The Caravan Owners Club

[Omega]

Just been offered a new imported van, not via a Hobby Dealer and not a U.K spec. I am told it will not be registered with Hobby UK. Can I register it, is there any benefit in doing so? Is this an issue and are there likely to be and issues with the fact that it’s not UK spec?

[harrycee]

There is no such thing as a registered UK van - much as the British dealers would have you think there is. The van in question will have been imported privately - nothing wrong with that and "Hobby UK" registration is really a group of security minded people who list Hobby serial numbers hoping to trace them if stolen.
If the price is right go for it.
But check out the foreign new prices first.

[Omega]

So what if its stolen should it not be on a UK register?

[harrycee]

Do you honestly believe that this would help? and more important, would you want the van back after the thieving scum have had their hands on it?
I have a newly imported 540 and the less people that know about the serial number and personal details the better.

[Omega]

Good point, do the imports have battery compartment, I understand there is some upgrade required to the 12v electrics?

[harrycee]

I don't have a battery fitted to mine, by choice - I only use hook-up pitches so it is not a problem. The 12v transformer takes care of all the 12volt electrics and I specifically wanted to keep the weight of the van down - at 1500 it takes a beast to pull it.
How much did they want for the new import, if you don't mind me asking?

[Chubbs]

Hi Harrycee,
I too have a 540, originally with no battery too by choice for the same reasons as you - use large sites.

However, after visiting a large commercial site, where they had a lengthy local power cut during our stay, I realised the vulnerability. Absolutely nothing works if you have no mains - no water-pump, no toilet flush, no lights, no fridge, no hot-air fan, no microwave ...........only gas rings and gas fire, in the dark.

After that experience I fitted a battery.

[Omega]

Thanks for that Harrycee and Chubbs, I have found Docs item on fitting a battery. The import will cost around 9.5k delivered. Back to the original point about registering with UK Hobby, despite the apparent little benifit can an imported van still be registered

[John_C]

Hi Omega.

I have recently arranged for a friend to import his own van from Germany. I ordered it and the extras he wanted and set up the deal for him, I speak German so that helps a bit. Then after telling him what to take with him and where to go, he collected it himself a coulple of weeks later.

As for regestration, there are various ways to do this in the UK, if you really do want it back after its been used , then I would surgest electronic tagging....but to my mind, any registration only helps the insurance companies!

If you, or anybody else to that matter, would like a helping hand to self import please e-mail me or my wife Sylvia direct.... It can be painless and you'll get a new van for a second hand price..

Click on e-mail below...

[keith]

Hi Omega,
I don't know about Hobby UK but you could register with CRIS through the Caravan Club, It is a much larger network. Also there is Hobby Watch on this site(but I don't know that works), keep a note of your chassis number and if you are unfortunate to get your van stolen pass it on to the Police, it will stay on the national system as stolen and any PC can access the info instantly. The same incidently goes for outboard engines and yes they do get stop checked.

[Omega]

I understood CRIS were independent of the Caravan Club? "Hobby Watch" well I agree not much now but I think with the people behind this site, they will make it work, given time.

As to recovering a van if it gets stolen, Hobby Owners are on sites an will see other vans more than the police. Maybe they will check chassis numbers against this web site.

Keeping a note of the chassis number and if you are unfortunate to get your van stolen passing it on to the Police still sounds like a good idea. I wonder how many they recover?

Prevention seems to me to be the priority.

[John_C]

Can I draw your attention to the following on this subject, heres a quick link to it..

http://www.hobby-owners-club.co.uk/foru ... c.php?t=52

Hope this helps....John

[keith]

Omega you probably right about CRIS it's just that I saw it advertised in the CC mag. The only answer is stop it from being nicked. Have a look at www.alarmtrail.com works from a mobile phone Police can get it triangulated when it stops. You can also listen to the scumbags on board. If you have a home alarm why not take a lead out from the panic button circuit (which is permanently on) and wrap around the A frame. Or you could turn it into a kennel for BIG NASTY DOGS!

[Omega]

Keith now this I like ( www.alarmtrail.com ) works from a mobile phone, police can get it triangulated when it stops and you can also listen to the scumbags on board. Looks new to me, any reports on its use. If it delivers how about Hobby Owners Club looking for a discount for members in return for advertising on the site.

Ed, Concrete how about a report on alarmtrail on the site?

[Pearl Faulkner]

I understood CRIS were independent of the Caravan Club? "Hobby Watch" well I agree not much now but I think with the people behind this site, they will make it work, given time.

As to recovering a van if it gets stolen, Hobby Owners are on sites an will see other vans more than the police. Maybe they will check chassis numbers against this web site.

Keeping a note of the chassis number and if you are unfortunate to get your van stolen passing it on to the Police still sounds like a good idea. I wonder how many they recover?

Prevention seems to me to be the priority.

Hi Omega,
your right CRIS is independant of the Caravan Club, I used CRIS for my Adria which I sold recently. I didnt buy my security tags or dots from CRIS just registered only, found it handy when it came to selling the caravan as CRIS charged £10.00 (3 yrs ago) they provided me with a LogBook, looked just like the ones the DVLA gives you when you register a car. It came in handy as the purchasers asked to see relevant ID documents to prove I owned the caravan. I will be doing the same with my new Hobby 460UFE Excellent 'when I finally collect', "worth every penny of the £10.00 as it helped to sell the caravan to the first person who came and viewed.

Regards Pearl.