AUTO SLEEPER GUARANTEE?

is the habitation service worthwhile after the first 2 years if everything working ok,  considering A/S guarantee?

I confess I'm not sure how long the Auto-sleepers warranty is these days, but a habitation check will cover things that wear out or get to the end of their working life, which a warranty won't - for example gas hoses which (depending on their constrction) may need to be changed every few years.

I do my own habitation checks every year and it's not complicated, but you obviously need to be aware of your own abilities/limitations when doing that...

I've been reading through my insurance having recently changed vans and found I am not covered for fire unless a habitation check has been carried out by qualified person. As my new van was supplied by a dealer with a habitation check I'm covered but I wouldn't have been on the old van as I hadn't had a check for 2 years. So not just warranty to consider.

Its really a safety issue. 
What gets me is many dealers incl AS S/c charge the NCC rate for a Caravan, the rate for a Motorhome is less as they are not doing things like brakes and hitches. Used to do our last vans myself but I have used a mobile NCC approved guy now (last 4 years) 
I found the 1st 2 hab services hadnt been completed to what I expected by the supplying dealer and their parent company and I was paying over the odds for the 2nd (1st was free) despite a so called club discount.

rogerblack wrote:

Paulmold wrote:I've been reading through my insurance having recently changed vans and found I am not covered for fire unless a habitation check has been carried out by qualified person. As my new van was supplied by a dealer with a habitation check I'm covered but I wouldn't have been on the old van as I hadn't had a check for 2 years. So not just warranty to consider.

It would be helpful to know to which insurance company's policy this refers.

.

I have taken this clause from Highway (part of LV) Insurance Company schedule..

'Caravanette Clause. This insurance does not cover loss or damage caused by fire or explosion arising from the use of heating or cooking equipment, unless the equipment has been serviced and /or fitted by a CORGI or HSE registered engineer and a fire extinguisher and/or blanket is kept in or on the vehicle, or loss or damage to the contents of the caravan or motorhome other than the contents which the manufacturer of the vehicle has fitted as standard.'

It just goes to show that insurance isn't worth having.

Paulmold wrote:I have taken this clause from Highway (part of LV) Insurance Company schedule..

'Caravanette Clause. This insurance does not cover loss or damage caused by fire or explosion arising from the use of heating or cooking equipment, unless the equipment has been serviced and /or fitted by a CORGI or HSE registered engineer and a fire extinguisher and/or blanket is kept in or on the vehicle, or loss or damage to the contents of the caravan or motorhome other than the contents which the manufacturer of the vehicle has fitted as standard.'

I'm not sure if you should reach the conclusion that this ~requires~ that you have a habitation check done.

This clause does not state how often, or even that, a heating or cooking appliance should be serviced (see the use of the words and/or in the middle of the relevant sentence). All it seems to say is that ~if~ an appliance has been serviced or fitted, it must have been done by a CORGI or HSE registered engineer.

I agree it reads like that but knowing how insurance companies will try to wriggle out of things I wouldn't want to give them any leeway. I did replace the heater in the Symphony myself so I got a mobile guy to check it out afterwards, just in case. I've also removed fridges for the 'upside down' cure in caravans and never gave it a thought regarding insurance cover.

I noticed on my insurance two years ago that clause so knew it had to be done. You should get it done as better safe than sorry.  

Love the new look to the forum Admin. Much easier

Surely, its like a service history, it makes huge sense to have a full set of habitation service certificates to keep with your vehicle, just the same as M.O.T. and vehicle service, this will greatly enhance its attraction when you come to sell it!!

Geoffrey A. Mason wrote:Surely, its like a service history, it makes huge sense to have a full set of habitation service certificates to keep with your vehicle, just the same as M.O.T. and vehicle service, this will greatly enhance its attraction when you come to sell it!!

You would think so wouldn't you but having just swopped our Symphony for a Nuevo with a part-ex at a dealer, it didn't make a jot of difference. Weren't asked for any service history, habitation certificates or even past MOT's although I did supply them all at handover.

Geoffrey A. Mason wrote:Surely, its like a service history, it makes huge sense to have a full set of habitation service certificates to keep with your vehicle, just the same as M.O.T. and vehicle service, this will greatly enhance its attraction when you come to sell it!!

Sorry, but IMO there is no real similarity. There is very little on the habitation side that ~requires~ regular maintenance in order to prevent excessive wear and assure a long working life, unlike vehicle service. Some components - such as gas hoses - have a maximum recommended working life, but in reality they all have plenty of leeway. Gas hoses, for example, aren't suddenly going to self-destruct as soon as they exceed 5 years old (though I should add that on mine I have chosen to swap out the original brand new rubber pigtails for stainless braided ones with a 20 year life).

I personally don't see any greater value in having a sheaf of yearly checks by someone else than having an owner that checks everything regularly themselves. In some respects it is a bad thing to rely on an annual check - IMO it's better to keep an eye on things as you use them, and take action as soon as you see something untoward. Checking things yourself also has the advantage that it helps gain an understanding of how the various habitation systems actually work - though I accept that some people are more or less inclined that way than others.

rogerblack wrote:Why would you want to keep a sheaf of ALL the past MOT certificates?  Surely only the current one has any relevance?

Perhaps to show continuity of mileages and also any advisories so you can check if they were done.

I have always kept all my mot `s and all receipts of work done on all my vehicles, ever since my first vehicle,  when I have sold they go with the relevant vehicle.

Those of us who have bought our vans via Marquis as previously owned, have to continue with a hab inspection to ensure the 3 year warranty is not invalidated.

I think I'm correct when I say that AS give 6 year water ingress cover on new van - Provided they are serviced annually during the period of the warranty. Yes its costly, but so is having to pay for any work related to damp in the body panels.
Joe janssis

I can't find any reference to water ingress warranty. The warranty PDF only mentions a two year warranty on their vehicles.

Paulmold wrote:

rogerblack wrote:

Paulmold wrote:I've been reading through my insurance having recently changed vans and found I am not covered for fire unless a habitation check has been carried out by qualified person. As my new van was supplied by a dealer with a habitation check I'm covered but I wouldn't have been on the old van as I hadn't had a check for 2 years. So not just warranty to consider.

It would be helpful to know to which insurance company's policy this refers.

.

I have taken this clause from Highway (part of LV) Insurance Company schedule..

'Caravanette Clause. This insurance does not cover loss or damage caused by fire or explosion arising from the use of heating or cooking equipment, unless the equipment has been serviced and /or fitted by a CORGI or HSE registered engineer and a fire extinguisher and/or blanket is kept in or on the vehicle, or loss or damage to the contents of the caravan or motorhome other than the contents which the manufacturer of the vehicle has fitted as standard.'

Surely this line means that as long as your equipment is original fitment it is covered? It states "and/or" not "as well as" 

Allan