Seachange Caravans

Hi Sue and Joe,

The suspension is Cruismaster and has been very good. Only minor issue is that the grease nipples face forward and are subject to stone damage, so I carry a few spares and remove the damaged ones, grease it up, then replace the old ones.

Cheers.

Consumer Protection WA in our case were very reluctant to even approach the head of one of the biggest van yards in WA. I had complained of excessive tyre wear on our new "off road" van and got told in no uncertain terms that it was misuse and abuse and to get out of their yard!
That was the attitude to a 3 time customer who's spent something in the order of a 100 grand there. 2 purchases being from that same maker.
I also complained of drawers opening when locked, pelmets falling down and curtain liners having holes in. That last was dismissed as moth damage.... on a van just a few months old.
The consumer seat polishers eventually contacted them and the old bloke (now dead) was as sweet as and advised 1 tyre would be replaced as well as the shockies which had been tested and found to be weak.
That didn't fix the problem and it was only after our daughter had watched us pull away one day and told us the wheels were badly buckled we guessed the problem.
Back to the tyre people and they checked them and found 2 were so bad they couldn't be balanced. Absolutely no damage to the wheels except for a bit of gravel rash.
Pics taken and sent to parties concerned and kept by me "just in case".....
Back to the retailer who really got the poops and told me again to sod off.
Consumer Protection said they could do no more so I went to the small claims people and too out a case against the yard with a summons delivered by bailiffs.
The manufacturer paid up straight away but the dealers eldest son said "I wouldn't have paid".
In which case I would have spent all it took to get maximum publicity for him and his smarmy salesmen.
New wheels with tyres balanced have done the trick and it's now performing quite well.
All up cost for the wheels, court action etc less than a grand.
Brownie points to the girls at the dealers warranty section though, they took pics of the damage to curtains and we got a complete new set.....though they arrived tightly screwed up in a rubbish bag direct from the van maker apparently. No doubt this was another expression of their contempt for their customers once they parted with the brass. Plus they're in Vic while we're in WA.
All documented with pics, emails, statement from tyre people, court etc. but they've still ignored me about the small info plate which fell of the chassis when the van was shaking itself to bits with the cheap nasty wheels which they fitted.
"Industry Standards" a term which van salesman love to use, just means anything they can get away with especially if us the consumer, allow them to.
Get right up them in no uncertain terms when treated like these 2 businesses treated me and the Cook.
AlanH.

I too would have taken the next step in action. The Consumer Protection person I dealt with was very helpful to me. I suppose its lime anything. It depends on who you get.
Consumer Protection need more powers to help provide an outcome. The dealers, supplies and agents currently have the upper hand. Well done on your win mate.

Sizeable numbers of trailer and caravan manufacturers use secondhand wheels and tyres sourced from wreckers to keep their build costs down.
This has been a feature of the trailer and caravan industry for at least 50 years.
These wheels are often buckled, and it's rare that anyone checks them for buckles.
Probably 50% of wrecked cars have buckled wheels from hitting rocks, kerbs, or other obstructions, whilst skidding, spinning, or sliding in crashes.

You need to see new wheels and tyres specifically mentioned in the build information details when purchasing, or ensure you specify new wheels and tyres when you sign the order.

You also need to see the tyre and suspension load rating specifications when ordering, and ensure that what is specified meets the load requirements with a margin to spare - and that what is actually supplied, is what was actually specified.

Cheers, Ron.

All good advice Ron. We did specify new 16" wheels and tyres and they certainly looked it.
I think they're buckled during manufacture when the hub is continuously welded to the outer and the heat distorts them.
One contact I have in the van repair industry says that a whole container load was sent back by importers a couple of years ago as they were all very badly made.
Of course there's also the question as to why the original tyre fitters didn't bring it to the attention of their management as it would surely have been seen when spinning the wheel? All van wheels/tyres should be balanced at manufacture then it'll stop the van shaking to bits behind the vehicle. I don't think another few dollars on the cost is going to hurt anyone of it gives peace of mind.
Shoddy workmanship with shoddy goods by people with no thought for anything but their bottom line.
AlanH.