Caravan parts rip off.

[Lons]

Bought a new touring caravan in May and had time to use it for only a total 5 nights to find that the central heating circulation pump has a fault.

Claim was quickly accepted under warranty and 6 weeks later and a lot of shouting I eventually got a replacement at no cost however had it been out of warranty the supply only price would have been £200 :roll: so beware anyone who has an Alde wet system in their van.

I recon this simple 12 volt impeller pump is worth only around £20 if that!

 

[bourbon]

Oh yes, put 'caravan' in front of anything and you can at least treble the price. I suppose I'm lucky as my 'van is a 1992. It's old, well out of warranty so I modify stuff that fails with non caravan stuff. E.G, the water system is made up of house plumbing fittings. Much cheaper.

 

[Glynne]

Oh yes, put 'caravan' in front of anything.

But not in front of my car or any other cars in front of me!

 

[skipdiver]

I once worked in the service and repair department of a large caravan manufacturer and it was very profitable. Some of the mark ups and labour charges were eye watering.

 

[stuartpaul]

If you think putting caravan in front of something makes it expensive try putting BMW!

I forget how much they wanted for a windscreen washer pump (triple digits) but the ebay one was less than a tenner.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Depends whose bag it's in. Years ago I noticed that a set of points for my BMW bike were identical to the points for my Volvo - they were £3.35 for the BMW and £2.45 for the Volvo. I commented on this to a mechanic friend and told me I should have bought points for a Beetle, which were the same - they were .75p.

 

[Lons]

Oh yes, put 'caravan' in front of anything.

But not in front of my car or any other cars in front of me!

:lol: :lol: :lol: My outfit is perfectly capable of 0 - 60 in under 10 seconds and cruising at the road speed limits , not that I do of course as legal limits for caravanners are 50 on single carriageways and 60 on dual carriageways & motorways so it's government legislation that's holding you up.

I'm old school though and happily pull over or signal following traffic to overtake, after all we're using the caravan for enjoyment and not in a hurry :lol: so I try to be helpful to those who are.

Now, don't set me off on drivers holding up traffic and other annoyances. Little old men and ladies doing 30 in a 50 limit or worse, 50 in a 30 limit. Tractors, bikes, horse riders, lorries in a convoy so not a hope of overtaking, motorcyclists at speed between cars in a queue, tailgaters, using mobiles or smoking while driving. arghhhhhhhh !

I drove 3000 miles in Canada this summer, wide generally good roads, light traffic - shear bliss. British roads are not capable of supporting the 35 million cars registered to use them let alone all the other vehicles. Luckily for me the North East has only a small % of that. =D>

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I used to follow an old man in a Moggie on a ten mile trip to work (35 years ago) and when I got behind it would double the time it took to get there. For nine miles he stuck under thirty then for the last mile for some reason best known to him when he hit the thirty mile an hour limit he speeded up to forty five - every time I ever followed him. :? :lol:

 

[Lons]

If you think putting caravan in front of something makes it expensive try putting BMW!

I forget how much they wanted for a windscreen washer pump (triple digits) but the ebay one was less than a tenner.

Can't get away from it if you buy a premium brand Stuart, I had 3 BMWs, 3 Audis and just bought a Merc GLC. I change them before they run out of warranty, or need tyres :shock: and we have a specialist garage for German cars not too far away who charges much less for servicing than the main dealers, so that's where my business goes. You can get discount if you argue with them and a number of the main dealers sell on ebay now as well so you can use that as a bargaining tool.

Same with the wifes' Minis, on her 4th now but their service care package is good value.

Surely it's not just cars though, I needed a new thermostat for our fridge a while back, £60 + from Hotpoint, only a fiver for the same unit unbranded, just have to do your homework.

 

[rafezetter]

I used to follow an old man in a Moggie on a ten mile trip to work (35 years ago) and when I got behind it would double the time it took to get there. For nine miles he stuck under thirty then for the last mile for some reason best known to him when he hit the thirty mile an hour limit he speeded up to forty five - every time I ever followed him. :? :lol:

Took that long for the engine to warm up! My father had one briefly - just awful and not helped by the fred flinstone holes in the floorpan!

 

[gwaithcoed]

If it's the motor that has failed, google the number on the motor and get a quote for a new motor and if the price is right keep it as a spare just in case.

Alan

 

[Mike Jordan]

I've used the Alde comfort boiler in several narrow boats and found them to be very good. The current price for the pump at Midland Chandlers branches is £132.00. Expensive but better than £200 !

 

[bugbear]

Surely it's not just cars though, I needed a new thermostat for our fridge a while back, £60 + from Hotpoint, only a fiver for the same unit unbranded, just have to do your homework.

My garage fitted an unbranded speed sensor to my Ford Focus. Much cheaper than the Ford part.

Of course, the EMS and speedo didn't work properly after that.

Had to get it replaced with a Ford part.

BugBear

 

[AES]

I know nowt about caravans and narrow boats, but I had a mate in Portsmouth who had a yacht and he reckoned that was akin to standing fully clothed under a cold shower tearing up ten pound notes.

AES

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Boats are holes in the water you throw money in.

 

[stuartpaul]

Boats are holes in the water you throw money in.

Best way to become a millionaire?

Be a billionaire and buy a boat!

 

[AES]

Oh. I heard it as - "Best way to get a small fortune? Get a big fortune then start an airline".

AES

 

[Lons]

If it's the motor that has failed, google the number on the motor and get a quote for a new motor and if the price is right keep it as a spare just in case.

Alan

I' !ve used the Alde comfort boiler in several narrow boats and found them to be very good. The current price for the pump at Midland Chandlers branches is £132.00. Expensive but better than £200

Thanks guys that's what I would have done had I needed to pay for it but it was replaced under warranty.I had to send back the faulty pump before they would replace it and I said I'd refuse a repair as it was faulty from the beginning. I just highlighted the price because it's a rip off.