Unwilling to cover cost incurred as a result of bad workmanship.

We serviced our Conqueror Comfort trailer on December 6, 2023, at Caravan Man Repairs & Services in Centurion. According to their website, "We work with confidence on Conqueror." On the 16th, we set off on our tour through the Baviaans and Gamkaskloof. When we arrived at our overnight spot in Bloemfontein, we heard a strange clicking sound from one of the wheels. I dismissed it, thinking it was just the handbrake engaging when pushing the trailer back. In Graaff-Reinet, we drove on a dirt road to the guest farm and back, where we spent the night. When we stopped in the town, we noticed that the wheel cover and the Bearing Grease Cap were missing. There was already a lot of dust in the bearings, and Hyundai Graaff-Reinet took over the bearings for us, but they couldn't find the right Bearing Grease Cap. They then devised a plan to fit a larger cap for us. We used the wheel cover from the spare tire and secured it with cable ties so that it wouldn't come off again. To our surprise, the clicking sound was now gone.

Upon our return, I took the trailer back for the bearing to be properly repaired. Caravan Man Repairs & Services in Centurion initially told me that the reason the Grease Cap came off was likely because the wheel cover had knocked it off. I immediately disagreed, saying that the clicking sound I had heard in Bloemfontein was the Bearing Grease Cap falling inside the wheel cover, and it simply got lost along with the wheel cover.

After investigating, he told me that the Bearing Grease Cap on my trailer was incorrect, which is why they came off. What I can't understand is why the bearings and grease cap lasted for the last 3 years and over 10,000 km without any problems. I am also not an expert in the field, so Caravan Man Repairs & Services in Centurion shouldn't have insisted that the Bearing Grease Caps were incorrect. He also said that he called Conqueror and a special tool is needed to put the caps on, and he ordered one, which is why I had to wait a week before picking up my trailer yesterday. I called Conqueror, and they confirmed that no special tool is needed to put on the Alko Grease Cap. All I wanted was for him to admit his mistake, fix my trailer, and reimburse me for the invoice I paid to Hyundai Graaff-Reinet. He did fix the trailer (I hope, but won't know until we go camping again), but he told me that if he has to reimburse me for the invoice, he makes no profit, but I have lost money and two days of my vacation!

Think twice before having your trailers serviced at Caravan Man Repairs & Services in Centurion. I learned an expensive lesson and will service my trailer with Conqueror next time.