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NEWS
Defective Cell vans hit auction block
American vans with “questionable” build quality being sold to highest bidders in online auctionPickles Auctions is selling off 13 caravans imported by former American caravan specialist, Cell Caravans.
However the extra-large US-built vans, which retailed for up to $100,000 or more when advertised by the Melbourne dealer at shows as recently as the Victorian Supershow in February, have a number of defects and are not fit for purpose in their current state.
Most are “unfinished” and missing a build or compliance plate.
“This E-Salvage online auction consists of a range Cell caravans which are to be sold for wrecking and dismantling purposes only,” Pickles said.
An engineer’s report completed by Delta V-Experts labelled build quality of the vans’ chassis as “poor” and chassis welds of “questionable quality”.
Other concerns included jacks “incorrectly mounted and incorrectly fastened to the chassis rails”, and wiring that was“incomplete” as well as “chafing on the metal chassis” and that could over time “cause electrical issues”.
“Rust was observed on all caravans… around welds, bolts, screws and where the galvanised coating has flaked off,” the report said.
It concluded that “each caravan’s chassis will need to be removed from the caravan and thoroughly inspected and repaired”.
Most of the big tandem-axle, fibreglass vans up for grabs have at least one slide-out, and were marketed between 2014-17 under various model names including The River, The Track, Viewfinder, Peninsula, The Island and Bunkhouse.
All except one of the caravans can be inspected at Pickle’s Melbourne, Tullamarine facility between 9am-4pm on August 9, and bids will be accepted on Pickles' website up until 7pm, August 10.
Meanwhile, Pickles’ is also auctioning a number of ‘GIC’ caravans and camper trailers, from August 9. The Chinese-built trailers are located at various Pickles’ facilities in Melbourne, Sydney and central-Queensland and are being offered ‘unreserved’ and without registration plates.
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Written byChris Fincham
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
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