Buying a Caravan Feedback

"So, I'd just buy a reputable brand from a reputable dealer and go for it."

Indeedy.

Whoa there Neil...that is a majoir statement without too much supportingi info.

So, lets get his right, most vans you assert, on Australian roads don't comply because the manufacturers do their own compliance plating....???

Do you think that perhaps before they got to that stage that they haven't had to undergo some rigorous testing by the autoirities....???

I think his words were "a number of vans" not "most"!!

Ian

Probably jumped in a bit but I would say there are no vans in this category. Knowing the loops I had to jump through to bring into Australia, my car from UK, (current Mercedes E320), I would not think there would be any van registered in NSW at least that wasn't inspected 2 or 3 times to get a 'Blue Slip' if my experience is anything to go by.

The same thing concerns me Don. If you build your own trailer / van the hoops (and cost) you have to jump through is unreal compared to what a "recognised" manufacturer with there own inspector. I understand importing is the same issue.
A caravan yard did have an engineers certificate stating a make /model of caravan (22 of them) did not minimum design rules.
There is no policing of non compliance other than as a result of a coroners enquirer. I don't intend to the cause of that so sold the van.

forgot to add there is more than one make of van I have seen non complying.

Neil,

So what make of van was it...send me a pm.

I have looked at heaps of vans, in detail (paticularly structural) over the last 4-5years and I chose one of the bigget makes and am satisfied it meets all the requirements. As well as which, I have had it underslung which also oncreases it's main chassis members and have a good look at how those members are connected to the main van chassis...looks pretty good to me.

Dont know if trailer campers come under the same rules or not, but when we bought ours from a dealer in SA new, it had a plate pop riveted to it etc and all I had to do was go to RTA and get it registered. The wheels were hanging out the guards, no reflectors, number plate light was no where near the plate, the safety chain wouldnt have held a dog let alone the trailer if it come away from my vehicle let alone a few other things. I rang the RTA and asked them about all the above faults and they said no way if it had to have an inspection would they pass it. Hence how I got another new one sent over to me, all issues fixed but still sold it 12 months later was a total piece of sh#t. Just cause its got a plate on it means nothing if it was put there by manufacturer as far as Im concerned. These days I think you need to know a little bit yourself as well. Could be an insurance issue if in the event you were unlucky enough to have to claim from an accident and turns out its not road worthy due to defects from the original manufacturer. Regards Steve M