As advertised tonight at the end of the Today/Tonight programme there will be a segment on faulty caravans and how dangerous and potentially a fire hazard. Might be worth watching.
Helena said
08:19 PM Mar 8, 2011
Thanks for that HW will have a look see. Helena.
Vic said
11:02 PM Mar 8, 2011
Just saw the preview on their website.....can't quite make out the name on the side but it looks to be a top dollar van, not your off the rack mass produced van........
Beth54 said
08:10 PM Mar 9, 2011
I didn't catch the name of it either, but it sounded like he paid big bucks for it. He was planning a trip to to Cape York.
He finally got his refund in the end, so good for him for standing up to the b*****ds!
Happywanderer said
08:25 PM Mar 9, 2011
I think the caravan brand was called 5 star. He paid 40,000 I'm sure he said.
They really didn't want to know did they, but finally caved in and gave him his refund.
milo said
08:48 PM Mar 9, 2011
i missed it.. oh well, seems worked out all ok.
billy the kid said
10:29 PM Mar 9, 2011
It wasn't on in Perth tt.
Vic said
10:32 PM Mar 9, 2011
Hmmmm......it wasn't shown over here in WA......some stupid bit on making an ad for West Coast Eagles took it's place I think.....Grrrrrrrrr.
Cruising Granny said
10:32 PM Mar 9, 2011
I saw the story and it looked like a complete and utter shonk to me.
The poor guy paid $40,000 for a custom built, allegedly off-road van to get to Cape Yorke with his family. Young family, hard worker.
The agent didn't want to know, and denied any obligation because he didn't build the van.
The builder didn't want to know because he didn't employ the idiots who glued the van together.
Nobody wanted to accept liability for the shoddy workmanship.
The buyer demanded his money back, and they agreed, providing the buyer didn't publish the story. (blackmail)
The buyer refused to play that game, and they agreed to pay his money back, and the story went to air anyway.
He was determined the story would be aired to ensure the shonks didn't resell the van to some other poor, unsuspecting sucker.
It was a time bomb. Poor wiring, leaking electrical fittings, no gas inspection certificate, among some of the problems.
I saw similar problems in most of the vans I looked at at the van show. Shoddy workmanship is the name of the game.
It's disgusting. I concluded the people who build and sell them don't travel with or use the caravans they build.
Between the lot of us we could probably build a brilliant, strong, light, insulated caravan cheaper and better than these crooks in the industry.
billy the kid said
10:40 PM Mar 9, 2011
Careful Vic, I'm a long suffering eagles supporter.
Cruising Granny said
10:47 PM Mar 9, 2011
I don't care how long/tall you are, but if you support the Eagles, you certainly are suffering.
Like the Crows, when they had the pick of the whole state's best players they could win. Now the resources are spread a bit thinner they have to work harder to kick the goals.
Too much money and not enough sport(s).
Vic said
01:11 AM Mar 10, 2011
billy the kid wrote:
Careful Vic, I'm a long suffering eagles supporter.
You have my condolences Billy.....how is the new van going, better than the one on TV I hope.........
5 Star Caravans are the dealer involved
43 Lear Jet Drive, Caboolture, Queensland on the bruce highway
LiL Andy said
09:24 AM Mar 10, 2011
P.S. If any one wants to buy one of there death traps there number is 1300 898 665
justcruisin01 said
12:32 PM Mar 10, 2011
Havent heard of 5 star, are they another overnight wonder? How about the 2nd inlet power socket at a low level, just right for a kid to lift the cover & stick their finger in. Need to stay with a known brand, nomatter what the product is. Too many people base things on price not quility.
Popeye said
05:43 PM Mar 10, 2011
When I had my Regent Parklane built. I was camped on there doorstep every morning before they started work. I was there when they .stopped I was there for every step of the way. They did not mind one bit.
bill12 said
06:31 PM Mar 10, 2011
i just saw the item on tv, and I think its hows that some dealers have no morals and are only after your hard earned dollars. It also shows that you get what you pay for.A bushtracker would have been better, but probaly twice the price.This doesn,t indemnify the dealer or manufacturer. Now we all know what 5 star means.How do they get these things on the road? Do they have roadworthys for new vans?I hope this brings better standards.I have my own home built slide on which is by no means flash, but it has done some of the roughest roads in oz,twice to the cape and back, and hasn,t fallen apart yet.I amcontemplating a much more salubrios(I hope I spelled that right) slide on soon.
-- Edited by bill12 on Thursday 10th of March 2011 06:35:31 PM
petengail said
06:47 PM Mar 10, 2011
bill12 wrote:
i just saw the item on tv, and I think its hows that some dealers have no morals and are only after your hard earned dollars. It also shows that you get what you pay for.A bushtracker would have been better, but probaly twice the price.This doesn,t indemnify the dealer or manufacturer. Now we all know what 5 star means.How do they get these things on the road? Do they have roadworthys for new vans?I hope this brings better standards.I have my own home built slide on which is by no means flash, but it has done some of the roughest roads in oz,twice to the cape and back, and hasn,t fallen apart yet.I amcontemplating a much more salubrios(I hope I spelled that right) slide on soon.
-- Edited by bill12 on Thursday 10th of March 2011 06:35:31 PM
If you want something larger, more comfortable, but as robust as the "baitbox", I would suggest you go for a larger platform like a landcruiser ute and build it yourself again. You will know what you are getting and know it wont break. Its not about looks, its about what will get you where you want to go, in relative comfort and get you back again. I only wish I could make one myself.
Gerty Dancer said
07:24 PM Mar 10, 2011
On TV tonight they gave a clarification that theres a "5 Star" dealership in Belmont NSW that is completely separate from this fiasco.
Wombat 280 said
09:48 PM Mar 10, 2011
Got me completely baffled why a bloody esky on wheels cost so much. Not a lot of difference between the walls of a van and a large esky or a cool room. Hard to justify the dollars for some of the larger vans and motorhomes. Even with the top of range units you still need to retro fit a heap of extras or upgrade what was installed especially in the electrics department.
Some manufactures boast that they are long-term vanners and know exactly what the buyer wants, which my be true before the manufacturing side of their hobby took over now they don't have the time to get away.
Cruising Granny said
10:22 PM Mar 10, 2011
This mob will be a definite overnight wonder, especially after this exposure.
I had a good look a dozens of vans at the recent show, and even novice van hunters picked out poor workmanship and finishes.
From the door they look all shiny and new, but when you get inside and start opening a few doors and drawers, it's scary.
I have to wonder at the design which includes glass doors on the overhead cupboards. Not perspex, and not lined with plywood.
Some of the latches left a lot to be desired in security when travelling.
I had visions of everything ending up on the floor in some of them.
These vans may be ok for a short trip and short use, but for long trips and long-term living they are not.
The blokes who build them don't use them or live in them. If they did none of these poor standard vans would exist ever again.
Someone needs to be out there to ensure the safety and quality of these aluminium or fibreglass boxes with pop rivets and staples.
A man here in the park designed and ordered a custom built van, to his specifications and legal design.
The triple axle BIG van cannot be registered in SA because the axles are too far forward, and the infrastructure would have to be rebuilt to accommodate moving the axles to comply with regulations. It stands on-site, and can't go anywhere.
You'd think the van builder would know the law on these things at least in the state they build them. The case isn't finished yet.
goinsoon said
10:09 AM Mar 11, 2011
Gerty Dancer wrote:
On TV tonight they gave a clarification that theres a "5 Star" dealership in Belmont NSW that is completely separate from this fiasco.
It seems that the problem is not with the dealer wherever they may be, but with 5 star who build a shoddy product and wont back it.
Cruising Granny said
11:09 PM Mar 11, 2011
Yeah, the builder should be shot, but the dealer should also be aware of the product he's selling. In the end it's the customer who gets ripped off and disappointed.
_wombat_ said
07:50 AM Mar 12, 2011
Happywanderer wrote:
I think the caravan brand was called 5 star. He paid 40,000 I'm sure he said. They really didn't want to know did they, but finally caved in and gave him his refund.
If they paid $40,000 for an off road van then the buyer did not do his homework before making his purchase, for a van to go to Cape York you would expect to pay $70,000 to $80,000, the one he purchased may get to the Cape but I am sure it would not get him back again.
However I do believe the seller is SHONKY
-- Edited by _wombat_ on Saturday 12th of March 2011 07:52:15 AM
pricey43 said
03:37 PM Mar 12, 2011
Just reading an article on working while on the road. Had to laugh when it finished off with a comment that the writer is currently employed at 5 Star Caravans at Caboolture.
milo said
06:39 PM Mar 14, 2011
i just watched that.. what a story,
makes you feel wary about car/caravan salesmen altogether, Im sure there are genuine ones
buy these turkeys make them all look bad..
the guy we bought the our van from is a great freind of our now, has been to see dad many times in hospital
both been over to dinner at his place and ours etc, not because of the van but as friends..
hmm
burky53 said
07:26 AM Mar 29, 2012
Hi all, I am trying to locate the article on Faulty Caravans aired on Today/Tonight on 8th March as mentioned in above posts, can't seem to find it on the link that was posted. Can anybody steer me in the right direction with finding it please as I am going through a case at present with a faulty caravan and demanding a replacement van (through another dealer). No names yet, but when the dust clears I will post all the relevant names!
Thank you in anticipation of help.
Cheers. Julie. (burky53)
Happywanderer said
08:22 AM Mar 29, 2012
Julie, that was a year ago, you might have to go back through their archives a fair bit. By the way, Welcome to the forum.
ozjohn said
05:38 PM Mar 29, 2012
Unfortunately the company in Melbourne who built the van featured on channel 7 is still in business building vans. The ones I've seen at the Melbourne Caravan Show and built under their own name appear (At least on the surface) to be OK. OJ
burky53 said
05:48 PM Mar 29, 2012
Hello all, Hubby and I are new to this Forum, we also have major problems with a brand new van and would like some assistance in finding the article that wa on Today/Tonight 8th March, the link that was posted on this Forum doesn't get me to where I want to be. At this stage I won't detail Dealer or Manufacturer but I am sure that before too long I will be detailing everything about them.
Thankyou for any help to locate this story or others that someone somewhere may know about.
Julie and Chris. (burky53)
He finally got his refund in the end, so good for him for standing up to the b*****ds!
How about the 2nd inlet power socket at a low level, just right for a kid to lift the cover & stick their finger in.
Need to stay with a known brand, nomatter what the product is.
Too many people base things on price not quility.
-- Edited by bill12 on Thursday 10th of March 2011 06:35:31 PM
However I do believe the seller is SHONKY
-- Edited by _wombat_ on Saturday 12th of March 2011 07:52:15 AM
Thank you in anticipation of help.
Cheers. Julie. (burky53)
By the way, Welcome to the forum.
Unfortunately the company in Melbourne who built the van featured on channel 7 is still in business building vans.
The ones I've seen at the Melbourne Caravan Show and built under their own name appear (At least on the surface) to be OK.
OJ