Undertaking on Motorway... 175

For almost every item in the MOT there is a caveat "if visible". So, the examiner should check there is no contamination, cracking, or scoring and that pads or linings are at least 1.5 mm thick where this can be done without dismantling but is not obliged to do so (IIRC is prohibited from doing so) if the check would require dismantling. So if you have inboard disks or drums, whether or not your brakes pbutt the MOT depends solely on the rolling road efficiency tests. Other items might also be on their last legs and still pbutt simply because the examiner could not see the item without dismantling. All caravans that I've owned have had auto-reverse drum brakes, so these would not be examined if the caravan were to be subjected to an MOT-type examiniation.

Contrast that with a service (caravan or car). The manufacturer's service schedule says "strip, examine, replace as necessary, lubricate, and refit" and that's exactly what should happen at a service to that schedule. For the same item, the instructions for the MOT would be "examine if you can see it". An MOT only checks the condition at the time of presentation whereas a service item checks the condition and takes steps to keep the item serviceable until it's next scheduled inspection.

The MOT certificate says that the vehicle met the minimum acceptable standards at the time of test. This means that a vehicle can pbutt even if it has a fault with a potential to become serious provided that item meets the minimum standard on the day *even if that minimum is well below the manufacturer's design limits*. In contrast, a service item should identify and rectify that fault before it becomes a danger and so proper servicing has much more chance of ensuring roadworthiness than does the MOT test.

Cars usually have standard warranty of between one and three years and an anti-perforation warranty for a few years past that, whereas caravans have a general warranty of three years with an anti-water-ingress warranty for five or six years. AFAICT, anti-perforation warranties tend to rely on restrictive clauses (inside to out only) or at most require bodywork-only inspection whereas anti-water-ingress warranties require a full annual service. So, there is a real incentive for caravans to be properly looked after for much longer than that incentive exists for cars.

- A collection of replaced parts. - Fresh grease at the greasing points. - Witness marks on screws etc. - A check-off list together with comments and recommendations that would be difficult to give unless they'd done the work. - On one occasion, returning to collect the 'van early and finding someone still working on it.

-- Geoff