Tires of caravans and folding campers often too old
A spot check by BOVAG shows that almost 30 percent of caravans and half of the folding campers are fitted with outdated tires. During an initial inspection of almost 150 caravans and folding campers last month at various locations in the central Netherlands, BOVAG found that almost 30 percent of the caravans were fitted with tires older than January 2013.
The advice from the industry organization and various insurers is to replace these tires every six years. Over time, the rubber of your tires wears out - even when stationary in storage or at a campsite - and hairline cracks can form, for example.
The tread of the tire may still be perfectly tip-top, but if the temperature in the tire rises during the journey, the consequences of such damage can be disastrous. Previous inspections by BOVAG and the police also showed that many caravan owners pay little attention to their tires.
How old?
You can easily read the manufacturing date yourself from the tire, as it is indicated with four digits after the letters DOT. The first two digits represent the production week and the last two represent the production year.
Gas hoses too
Like tires, gas hoses are made of the natural product rubber, which deteriorates in quality over time, with all possible consequences. Manufacturers therefore state an expiry date on the gas hoses, but experience shows that many holidaymakers do not pay attention to this. Periodic inspection of the gas installation in a caravan, Motorhome or folding camper is legally required, especially in German-speaking countries, and some campsites in Germany, Austria and Switzerland refuse campers - including foreign ones - on the grounds of this regulation.
The risk of explosions and fire must be minimized, and therefore the so-called G607 inspection can now also be carried out in the Netherlands according to German guidelines. A large number of caravan companies have since been trained for this and have the necessary certifications, so that holidaymakers do not face unpleasant surprises on the spot.
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