DIY caravan repair warning
Servicing your own caravan can be a 'disaster waiting to happen', says specialist repairerAustralian RV owners don't mind 'getting on the tools' when it comes to maintaining their own rigs, with almost half of the respondents to a survey a few years back declaring their preference for DIY repairs.
However, trying to save money by doing your own servicing rather than paying for a professional, can be false economy in the long run.
That's the opinion of ex-Ford design engineer John Blackborrow, who runs RV servicing specialists Geelong Trailers and Caravans in Victoria.
John has a number of horror stories to tell about unqualified people who attempt what they believe to be simple tasks, like adjusting and re-packing wheel bearings and fitting new magnets to electric brakes.
“When you are doing these things all the time, you know the right way, because your reputation and your business’s viability depend on it," he explained. "But when you are only doing these things maybe once a year, it’s easy to make mistakes or overlook things... I’ve seen some shockers!”
For example, he said amateur DIY service people will not have the experience to recognise when the case hardening on wheel bearings is wearing away, or the rusting that trapped water can have after multiple creek crossings without cooling your bearings first.
“Many people simply don’t know how to re-pack bearings properly,” he said. “It looks simple, but there is a technique and we have proper packing tools. Amateurs often over-tighten the bearings, so that they can overheat and fail.
“We have seen some basic errors in brake servicing too, such as incorrectly fitting the magnets and slipper springs on electric brakes, which is a disaster waiting to happen when you really need to rely on them on a long, steep descent like the Bulli Pass.”
Sitting idle is no good
The problem, Blackborrow points out, is that many caravans and trailers sit around rusting, or absorbing moisture in paddocks between holiday trips before being suddenly being called back into service.
“It’s like binge-watching TV on your couch all year and then suddenly being asked to run a marathon,” he said. “You need proper preparation, or you’re likely to do some damage!”
“In my caravan service business I see DIY efforts that would make your head spin. One week I had two examples of the ineptitude of owners. Example one was a man who brought in a destroyed trailer wheel that he admitted he had fitted back to front. He needed a new hub and bearings. When we offered to grease and assemble the bearings he declined, saying he would do it himself.
“Then there was a fitter who bought a set of bearings for his trailer and rang to accuse me of supplying the wrong parts. I had to talk him through how to do the job.
“My point is that you are dealing with people who know a lot less than they think, and they are playing with what can be lethal weapons if not properly maintained."
He says that the worst examples of DIY ineptitude are often found in poorer areas, where money is tight. But he says in more prosperous areas, people see the value in paying $400 for an annual or 12,000km full service for a tandem axle van or trailer.
“You're not just buying a specific service, but also a pair of experienced eyes that know where to look for potential problems, “ he said. “Things like fatigue cracks in hangers and springs, cuts and cracking on inner tyre walls, rusty or faulty couplings and so on."
Tyres don't last forever
While passenger vehicle tyres have a recognized industry lifespan, few caravan tyres are replaced as regularly as they should be and are often past their recommended ‘use-by’ date.
“The other problem is the more time poor people are going ‘off-road’, towing larger, heavier and more sophisticated caravans. This imposes more stress on all components and the DIY skills that might have been OK when towing a 16ft Bondwood caravan with your FE Holden, are now no longer enough for a modern tandem axle caravan with load-sharing tandem suspension.
“Just ensuring that your wheel alignment is correct is a simple thing that is often overlooked,” he said. “If you have a bent axle due to overloading that’s dragging a tyre sideways, that will dramatically reduce your tyre’s life and affect your van’s stability in cross winds.”
Blackborrow says another advantage on an annual service can be keeping up the maintenance to other ancillary items, such as cooking appliances and air conditioning, which can be checked and serviced at the same time. And a good service record will reward you when you sell or replace your caravan.
“Stick to what you do best,” is his simple advice. And for most people, that doesn’t include caravan servicing!
Also read:
How much does a caravan service cost?
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