Motorhome maintenance: habitation

IT is not a good idea to ignore your motorhome habitation service.

Gas and electric systems should be regularly serviced, while a damp check is vitally important in the early detection and preventative treatment of what can be one of the most expensive of all motorhome problems.

GET IT CHECKED

Many elements of an annual habitation check are common sense – making sure lights work and water pressure is okay, but some things really should be checked by a professional.

Water ingress is one of the most serious issues for motorcaravans. Once taking hold it can be difficult to fix completely and can recur unless properly repaired. When damp takes hold of woodwork and interior furnishings, the cost of repairs can be almost prohibitive, as it often involves removing panels and replacing furniture.

Obviously water ingress damage will be fixed without cost to you (although not without inconvenience) if your motorhome is under warranty but, in most cases, only if you’ve had an annual damp check at an approved dealer.

Then there are gas systems to consider. Something as simple as dust build-up can cause gas heaters to catch fire. Potential leaks or faulty regulators can also be picked up during a service.

WARRANTY TERMS
As part of the terms of the warranty on a new motorhome, you will be expected to put your motorhome through an annual service/habitation check, and you will often be required to get a damp check. You will certainly need an annual damp check to validate any water ingress warranty.

You will find that services will need to be carried out by approved dealers (in most cases, this will be where you purchased the motorhome). The key here is to make sure the dealer you use is approved by the manufacturer or importer in question. We heard of one reader who bought a vehicle from the sole importer and agreed with them that the annual service and damp check could be carried out at another dealership. However, this verbal agreement wasn’t honoured, and the reader ended up with a large damp repair bill. So make sure you always get an agreement like this in writing.



APPROVAL
The National Caravan Council runs an Approved Workshop Scheme, which offers you peace of mind when it comes to servicing. Approved workshops will often specialise in motorhomes and caravans and are independently assessed for workshop quality and customer service. All approved workshops comply with an industry-wide code of practice. There is a guarantee on any servicing work done, too.

This scheme is due to be amended in the next few months: I’ll bring you the latest as soon as the information becomes available.
The SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders) also has a service guide, offering a comprehensive checklist of what should be done in a service.

A list of approved workshops is available from the NCC (tel: 01252 318251; www.nationalcaravan.co.uk). The code of practice for servicing and repair can be obtained from the SMMT (tel: 020-7235 7000; www.smmt.co.uk).

COST
Another reader wrote to tell MMM that servicing costs vary massively from one dealer to another. Speaking to the NCC regarding the approved workshops, I learned that the organisation doesn’t impose basic charge bands on dealers, and neither do manufacturers.

Obviously buying a new motorhome will mean annual services for which you will have to pay, but if the dealer charges extra for a damp check it’s always worth trying to negotiate on the cost or get a discount. As you will see in the table of dealers, Lowdham already discounts its servicing for customers who have bought a motorhome there.

Obviously, different dealers will have varying staff costs and overheads, and varying levels of facilities. A workshop with lifts, ramps and investment in all the latest gear is more likely to charge that little bit more.

Well-trained staff are essential for a better service, and dealerships will have to pay more to those that have experience and have been on training courses. All these factors, as well as the increasing power costs, drive prices up.

In a series of quick calls to some of our award-winning dealers, I came up with the results shown in the panel below.
What is clear is that different dealers offer different packages for different styles and types of motorhomes. Lowdham gives purchasing customers preferential rates for servicing, while other dealers have one price for all.

It may well pay to shop around, but it won’t pay to ‘save money’ by not having your motorhome properly serviced.

COMPANY	SERVICING COSTS (inc VAT)
Lowdham Nottingham (if ‘van purchased there)	Service and moisture test £264.26	Service only £234.89	Moisture test only £48.93
Lowdham Nottingham (vehicle bought elsewhere)	Service and moisture test £293.61	Service only £264.25	Moisture test only £48.93
Southern Motorhome Centre (SMMT check includes damp test)	Habitation check A-class £172.50	Habitation check coachbuilts £149.50	Habitation check high tops and rising roofs £126.50
Camper UK	Full habitation check (inc damp test) £179	Damp check only £45
West Country Motorhomes	£195 inc damp check

This article was originally published in MMM February 2009 issue. If you've enjoyed it why not treat yourself to a copy of the magazine or order a subscription so you never miss an issue.

For more practical motorhoming advice, please read our other Get Practical articles.

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