the right. We could not pull of the road as there was no shoulder, so we slowly drove for an other 500 meters and found a rest area on the right hand side of the road. Big surprise, the whole wheel had come of and the bolts in the plate were all sheered of. The funny thing is, that I never noticed when it happened. An Lady pulled in behind us and said it just flew across the road. She had been driving behind us for a while, because she was happy with our steady speed.The van is now in Dubbo and we are back home. so much for spending 60000 dollars on something New. The dealer RV Penrith said all the pre delivery items had been ticked of, Insurance said if it is a manufacturing fault it is not covered. Any comment??
gumpybsc said
02:50 PM Jun 28, 2016
My guess would be the dealer hadn't tightened the nuts enough after refitting the wheel. No doubt the insurer will be holding the manufacturer at fault unless you can get the dealer to confirm otherwise. Best of luck with it ivydale, I hope this episode is quickly resolved for you and you get many years of enjoyment from your new van after you get it back after the wheel refit.
Bruce and Bev said
03:20 PM Jun 28, 2016
boy - you guys were lucky that you obviously had a dual axle 'van and were able to stop safely with no injury to yourself caused by the van rolling over had it been a single axle unit.
I would be climbing into the Dealer and also the manufacturer about it - this was a life threatening fault caused by carelessness or poor manufacture.
If RV Dealers had (and most don't) have any decency and cared about their customers, you would expect a full explanation, a rapid fix and some sort of compensation (a gift for your van from their shop). Likewise the manufacturer should be offering a full apology, an explanation and an offer to pay for an independent inspection of the axles, wheels etc to give you peace of mind - as well as a couple of years free servicing. Bet they don't do any of that !
brickies said
03:31 PM Jun 28, 2016
I wouldn't think there would be any insurance company that would accept this has an insurance claim , But it would have to be a warranty claim for sure , This sort of thing should never happen .
Wizardofoz said
03:34 PM Jun 28, 2016
You were only 600 meters Ito your 1st trip, however you must have towed the caravan back to Dubbo from Penrith, not a problem there but did you notice anything amiss on the way there, obviously not.
Either the dealer or manufacturer has erred here and are at fault, but it just goes to show, we should always check our tyres, wheels and safety gear after any service and when we take possession of a new vehicle or caravan as we simply cannot rely on other people.
Grumpytoo said
04:31 PM Jun 28, 2016
The problem was most likely an over tightening of the wheel nuts. Put on with a rattle gun that has not had a torque setting. The nuts stretch the studs then after a suitable bump the studs will shear. Can happen even after a few thousand k's. Had this happen on our camper trailer.
Hey Jim said
05:10 PM Jun 28, 2016
Hi Ivydale,
Thank god your Safe.
You should have Brought a Jayco, They fix these things three months after the event.
Get stuck into them, and take no Crap! Sorry. Hope you get a second pre delivery check before collecting your new van. This is not acceptable in the first place.
Warm Regards Jim & Lambie
ivydale said
05:27 PM Jun 28, 2016
No it is a single axle, therefore I noticed the lean as it was driving on the axle, but I never noticed anything at the time the wheel came of, We have an of road McHitch, so it did not put any strain on the tow ball, and thanks for all your good wishes. The assessor from the NRMA just rang that he will put his report in to the Insurance
-- Edited by ivydale on Tuesday 28th of June 2016 05:30:05 PM
TheHeaths said
05:49 PM Jun 28, 2016
Wizardofoz,
the OP said they were 600km into their first trip, just outside Dubbo, not 600 meters into a trip from Dubbo, so they hadn't towed it to Dubbo until the trip, and wouldn't have noticed anything untoward obviously.
That said, losing a wheel on a single axle van and not being aware of it coming off is a bit worrying.
Ron-D said
06:59 PM Jun 28, 2016
I have a nova as well ,from what I can gather they don't make there own chassis ,with my Van the dealer handled the precheck and the warranty problems that we had,so they should sort this out for you,let us know how you get on they have been good with us....
Santa said
07:15 PM Jun 28, 2016
Single axle van, wheel came off, didn't notice, when you did notice dragged it on the brake assembly for another 500 meters, crikey.
Ron-D said
07:59 PM Jun 28, 2016
I was parked alongside a caravan at a caravan park and the spare tyre on his van was a mess, Steel cords hanging out ect, The guy said he noticed the puncture straight away, narrow road nowhere to safely get the van off the road.
I have often done the exercise with Van and car and the area you need to pull completely off the road , and find a wide enough parking area,that's the problem and that's why the spare tyres are destroyed ...
Dougwe said
07:59 PM Jun 28, 2016
Welcome to the gang ivydale, enjoy here and out in the playground.
Sounds like you were one lucky camper indeed. I hope it all gets sorted sooner than soon and to your advantage so not only will you be a lucky camper you will be a happy camper.
Keep Safe on the roads.
ballast2 said
09:53 PM Jun 28, 2016
G'day ivydale. Welcome to the mob from us as well. I'm bloody glad that did not happen to us on our maiden voyage. Good luck with your repairs and hope you are on the road again soon.
Cheers.
Bruce and Bev said
11:15 PM Jun 28, 2016
just remember that if your Insurance company pays out, you may possibly have to pay the excess and also your premium will go up next policy renewal. Id be checked with them to make sure you wont and that they will claim against the Dealer/manufacturer.
But I'd still be right up the Dealer to do all the repairs and then pay for an independent check to make sure your chassis and axle is still as it should be - both may have been damaged and at the least you will cut out tyre tread on that side all the time. (I'd also be doing the same with your insurer if you decide to have them fix the problem). Potentially you may have a dangerous van that put you in an accident situation sometime in the future - remember the axle was being dragged along the road so I'd be surprised if at the least your axle is now out of alignment
littledick said
10:04 AM Jun 29, 2016
Mate had a 2 bad leaks in his Revivor and I had a bad one in our Vita. Same mob couldn't find mine and weren't to concerned. We both solved the problem, for us, trade to other brands.
Not a good start for you either.
Dick.
Ron-D said
02:34 PM Jun 29, 2016
Thats one way of solving the problem Dick, as a Nova owner I would be very interested to know where those leaks were..
Ron...
Bruce and Bev said
06:26 PM Jun 29, 2016
having read the comments here from Nova owners, its highly amusing to read Novas web page. Comments like "high quality etc etc...." LOL
Guess theyre the same as the other manufacturers
montie said
08:07 AM Jun 30, 2016
Ivydale,
Firstly I don't think your Insurance Company can wiggle out of this by blaming a manufacturer's fault, whatever the cause it was still an accident.
Having said that I would be talking to the Penrith Dealer and Nova about a full warranty claim if it proven to be a manufacturer's problem.
Nova are a reputable builder and I would be surprised if you had a problem with them.
If you are having problems please PM me and I may be able to assist.
Montie
montie said
08:08 AM Jun 30, 2016
Ivydale,
Firstly I don't think your Insurance Company can wiggle out of this by blaming a manufacturer's fault, whatever the cause it was still an accident.
Having said that I would be talking to the Penrith Dealer and Nova about a full warranty claim if it proven to be a manufacturer's problem.
Nova are a reputable builder and I would be surprised if you had a problem with them.
If you are having problems please PM me and I may be able to assist.
Montie
montie said
08:11 AM Jun 30, 2016
Oops posted twice could Admin please delete one......can't figure out how to do it. (-:
Montie
Bruce and Bev said
07:38 PM Jun 30, 2016
Montie. You cant get rid of the post entirely once its up - as far as I am aware, but if you have a look at any of your posts, on the top right side it has 3 boxes each with "reply" "quote" and in your own post "edit post"
Click on edit post and highlight all the text within the post and then delete it or back space - whichever your operating system works with.
It will still leave the post there - but with no text in it. Most people will then type in something like "whoops - posted same thing twice"
We took possession of a brand new Nova reviver caravan on the 15th of June, Very nice van, comfortable and working wel....until after having travelled about 600 km on our first trip, just outside Dubbo, we were traveling at a speed of between 80 and 90 on a 100KM/H road, when I looked in my mirror and thought we had a flat tire, as the van showed a lean to the right. We could not pull of the road as there was no shoulder, so we slowly drove for an other 500 meters and found a rest area on the right hand side of the road. Big surprise, the whole wheel had come of and the bolts in the plate were all sheered of. The funny thing is, that I never noticed when it happened. An Lady pulled in behind us and said it just flew across the road. She had been driving behind us for a while, because she was happy with our steady speed.The van is now in Dubbo and we are back home. so much for spending 60000 dollars on something New. The dealer RV Penrith said all the pre delivery items had been ticked of, Insurance said if it is a manufacturing fault it is not covered. Any comment??
My guess would be the dealer hadn't tightened the nuts enough after refitting the wheel. No doubt the insurer will be holding the manufacturer at fault unless you can get the dealer to confirm otherwise. Best of luck with it ivydale, I hope this episode is quickly resolved for you and you get many years of enjoyment from your new van after you get it back after the wheel refit.
I would be climbing into the Dealer and also the manufacturer about it - this was a life threatening fault caused by carelessness or poor manufacture.
If RV Dealers had (and most don't) have any decency and cared about their customers, you would expect a full explanation, a rapid fix and some sort of compensation (a gift for your van from their shop). Likewise the manufacturer should be offering a full apology, an explanation and an offer to pay for an independent inspection of the axles, wheels etc to give you peace of mind - as well as a couple of years free servicing. Bet they don't do any of that !
You were only 600 meters Ito your 1st trip, however you must have towed the caravan back to Dubbo from Penrith, not a problem there but did you notice anything amiss on the way there, obviously not.
Either the dealer or manufacturer has erred here and are at fault, but it just goes to show, we should always check our tyres, wheels and safety gear after any service and when we take possession of a new vehicle or caravan as we simply cannot rely on other people.
Hi Ivydale,
Thank god your Safe.
You should have Brought a Jayco, They fix these things three months after the event.
Get stuck into them, and take no Crap! Sorry. Hope you get a second pre delivery check before collecting your new van. This is not acceptable in the first place.
Warm Regards Jim & Lambie
No it is a single axle, therefore I noticed the lean as it was driving on the axle, but I never noticed anything at the time the wheel came of, We have an of road McHitch, so it did not put any strain on the tow ball, and thanks for all your good wishes. The assessor from the NRMA just rang that he will put his report in to the Insurance
-- Edited by ivydale on Tuesday 28th of June 2016 05:30:05 PM
Wizardofoz,
the OP said they were 600km into their first trip, just outside Dubbo, not 600 meters into a trip from Dubbo, so they hadn't towed it to Dubbo until the trip, and wouldn't have noticed anything untoward obviously.
That said, losing a wheel on a single axle van and not being aware of it coming off is a bit worrying.
I have a nova as well ,from what I can gather they don't make there own chassis ,with my Van the dealer handled the precheck and the warranty problems that we had,so they should sort this out for you,let us know how you get on they have been good with us....
Single axle van, wheel came off, didn't notice, when you did notice dragged it on the brake assembly for another 500 meters, crikey.
I was parked alongside a caravan at a caravan park and the spare tyre on his van was a mess, Steel cords hanging out ect, The guy said he noticed the puncture straight away, narrow road nowhere to safely get the van off the road.
I have often done the exercise with Van and car and the area you need to pull completely off the road , and find a wide enough parking area,that's the problem and that's why the spare tyres are destroyed ...
Sounds like you were one lucky camper indeed. I hope it all gets sorted sooner than soon and to your advantage so not only will you be a lucky camper you will be a happy camper.
Keep Safe on the roads.
Cheers.
But I'd still be right up the Dealer to do all the repairs and then pay for an independent check to make sure your chassis and axle is still as it should be - both may have been damaged and at the least you will cut out tyre tread on that side all the time. (I'd also be doing the same with your insurer if you decide to have them fix the problem). Potentially you may have a dangerous van that put you in an accident situation sometime in the future - remember the axle was being dragged along the road so I'd be surprised if at the least your axle is now out of alignment
Mate had a 2 bad leaks in his Revivor and I had a bad one in our Vita. Same mob couldn't find mine and weren't to concerned. We both solved the problem, for us, trade to other brands.
Not a good start for you either.
Dick.
Thats one way of solving the problem Dick, as a Nova owner I would be very interested to know where those leaks were..
Ron...
Guess theyre the same as the other manufacturers
Firstly I don't think your Insurance Company can wiggle out of this by blaming a manufacturer's fault, whatever the cause it was still an accident.
Having said that I would be talking to the Penrith Dealer and Nova about a full warranty claim if it proven to be a manufacturer's problem.
Nova are a reputable builder and I would be surprised if you had a problem with them.
If you are having problems please PM me and I may be able to assist.
Montie
Firstly I don't think your Insurance Company can wiggle out of this by blaming a manufacturer's fault, whatever the cause it was still an accident.
Having said that I would be talking to the Penrith Dealer and Nova about a full warranty claim if it proven to be a manufacturer's problem.
Nova are a reputable builder and I would be surprised if you had a problem with them.
If you are having problems please PM me and I may be able to assist.
Montie
Montie
Click on edit post and highlight all the text within the post and then delete it or back space - whichever your operating system works with.
It will still leave the post there - but with no text in it. Most people will then type in something like "whoops - posted same thing twice"