Buying 12year old van ..gas tank issues

[DexterP]

I am just about to agree a deal to buy a 12 year old van from a dealer. I raised the issue about the age of the underslung gas tank, and inspection, certification, etc
Dealer responded that the Planned habitation Service would check out the tank as a matter of standard practice.
No doubt if I demand a replacement tank as it is already over ten years old, the dealer will demand to increase the deal price already negotiated.
Please advise your thoughts, experiences and recommendations

 

[sgl5gjr]

I can't really help......but I would expect a new underslung tank due to age.....

 

[Pausim]

Basildog should be able to give you some advice about replacing the tank. I think he will say that a habitation check is not enough.

 

[Basildog]

I am just about to agree a deal to buy a 12 year old van from a dealer. I raised the issue about the age of the underslung gas tank, and inspection, certification, etc
Dealer responded that the Planned habitation Service would check out the tank as a matter of standard practice.
No doubt if I demand a replacement tank as it is already over ten years old, the dealer will demand to increase the deal price already negotiated.
Please advise your thoughts, experiences and recommendations

Unfortunately there is a crazy situation in the leisure industry in that the NCC has told all their dealers / workshops not to touch underslung LPG tanks .
We have been involved in helping with a suitable training course for the maintenance of underslung LPG tanks ( This does not include installation or the 10 year inspection / replacement of underslung LPG tanks.
Basically there is no one in the U.K. at the present time who can carry out a 10 year inspection / test and therefore the only option is replacement.
In my opinion it would not be financially viable to remove , strip down , clean , repaint and re-valve a tank anyway.
Bear in mind that the filler hose , pigtail and regulator all need replacing too .
We are now seeing many more vans being sold on by dealers with tanks that should have been scrapped.
It the training course ever gets underway it will be interesting to see the results
Probably 10 years too late for training now
Refer the dealer to COP 32 .

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

I am just about to agree a deal to buy a 12 year old van from a dealer. I raised the issue about the age of the underslung gas tank, and inspection, certification, etc
Dealer responded that the Planned habitation Service would check out the tank as a matter of standard practice.
No doubt if I demand a replacement tank as it is already over ten years old, the dealer will demand to increase the deal price already negotiated.
Please advise your thoughts, experiences and recommendations

I would suggest that the only habitation check on the gas side would be to check that the outlet items are working, ie hob, fridge, heater etc.
I did have a hab check done once where a cap on the regulator was missing and was noted on the hab report.But there was nothing to indicate that the gas system itself was satisfactory or not.

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[MisterB]

Point out that the underslung tank is past it's replacement date and try to negotiate something towards its replacement. Then take it to Basildog

 

[Basildog]

I would suggest that the only habitation check on the gas side would be to check that the outlet items are working, ie hob, fridge, heater etc.
I did have a hab check done once where a cap on the regulator was missing and was noted on the hab report.But there was nothing to indicate that the gas system itself was satisfactory or not.

Cap on regulator ?
If you mean the test point cap then that’s one of my pet hates .
I couldn’t count how many we find missing as the ******** that do the habitation / gas checks don’t give a monkey’s and couldn’t care less about replacing the test cap .
No big deal I hear you say
Actually the test point has a small steel ball bearing that corrodes when left exposed to the elements especially in external gas lockers that are exposed to salt spray from roads
First thing the owner knows about it is a smell of gas

 

[Emmit]

Point out that the underslung tank is past it's replacement date and try to negotiate something towards its replacement. Then take it to Basildog

I'd go further.

If the tank is more than ten yrs old and the dealer can't show you a recertification then surely the van is 'unfit for purpose' under the Consumer Act and, if you should want to, I think there is a case to reclaim any deposit.

I'm not for one minute suggesting using that as a bargaining tool at the outset but it may help you should the dealer not want to budge and you've already paid a deposit and now no longer want to carry on with the purchase.

 

[Bessy765]

If its my old Aspire I fitted a new tank 4 years ago as I wasn’t happy with the external corrosion. New tank is cheaper than a funeral??

 

[Basildog]

If its my old Aspire I fitted a new tank 4 years ago as I wasn’t happy with the external corrosion. New tank is cheaper than a funeral??

They actually don’t go bang
They tend to go porous and fizz away on the surface, most people think they just have a gas leak as they can smell gas ,not realising that it’s the tank .

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