I have a 3 year old Baily Orion, which came with a 10 year warranty. I have to have the van serviced with a Bailey dealer to maintain the warranty, which I need to do in the next month if I'm to maintain the warranty.
I have not warmed to Bailey as a company. When I approached them with issues I had with the van (from new) and the supplying dealer they were pretty unhelpful (totally useless is probably closer to the truth). Getting rectification work done under warranty was a massive PITA (2 visits to supplying dealer (i.e. 4 journeys) and then another visit to a different dealer (so another 2 journeys) to fix a water pump problem I could have fixed myself for less money than the cost of the trips to the dealer(s)
The last service was c.250 quid. They didn't fix any of the issues (trim falling off, door above oven warped) despite saying they would sort them when I checked the van in.
Looking at what they did as part of the service, it wasn't a 'service', it was a checklist. They did very little actual servicing. I asked them to change the friction pads (at my cost), they forgot to do it.
It's also a pain being without the van for two autumn weekends while it's 'serviced'. I estimate to maintain the van with a Bailey dealer for 10 years will cost me about 3500quid (including diesel)
I'm really thinking of getting the van serviced by a mobile caravan repairer once every two years, I'll change the battery and tires myself when they need it.
Is it a sensible thing to walk away from the warranty? If there is a problem with the van, I guess it could cost a lot to fix, but if I’m saving 2.5k, that would pay for a lot of repairs, plus not have the frustration of having the work done at their leisure. I also think there is a good chance they will weasel out of paying for any claim.
Any thoughts? I'm new to caravanning and I'm not sure I’ve covered all angles, but at the moment I’m thinking dealer servicing makes no sense.
You are not on your own regarding caravan warranties as new buyers are constantly brainwashed into thinking that if anything goes wrong they're covered. This should be the case and if you fail to continue to have the caravan serviced annually by the required service agent they have the golden opportunity to say your warranty is void. As they have not rectified the faults as mentioned proves my point but like the saying goes, a warranty is not worth the paper it's written on. it's no different to any other warranty as what they say and what they do are two different things. After all said and done, when you have parted with your hard earned cash and bought a brand new caravan the last thing you need is a battle to fight for your legal consumer rights. You have done your own calculations and what the figures work out to you are quite right, it's not worth throwing any further large sums of money for not receiving the service they promised.
I have had a repair on my Adria Adora van carried out by a vat registed mobile service engineer on a site paid for by Adria agent. IE replacing new door lock which would not unlock from outside due to something failing in the lock. I could not take it to agents as I could not get keys for Alko locks.
Hi, visit my caravan insurance, they do an AA backed warranty for caravans that covers electrical, mechanical, and water ingress and you could get a quote then see what costs would be. also a word with trading standards to see if they can legally hide behind the servicing rule as regards their 10 year warranty.
£250 for a single axle service, they saw you coming. The same thing at our dealer is less than £180.
Get it serviced from a mobile engineer, but they will have to be a member of the NCC to keep the warranty up, and I suspect this would need to be done annually. In fact you could take it to any caravan dealer that was cheaper, again, as long as they were NCC registered.
Don't know why you would want to buy a warranty when you already have one
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
A chassis service, brakes/coupling, £70-80 every 2 years is fine. Check interior appliances & bodywork yourself on an ongoing basis, so thats reduced your service costs to around £400+parts/materials over 10yrs if you are not bothered about maintaining warranty.
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
Without your van for 2 weekends!!!!
The dealer is taking the pi$$. When I had my caravan serviced I arranged with the dealer to fit it in between 2 weekend trips, I dropped it off on monday and picked it up on friday, all serviced, a few minor niggles sorted and they gave it a good clean too.
Great service from Stewart Longton of Chorley
Is there another Bailey dealer nearer who can service it. We paid about £200 for annual service at main bailey dealer and have had no complaints at all. Everything has been done properly. Sounds like you picked a bad dealer.
I carry out mobile servicing in the whole of the north wales area and further on request. currently offering a 10% discount for OAP's if they book a service carried out in Nov/Dec 2014.
please email thecaravandoc at yahoo.co.uk or call 07917275781
You don't need to go back to the dealer, for service or warranty, you need an approved Bailey service centre - here or just used NICC approved mobile but then they wouldn't be able to do warranty work.
We had a Pegasus and it was serviced by Long Eaton caravans who also did some minor warranty work - they do have to wait for approval from Bailey but then all dealers have to follow that procedure.
I agree with you, warrenty is not worth paper its written on. Been waiting 3 years for part from bailey on fridge. Now roof leaks but as i could not get it serviced on or around annerversary because of pandemic, warrenty is void anyway. I find these and all carravans poorly made and over priced. Ive repaired everything on my van very easily, even the roof leak. God help bailey and swift if eu makers come to uk market.
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
The Bailey warranty work is normally carried out by the supplying dealer. I'm not sure who funds it but I get the impression Bailey supply the parts and the dealer supplies the labour.
During the early part of the Pandemic Bailey extended the dates for when the service had to be carried out as workshops were closed and there were travel restrictions. I managed to get mine serviced within their extended time frame after the Covid lockdown restrictions were eased and some subsequent warranty work (leaking roof with interior woodwork water damage) was carried out without problem.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets