Story-Photos: Dennis Amor
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CARAVANNING Queensland's free safety checks for caravans and other RVs are proving extremely popular.

The state's peak caravanning body has now checked more than 500 RVs in conjunction with the Queensland Transport and Main Roads Department and Queensland Gas Inspectorate.

"We do this as a community service and people really appreciate it," chief executive Ron Chapman told Caravanning News.

"It's one of the best things we have ever done.

"There's absolutely no commercial advantage for us because it's a totally free service."

More than 30 RV owners took advantage of the recent session of comprehensive vehicle inspections at Bundaberg during which RVs were weighed and measured, gas connections checked and experts handed out advice on safety.

"They had nothing to fear ... no breach orders were being issued," Mr Chapman said.

"The gas inspectors are here in an advisory capacity. They have found issues but none serious. People can now go and get these fixed."

Mr Chapman said the biggest single problem involved people buying second hand caravans, particularly privately, and not understanding that the previous owner could have fitted accessories.

"The caravan's ATM could almost have been reached before they even started putting things in it themselves," he said.

"The worse case we ever struck was in Brisbane where a caravan was 550kg overweight because things such as solar panels and batteries had been fitted by its owner before being sold."

Most people were surprised and didn't realise how much accessories added to the ATM.

"And of course being overweight means they are breaking the law," Mr Chapman added.

People arrived from far and near to have their rigs checked at Bundaberg's TMR Inspection Station in Production Street.

Tasmanians Joe Poupe and wife Jill (pictured below) interrupted their round-Australia travels to have their rig inspected.

"What a great service," they said.

"We saw it on Facebook and thought it was worth having the Crusader checked."

Their only problem related to electric cables being too near to gas fitments on the A-frame ... a simple matter to fix.

Keen caravanner and former truckie Ken Thompson and wife Karen (pictured below) described the service as "magic".

"It's a great idea because we can all learn something from them," they said.

Meanwhile, Jason Hunt and son Hayden (pictured below) loaded their Jayco Expanda and filled its water tanks to simulate normal travel mode.

"We were surprised to learn we were 40kg overweight," they said.

Caravanning Queensland has planned future safety checks for Brisbane, Townsville, Mackay, Toowoomba, Sunshine Coast, Rockhampton, Gladstone and Cairns.

For more information, click here.

Caravans line up for their safety checks	Jason Hunt and son Hayden with compliance officer Michael Ross
Compliance officers prepare to check another rig	Tony Norman chats with senior transport inspector Ian Bonnor
Ex-truckie Ken Thompson with wife Karen	Gas inspector chats with Tasmanians Joe and Jill Poupe

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