Caravan Failed WOF But Passed When Purchased

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outdoorsnz

674 posts

Ultimate Geek

#319271 8-Apr-2025 11:10

Someone I know purchased a 2nd caravan with the last year. It got a passed WOF the day before he took ownership.

It just failed a WOF due to an issue around having no towing / driving front lights due to the width. This is correct. Checked with a few sources.

Not new, so this has never been brought up before. You could argue that he wouldn't have purchased caravan having known that.

Won't be easy to fix more in terms of running the cables. Is there any comeback / recourse on the garage that passed the WOF before purchase?

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8261 posts

Uber Geek

#3361901 8-Apr-2025 11:25

So you are saying that it has been non compliant since when it was built?

if so it would seem harsh to try to chase down the issuer of the last WOF as the point of fault,

I think your friend is gonna have to suck it up....

outdoorsnz

674 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3361902 8-Apr-2025 11:31

wellygary:

So you are saying that it has been non compliant since when it was built?

if so it would seem harsh to try to chase down the issuer of the last WOF as the point of fault,

I think your friend is gonna have to suck it up....

Yup. And when you think about it, no lights on the front is bad. Sucked it up and accepted that, but was just wondering.

scuwp

3880 posts

Uber Geek

#3361904 8-Apr-2025 11:38

In the first instance any complaint about a WoF inspection should be made to the inspecting organisation (the one that now appears to have passed the vehicle when they shouldn't have). They are required to have a complaints resolution process. If dissatisfied with that result, you can then make a complaint to the NZTA. https://www.nzta.govt.nz/contact-us/complaints/complaint-form/

Perhaps requirements have changed?

With the little information provided, it appears the people selling it did what they were supposed to do, so it will be hard to hold them to any account for misrepresentation, which in a private sale (which I assume this is) is your only viable recourse. Misrepresentation is very hard to prove.

I think it will be up to them to rectify the error. It sucks, but sometimes you just have to move on.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

Senecio

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#3361956 8-Apr-2025 11:55

I had a small Teardrop caravan that was registered as a trailer as the dimensions were within set criteria. It went through 6 WOF's from new but on the 7th they attempted to fail it for being too wide to be registered as a trailer. I argued with them in the office and even showed the previous WOF's that I had from prior years that were issued by the same VTNZ inspection site. How did my caravan get wider from last year to this year? They eventually reluctanly passed it and I never had another issue with it until I sold it recently.

I feel that the regulations for caravans are either loose or loosely applied, expecially with the number of caravans that are imported from overseas.

djtOtago

1141 posts

Uber Geek

#3361962 8-Apr-2025 12:15

If the caravan has a GVM (gross vehicle mass) under 3500kg then it is classed as a light trailer.
A trailer more than 2m wide must be fitted with one pair of forward-facing position lamps.

These are to be confused with side marker lamps, which are different and are not required on wide trailers.

Batman

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#3361973 8-Apr-2025 12:58

outdoorsnz:

Someone I know purchased a 2nd caravan with the last year. It got a passed WOF the day before he took ownership.

It just failed a WOF due to an issue around having no towing / driving front lights due to the width. This is correct. Checked with a few sources.

Not new, so this has never been brought up before. You could argue that he wouldn't have purchased caravan having known that.

Won't be easy to fix more in terms of running the cables. Is there any comeback / recourse on the garage that passed the WOF before purchase?

take it back to where it passed the WOF and do the WOF

outdoorsnz

674 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3361974 8-Apr-2025 13:03

Batman:

take it back to where it passed the WOF and do the WOF

That won't work as it is now in the system as failed...

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Bung

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#3361978 8-Apr-2025 13:22

How old is this caravan? Some requirements were brought in for trailers manufactured after 1 Jan 2006. The lights may still be a good idea but not mandatory due to age.

outdoorsnz

674 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3361987 8-Apr-2025 13:51

Bung:

How old is this caravan? Some requirements were brought in for trailers manufactured after 1 Jan 2006. The lights may still be a good idea but not mandatory due to age.

It is an 1985 Viscount 2 berth caravan. Do you have more details on that? Perhaps they've got it wrong.

RunningMan

8912 posts

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#3362010 8-Apr-2025 15:55

Here's the rule. https://www.nzta.govt.nz/assets/resources/rules/docs/vehicle-lighting-2004-as-at-1-may-2021.pdf

You'll need to figure out what class the caravan is, then go to the table that list the requirements and years they apply. A bit complex but the answer will be there.

Batman

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#3362012 8-Apr-2025 16:19

outdoorsnz:

Batman:

take it back to where it passed the WOF and do the WOF

That won't work as it is now in the system as failed...

of course it will work! lol. how you imagine it is not how WOF computer works.

tweake

2349 posts

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#3362143 8-Apr-2025 20:30

outdoorsnz:

Bung:

How old is this caravan? Some requirements were brought in for trailers manufactured after 1 Jan 2006. The lights may still be a good idea but not mandatory due to age.

It is an 1985 Viscount 2 berth caravan. Do you have more details on that? Perhaps they've got it wrong.

as per runningmans linked doc, old caravans only have to pass the old rules. no doubt they did it that way otherwise thousands of caravans would need upgrading.

a problem i've seen recently is wof guys don't really know the finer details of the rules (it may not be listed in their book). i saw recently someone got failed for not having a cert on something that doesn't require a cert. again wof guys not knowing the details of the rules.

tripper1000

1609 posts

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#3362253 9-Apr-2025 11:22

You can still "shop around" for a WoF (provided you have deep pockets). The computer tells the new place that it failed a WoF elsewhere, but not why.

This makes sense when you think about it - it means the new place is prompted to do a thorough check but is fair since there isn't any loss of independence. It prevents a rouge/tough/ignorant/scammer place causing lasting harm. It also helps to prevent animosity within the industry.

Behodar

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#3362256 9-Apr-2025 11:34

tweake:

as per runningmans linked doc, old caravans only have to pass the old rules. no doubt they did it that way otherwise thousands of caravans would need upgrading.

a problem i've seen recently is wof guys don't really know the finer details of the rules (it may not be listed in their book). i saw recently someone got failed for not having a cert on something that doesn't require a cert. again wof guys not knowing the details of the rules.

Years ago I had an 85 Ford fail a WOF because it didn't have a functional windscreen washer. I remember "arguing" with the guy about it: he was reading the passage from the book and completely skipping over the "for vehicles registered after 1 April 1992" or whatever it was. I don't think it was malicious, but just not seeing the forest for the trees.

outdoorsnz

674 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3362257 9-Apr-2025 11:39

tripper1000:

You can still "shop around" for a WoF (provided you have deep pockets). The computer tells the new place that it failed a WoF elsewhere, but not why.

This makes sense when you think about it - it means the new place is prompted to do a thorough check but is fair since there isn't any loss of independence. It prevents a rouge/tough/ignorant/scammer place causing lasting harm. It also helps to prevent animosity within the industry.

That document was pretty heavy reading! Spoken to a few mechanics and they both said lights are required, but we are now to call prev garage (one that passed it) and put it to them...

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