Caravan WOF and electrics...!?!

[ManDownUnder]

Long story short - I have a friend coming over from Germany with his family and is shipping a caravan over. It sounds liike it needs some work to get it legal on NZ roads etc. To quote him...

"We are still in Germany but our Caravan is already being shipped. Right now I am in search of a larger caravan dealer in Auckland.
I was wondering whether you could recommend a caravan dealer to me ? Our caravan will arrive at port of auckland and I have to care for registration, WOF and so on. Probably we have make some changes to the electrical system to get the WOF-E. That's why I am looking for a dealer with a repair shop who is able to tow the caravan and to make some changes."

Suggestions?? Help?

[imdying]

Any autoelectrician will be able to make an adaptor up, assuming it actually needs one

[crashe]

It will most likely have to go on top of a huge tow truck for transporting it.
If it doesn't have a WOF on it then it isn't legal for our roads.
Plus they won't want a ticket as soon as they arrive in NZ..

Look into the cost of a truck transporter.
First off you need to know how long the caravan is......... they are usually a standard size in width.

Google caravan dealers as there are a few around NZ.
One is out west Auckland (not sure where thou)

[tri boy]

220-240v electric cert could be an issue. Definitely get a Caravan Company to certify it. Plugs and circuit breakers may need modifying.
They may be able to tow it on a dealer plate back to their premises.

[nadroj]

I think he means the electrical warrant (not roadworthyness) may require some work to comply with local regs. Without knowing the regs it has been wired to it is hard to judge what work will be required.
If it being shipped out after the tour he may be able to fit a lead / adapter to allow use of suitable voltage appliances he already has for the tour duration.

[arj127]

hi mandownunder. PM me as i know two businesses very close to you that cold help with the caravan (i work for one of them). One is an electrician in Kumeu, the other a Coachbuilding workshop in Dairy Flat. Cheers

[Mom]

He will not be able to connect up at any camping ground unless the van has a current electrical WOF. These are not able to be issued by any electrician, they must be by an approved inspector. Last one I got, I rang Northpower (we camp at Ruakaka) and make a booking for the guy to come and do the test. Easy peasy. You will not be allowed to use any kind of adaptor, the lead must be one peice approved and tested also as part of the WOF.

Ring your nearest power supply company and ask, they do them all the time.

[ManDownUnder]

hi mandownunder. PM me as i know two businesses very close to you that cold help with the caravan (i work for one of them). One is an electrician in Kumeu, the other a Coachbuilding workshop in Dairy Flat. Cheers

He will not be able to connect up at any camping ground unless the van has a current electrical WOF. These are not able to be issued by any electrician, they must be by an approved inspector. Last one I got, I rang Northpower (we camp at Ruakaka) and make a booking for the guy to come and do the test. Easy peasy. You will not be allowed to use any kind of adaptor, the lead must be one peice approved and tested also as part of the WOF.

Ring your nearest power supply company and ask, they do them all the time.

Awesome - thanks people!

[Motu]

Get Electrical Inspectors to do the Cert inspection,they are in Auckland.I used to looked after their vehicles and one of the guys lives close to Kumeu.Ginger Molloy in Huntly imports caravans from Europe and may be of some help....keeping the bike connection there y'know.

[davereid]

Euro wiring is 220v - so no prob there. But all plugs will need to be replaced with ANZ ones before it can get a WOF.

Also, euro vans use 50mm coupling.

It will fall off an NZ towball at the first bump.

Buy a 50mm towball for your car so you don't make this discovery yourself.

[Motu]

The NZ Standard for towball size is 50mm,just like the rest of the world.But like the Americans and the Imperial system - to change is just too hard for most people.

''I bought this towball in 1957 young man,and there is nothing wrong with it!!!!!''

[B0000M]

its probably not changing the tow balls that is the problem, its all the couplings on all the old trailers

[Motu]

Exactly - if they stop selling 1 7/8 then they will slowly drop out of the system.I have a dual size coupling,it's easy to change from one to the other.But unfortunatley 74% of the population will always get it wrong....and then the trailer will rip off the ball and kill 11 Asians in a bus.

[JimO]

Exactly - if they stop selling 1 7/8 then they will slowly drop out of the system.I have a dual size coupling,it's easy to change from one to the other.But unfortunatley 74% of the population will always get it wrong....and then the trailer will rip off the ball and kill 11 Asians in a bus.

but they are still making asians .....right??