Handover / Walkthrough

Dealer powers up the central panel (Sargent, CBE, Schaudt, Nordelettronica…) and explains every button, indicator, gauge, beep and warning LED

The panel is the primary interface to power, water and lighting — new owners regularly mistake battery-low alarms for faults.

Walk every interior light circuit, dimmer and three-way switch; locate the master habitation isolator

Read fresh / grey tank gauges and leisure battery voltage; confirm the known inaccuracy of resistive sensors

Resistive grey sensors drift due to film/sludge — set expectation now, before warranty disputes.

Start the Truma Combi from the CP plus / iNET panel in gas, electric and mixed modes; set the thermostat; show the reset path

Show what an E517H / E516H ignition fault looks like and how to power-cycle to clear; locate fuses for the heater

Most 'heater is broken' calls are an empty bottle or closed isolator after a failed retry.

Physically locate the FrostControl valve (yellow lever) under the floor; explain auto-dump below ~3 °C and 7 °C re-arm

Owners returning to an empty boiler in cold weather think the system has failed — it has protected itself.

If Alde: boiler power-up, room thermostat, hot-water priority, radiator bleed screws, glycol expansion-tank level

If Alde: show the date sticker for last glycol change; explain Alde-trained technician requirement

Blue G11 fluid: replace every 2 yrs. Pink Alde Premium: every 5 yrs. Old glycol corrodes aluminium internals.

Set a daily schedule and night setback on the heating panel

Show where the wall thermostat is and what affects its reading (drafts, sun)

Fill the boiler, prove gas + 230 V mixed mode, check mixer-tap temperature

Lighting the gas burner on an empty boiler damages the heat exchanger.

Physically open FrostControl / safety drain valve(s); open all taps to the centre position; verify water under the van

Single biggest cause of winter damage claims.

Close drain valve, fill fresh tank, run pump, vent taps hot then cold; only then re-energise boiler

Prevents dry-fire of the heater element.

Open the fill cap, identify the cap key, show the overflow path

Locate the inline filter cartridge and note replacement interval

Identify pump type (submersible Aquaroll vs onboard diaphragm); show inline switch / pressure switch and fuse location

Show propylene-glycol pink RV antifreeze; explicit warning NOT to use automotive ethylene glycol; demonstrate boiler bypass

Automotive antifreeze is toxic and ruins potable lines.

Physically point to every under-floor drain plug and tank valve

Open and close the grey drain handle; show approved chemical disposal point usage

Dealer explicitly states that resistive grey-tank sensors will drift; teach Calgon/dish-soap cleaning routine

Open external service hatch, release cassette, carry with wheels, press vent button while pouring

Vent button prevents glugging and splashback.

Aqua Kem Blue/Green for the cassette, Aqua Rinse Plus for the flush tank

Wrong chemicals damage seals/plastics and breach site rules.

Apply Thetford seal lubricant; demonstrate the blade slide

Locate the exterior vent grille; explain cleaning interval

Only Thetford-approved bowl cleaner; no domestic bleach

Bleach attacks the rubber blade seal.

Switch through 12V / 230V / gas manually; explain that 12V only runs while the tow car's D+ is live

Owners leave fridge on 12V at storage and flatten the leisure battery.

If AES fitted: show priority 230V → 12V → gas and low-voltage cutout behaviour

Engage the travel-lock on the fridge door; show winter cover for ventilation grille if supplied

Note absorption fridge degrades above ~1500 m on gas and in extreme heat — supplementary 230V/12V advised

Close cylinder valve, disconnect pigtail (left-hand thread on UK propane), seat new bottle, leak test

Identify regulator type, test point, replacement interval (typically 10 years)

Show the dedicated isolator valve for each appliance (BS EN 1949:2021 compliance)

Press the test button on the LPG alarm; explain difference vs CO alarm tones

Point to the through-floor drain holes; confirm they are not blocked by chocks/storage

Receive the current Gas Safety / G607 certificate dated within ~3 months of handover

Connect 230V hook-up; use a neon polarity tester; demonstrate reverse-polarity adapter use abroad

Caravan Club explicitly recommends checking polarity on every connection.

Press the RCD test button; confirm trip and reset

Open every consumer unit, fuse panel and hidden inline fuses (mover, solar, fridge, pump); locate spare fuse pack

Confirm leisure battery type (AGM / lead acid / lithium) and matching charger setting

Wrong profile destroys a £600 battery.

Show PV input, battery voltage, daily Ah on the solar controller; explain absorption/float stages

If inverter fitted: which sockets it feeds, surge limits, auto-shutdown

Locate the battery master / habitation isolator switch; explain effect (does it kill mover? alarm? clock?)

Engage and disengage the rollers (manual lever or auto engage); release before towing

Driving off with rollers engaged scraps the mover.

Show socket-wrench hex bolt to manually disengage if motor fails

Explain that the mover demands a fresh, fully charged leisure battery; demonstrate 20-min auto-shutdown; remove handset key

Pair/repair handset, dead-man button, behaviour on signal loss

Use a BS 7691 nose-weight gauge to measure nose weight; verify against car's towbar plate and caravan limit

AL-KO AKS stabiliser: pad inspection, towball cleanliness (grease-free), correct hitch / release lever sequence

Grease on the ball negates the stabiliser; pads are consumables (~30,000 miles).

Correctly loop or clip breakaway cable onto a dedicated towbar lug; long enough for cornering but not loose enough to drag

Wrong routing applies the handbrake on full lock; loose cable doesn't trigger in detachment.

Test 13-pin electrics with assistant: hazards, brake, fog, reverse, indicators, fridge supply on D+

If TPMS fitted: pair external valve-cap sensors; install repeater if van > 7 m from cab

Demonstrate fit and removal of AL-KO secure wheel lock and hitch lock; verify CaSSOA insurance acceptance

Crank or motor the wind-out / cassette awning; check locking arms

Retract before Force 5–6 wind, at night, or when leaving unattended

Awning rip = chassis damage and high cost.

Demonstrate tie-down kit: hook into fascia slot, route under fabric, peg out to ground

If motorised: show hex-key override slot for power loss

Roof aerial wind-up, signal-finder use, store before driving

Satellite dome/dish power-up, sat-finder app, manual nudge

Router / 4G/5G modem SIM slot, admin password, antenna mounts

Maximum kg (rack and per bike), locking key, swing-down behaviour, e-bike compatibility

Dealer physically converts every sleeping configuration (dinette → double, lounge → twin singles)

Owners discover missing infill cushions weeks later.

Deploy support / centre legs and warn of damage if slept on without them

Press the smoke-alarm test button; confirm BS EN 14604 / NCC Grade D1 LD2, mounted ≥300 mm from light fittings

BS EN 50291 Type B CO alarm, located 1–3 m horizontal from any fuel-burning appliance, on the high side of a sloped ceiling

LPG alarm test; confirm low-level installation (LPG is heavier than air)

BS EN 3 fire extinguisher present, gauge green, expiry/refill date, bracket secure

Fire blanket wall-mounted within easy reach of the kitchen

Hob fires are the #1 caravan fire cause.

Operate the designated emergency-egress rooflight; ensure nothing blocks it

Locate first-aid kit (check plaster/dressing expiry), warning triangle and hi-vis vests

Dealer physically points to the manufacturer's plate; record MIRO, MTPLM, max axle load, max nose load

Receive original Certificate of Conformity (COC) for type approval

UK: transfer CRiS ownership; receive CRiS registration document

Receive Gas Safety / G607 certificate dated within ~3 months

Receive 230V system test certificate / EICR where required

Stamped service book; explanation of NCC Approved Workshop Scheme requirement to keep damp warranty (7–10 yrs)

Skipping annual hab check voids manufacturer's damp warranty.

Receive every owner manual: caravan, heater, fridge, toilet, mover, alarm, awning

Receive and label every key: habitation door, fill cap, gas locker, service lockers, garage, bike rack, hitch lock, wheel lock, AKS pad cap. Photograph the bunch.

Missing keys discovered months later cost £60–£300 each to replace.

Walk through structural, body-shell, damp and appliance warranties: how/where to claim, named dealer contact

Confirm the free first habitation-service voucher: date window, scope

Aftersales phone number, mobile habitation engineer contact, emergency breakdown details

Mains EHU lead, 25 m, 3-core 2.5 mm² with CEE 16 A plug & socket

Reverse-polarity adapter / CEE-to-Schuko adapter

3-LED neon polarity tester in the owner pack

Food-grade fresh-water hose / Aquaroll filler hose, condition checked

Generic garden hose taints water.

Waste-water hose / Wastemaster + dump-station adapter

Correct UK propane / butane / European DIN pigtail(s) and bottle spanner

Pair of levelling ramps + spirit level

Needed for absorption fridge to function.

At least one pair of anti-roll wheel chocks

Spare wheel inflated to correct pressure and in date; jack engages chassis jacking point; brace fits nuts

Locking wheel-nut key + agreed storage location

Correct socket for corner steadies; battery-drill adapter if supplied

If gas bottles are included in the sale: number, size, full/empty state — photograph

Toilet chemicals starter pack — Aqua Kem Blue + Aqua Rinse Plus

Spare 12 V bulbs and assorted blade fuses

Receive the signed-off page from the PDI damp-meter readings on all walls

Establishes the baseline for future damp-warranty claims.

Walk around the bodywork and glazing with the dealer; photograph every panel; log any scratch/chip BEFORE signing

Read DOT date code on every tyre including spare; confirm cold pressures

Receive the dealer's PDI sign-off sheet and counter-sign

Tick every accessory listed in the order form against what is actually present BEFORE signing acceptance

Once signed, missing items become 'your word vs theirs'.