Sorry if this has been B4 but can someone please tell me what do you look for when you are inspecting the van before handover? We are getting delivery of our Nova Revive soon and as we are novices and this will be our permanent home we need to get it right. Thanks in advance.
Well done Blue. There are also some things that do not come to light until the van is driven. We had the vents on the Four Season hatch open by themselves after a few kms. Some cupboards may also open whilst getting bumped on the road.
Larry
Get an explanation about all of the appliances installed in the van including:
the stove/hotplate (ours has a safety switch that must be released before the oven or hot plate will work which took a while to figure out);
the air conditioner (ours is reverse cycle and has a delay built in when using it on the heating cycle - we thought it was busted);
water pump - ours blew apart the first time we tried it something to do with a filter being blocked;
water tank drain points - ours were blocked with plastic that stopped them closing after operation;
all one way valves on the water drains are fitted and operate as intended;
all plugs and connections between the tug and the van function properly;
do you understand how the TV works and how to tune in the antennas?
has the operation of the audio system (if fitted) been explained?
The list could go on and on and on there are so many things in a caravan that could go wrong or which are not in people's past experience. Go away on a shakedown trip of as long as you can make it trying everything in the van, talking to people at stops and then making notes of what's not working or not working properly. Then take the van back to your supplier with the list and have them fix everything to your satisfaction.
An absolute must - check to make sure that YOUR specific van (not another like it) has been weighed on a weighbridge, and has the paperwork to prove it. Make sure that the figures on the compliance plate match. Do not accept van until it has been weighed.
And before you pick it up, arrange insurance for van. And brake controller for your vehicle.
Good one Wendy.
One thing we missed was that the van was registered (by the dealer) as weighing 1300kg's. In fact the compliance plate said 1600kgs and when we weighed it, that was correct.
So check the weighbridge certificate against the rego papers as well as the compliance plate.
Wendy
You hit the nail on the head. Wendy V..
Yes all of the above are important when it comes to the finish and quality. But
Without the correct weight + Insurance + Brake Controller - its not going anywhere.
Its the Vans Chassis Number on the compliance plate & weigh certificate.
The rest becomes a 2nd priority then.
When we picked our new van ...it was one certificate fits all.... which we didnt realise.
So when we weighed it - no water, no gas, it was just under the weight on the certificate.
Lucky.....as we didnt check this or even think to ...until it was mentioned and we checked.
........but time is a good teacher.
Cheers
KT
__________________
Been to Rome - Now Just Roaming... Still alot to see ...Life is too short ...
CHECK THE PLUMBING!!!! Our Nova Reivoir leaked like a sieve e.g. washing machine, kitchen tap, pipe under sink, pipe under shower. Seems as if there was no quality control with the plumbing. We have also just discovered our vinyl floor is lifting and Nova have advised that this is not the first time someone has had this problem. It has something to do with the glue on the joins of the floor reacting with the glue used to stick down the vinyl. Mmmmmm not sure where this one is going. So far haven't been able to arrive at a happy conclusion. Two weeks ago spoke to someone in a caravan park who also has a Nova. Yep he had plumbing issues also.
hello, Good luck with your new purchase. We have just been through it and it can be exhausting. everyone on here has already told you lots so all I will say is ENJOY.
The weight issue is such an important one. I see so many posts on forums, where people have trusted the word of dealer, seller, manufacturer - that the new van will fall within the legal limit of what their vehicle can tow. After the deal is done, they find out the van is heavier than stated and over limit - sometimes before any of their gear is even loaded into it.
Another trap that people have fallen into is that - if going through a dealer - things like awnings, solar panels etc are added after it comes from the maker, meaning that plated weights are inaccurate.
Good afternoon all. I am not sure if this is the right place to post this comment, but after reading the initial question by Chris, it dawns on me that there is opportunity for a "knowledge data base" category in this forum (unless there is already one which I haven't found) where a number of generic checklists could be accessible particularly for those new to caravanning (and in this instance for Chris about to collect his new van). There is some excellent knowledge and experience of forum members that is displayed in response to questions, but some checklists would be a valuable start, able to be perfected by all forum members. Personally, being a bit obsessive / compulsive, lists tend to rule my life (sad but true). Everyone's circumstances are different, so it goes without saying that any checklists are suggestions only and doesnt preclude similarly posted queries. Just a thought and I would certainly be happy to contribute!
__________________
I used to be indecisive, but now I am not so sure.
Great Idea Muz64
Thats the type of thing I think this forum would be great at. There is so many Knowledgeable GNs on here
who have done these type of things before and seen the traps that it makes a lot of sense.
Great Idea... hope it will come to fruition....
Cheers
KT
__________________
Been to Rome - Now Just Roaming... Still alot to see ...Life is too short ...
The problem with the pre-delivery hand-over, is there is too much info to take in, even if the wife can do short-hand!!
The manufacturers of 'vans should supply a hand-book just like the one with your car or the $100 electrical appliance you buy at K Mart.
Each model of 'van from that manufacturer is the same (except for all the stuff ups they make) so producing a hand book would be a doddle - and remember we've paying heaps for a 'van (often more than your brand new tow vehicle).
Unfortunately we have allowed the manufacturers and Dealers to get lazy, take us as a bunch of mugs and rip us off $$$ wise big time.
The best thing you can do is take the advice offered earlier and take it for a long weekend or preferably week long shake-down test. Make sure you take it a fair distance and run it over some good Aussie bumpy roads (found everywhere nowadays). Take pad and pen and as you find all the faults and things that you cant work - write them down and on return to home, phone the Dealer and arrange to return the 'van for repair and explanation of all the things you didn't figure out.
DONT let the Dealer jerk you off by making you wait for weeks while he gets authority from the manufacturer to do the warranty work. Phone the ACCC or your State consumer protection agency and they should tell you that the Dealer is responsible and the remedial work should be done promptly. Last year Apple and Navman (the GPS people) were prosecuted by the ACCC for pulling this warranty stroke.
I suggest you also email the Dealer with all the faults so you have a record of it and can get them to show you that they have fixed them all.
If you get a 'van and don't have things go wrong (from fairly major) to minor bits and pieces dropping off or breaking - youre very lucky!!!!
GOOD LUCK!
__________________
Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
I am wondering what QA would allow the cosmetic problems to pass that would be obvious to an owner on delivery. Next, the real problems, eg leaks, require use and living in to reveal.
Accepting that once the buyer signs on the dotted line his/her career with the unit, service and warranty is largely already determined.
It is impossible to make a reluctant manufacturer or dealer do what it wouldn't do in the first place. Like home builders, where less than satisfactory builders continue regardless of government regulators (diplomats?), the seller who takes your dough and walks from responsibility has already got that intention in his informal business plan and he WILL always wriggle out some way. No principles, no ethics.
The leak that evidences two years later and only because there hasn't been the rain or right slope to produce it is only likely to be rectified by certain known manufacturers and their dealers. Once reported, a fault should be unlikely to remain in assembly where the manufacturer is a good corporate citizen. It did result from poor design, inappropriate material or poor training (human error).
However the problem always seems to be that it is difficult given the nature of the industry to compile a list to assist intending buyers up-front. Later, no list might save you.
-- Edited by johnq on Wednesday 22nd of October 2014 01:05:02 AM
There's a dealer on the Goldcoast that books you into the local caravan park for a day or two , this gives you a chance to test everything and if there is a problem they will come to you while you are there. This could be an option if you have time to spare when picking it up.Cheers
Good idea Goldcoaster. Our leaks all became evident in the first shake down. I believe there should not have been that many leaks. When we took the van back to the dealer to sort it out it appears we could have had more leaks. They ended up tightening every plumbing join they could find. All the issues were caused because they were not tightened enough. An apprentice must have installed the plumbing and they weren't supervised. Either way I still believe this to be unacceptable.
When we ordered our new Roadstar I asked that it be towed up to the sunshine coast from Melbourne the sales bloke was gobsmacked.
And he said why don't you want it on the back of a truck. I told him that the 2200ks or so will be a good shakedown and when it gets here I want the wheel bearing checked and adjusted if needed. also I told him to put aside at least 4 hours of his time for the delivery as he will need every minute of it , don't think he was to happy about it.
Cheers
The Hats
Ron
__________________
It is better to beg forgiveness than to ask permission. :D
)
