Understanding your Warranty

With all major purchases, it’s a good idea to know and understand your warranty … with a caravan being no exception to the rule. In fact, it’s an important part of owning a caravan as they’re made up of so many different parts and components.

Some parts are covered under warranty by the manufacturer of the caravan … and others … covered by the manufacturer of the components themselves. It’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with who to contact should you need assistance along the beaten track.

Generally, the caravan manufacturer covers faulty workmanship of anything structural such as external walls or internal cabinetry; with components such as fridges, stoves, toilets, etc covered by their manufacturer.

Caravan manufacturer’s will sometimes pass you on to the manufacturer of specific components such as fridges, hot water services and microwaves, not because they don’t want to help you, but because they know that the manufacturers of those products have specialised knowledge and expertise with their own products that could fast-track a solution.

If you’re unsure of who to contact during your warranty period call your dealer who will assist you in getting any warranty issues solved.

It’s also important to read your warranty paperwork thoroughly. As the owner of the caravan, you are responsible for regular and proper maintenance in accordance with the warranty agreement.

It is essential to understand the difference between warranty and service and maintenance.

Just as you service and maintain your tow vehicle without question … so too should your caravan be serviced and maintained regularly.

This excerpt comes from the Caravan Owner’s Handbook released by the Caravan Industry Association of Australia …

It is essential that before undertaking any repairs or alterations to your RV that you consult with the dealer prior to carrying out these repairs. It is essential to return the warranty card as supplied with your RV originally so that your warranty will be registered with the dealer.

Further procedures on warranty should be in accordance with the detailed warranty card as supplied with your RV. It is essential to understand the difference between warranty and service and maintenance. All RVs need to be maintained and serviced and this cost must be borne by the owner as it is part of your cost of travel. Warranty procedures are those items which are stated in the warranty card and you should carefully consider whether an item is a service and maintenance item prior to contacting the manufacturer to make a warranty claim.

If you’re confused, your first point of contact should always be your dealer who’ll guide you to the best of their ability.

Before purchasing a caravan, it’s a good idea to understand what support comes with your purchase. The caravan industry has a lot of manufacturers and many have a limited dealer network to service their customers. Consider the following before purchasing:

How many dealerships are available across Australia and where are they located?

How many service agents are available throughout the country?

Can the dealer or manufacturer provide you with a physical list of these service agents?

What is the warranty period of the overall product?

What is their procedure for dealing with third party components?

For more information on warranties, service or maintenance please get in touch with one of our friendly team.