Basic Caravan Maintenance
Whether you are travelling full time in your van or you have just returned from a trip, it is important to remember that your van needs to be well maintained, and not just once a year. There is regular maintenance that should be undertaken for your van. With so many appliances and accessories in the one setup, there is a varying degree as to how often you should be undertaking maintenance on your van. You will need to refer to your specific appliances and accessories in your setup, but here is a basic guide to some of the maintenance that you can expect to undertake on your caravan or camper trailer to ensure you save yourself time, money and a whole lot of frustrations in the long run.
Caravan Servicing
First up is the most obvious. Regular servicing of your caravan or camper trailer is a must. It can be amazing how quickly time goes by and before you know it, a couple years have passed since your last service. In that time, so much can change and go wrong. If you can’t remember the last time you had your van serviced, it is best to book it in well before your next trip.
A standard caravan service should check your undercarriage componentry including your wheels, brakes and jockey wheel. A major caravan service should check this too, as well as checking the operation of your appliances and the state of your seals.
If you aren’t sure how often to get your van serviced, it is generally recommended every 10,000km travelled, or every 12 months, whichever may come first. Even if you have not travelled in this time, with our harsh and dynamic climate, things can easily deteriorate unnoticed. A service will ensure that none of the parts that need to move have been damaged or seized during this time.
Caravan Wheel Alignment
Like your car wheels, your caravan wheels need aligning too. If you are getting your van serviced, simply ask the technicians to check if you need a wheel alignment. The most common signs that you need a wheel alignment are:
- Uneven tyre wear
- If you have travelled on a lot of uneven roads
- If you find the van is crab walking as you tow
Caravan Tyre Pressure
The tyres on your caravan are no different to the tyres on your car in that you need to check the tyre pressure regularly. It is recommended to check your tyre pressure once a month to ensure they are at the recommended inflation pressure for that particular tyre. Checking your caravan tyre pressure can reduce wear and tear, improve fuel efficiency and towability. It is also important to remember that you check your spares!
Caravan Seal Inspection
The sealant used to seal your caravan has a limited lifespan, so checking your caravan seals on a regular basis (regardless of the age of your van- YES even new vans can leak) will help you catch any water leaks early before it can become a major problem that can lead to irreversible wood rot and mould. You yourself can easily do this. Next time it rains, you can do a visual check for any water intrusions, run your finger around windows and seals, check inside your cupboards, and you can use your nose for any musty smell that may indicate a water leak. If you think you have a problem, it is best to book it in for an inspection and rectification of the leaks as soon as possible.
Caravan Cleaning
This may sound like an obvious bit of maintenance but there are a few aspects to keeping your van clean, some of which you may not have considered. Keeping your van clean will save you time in cleaning later on, prevent mould/mildew, prevent damage to the surfaces of your van both internally and externally and will help extend the life of your caravan or trailer which can greatly affect your RV’s resale value.
Firstly, you should clean your van as you are using it, as well as giving it a good clean at the end of any trip. If your van will be in storage for some time, you will need to do additional cleaning while it is not being used. This will prevent a build up of bugs and insects including ants, moths, spiders and wasps that can cause damage to your van or build nests which can block air vents or interfere with the operation of your appliances. If you are trying to remember the last time your van was cleaned, or the thought of cleaning your van sounds like too big a job, talk to us about our cleaning and detailing services.
Check the Operation of Your Caravan Appliances and Accessories
If your van is sitting unused for long periods of time, it is a good idea to regularly setup and pack down your setup along with any accessories, as well as switch on and run your appliances. This will ensure that all of your caravan appliances and any caravan accessories are still in working order. This will give you the opportunity to visually inspect your van too. You should check the operation manual for each of your van’s appliances and accessories for any required maintenance.
This includes:
- Jockey Wheel
- Drop down legs
- Caravan air conditioner
- Caravan hot water heater
- Caravan diesel heater
- Caravan gas heater
- Caravan awning
- Caravan fridge
- Caravan lights
- Caravan battery
- Caravan TV antenna or satellite
- Caravan TV
- Caravan washing machine
- Stove and or oven
- Microwave
- Rangehood including exhaust
- Generator
- Water pump
- Windows
- Hatches
- Toilet
- Folding step
- Sirocco fan
- Locks on your door and storage compartments.
- Any slides such as kitchen slide, fridge slide, generator slide
To give you an idea of some of the maintenance you can expect for your appliances and accessories, this may include:
- Cleaning filters in your air conditioner
- Cleaning filters in washing machine and/ or dryer,
- Cleaning out fuel lines in your diesel heater
- Flushing out water tanks
- Exercising awning to stop it from seizing
- If your caravan HWS has a sacrificial anode that needs replacing
- Replacing the element in your hot water heater
- Defrosting and cleaning out your fridge
- Check your battery charge and operation
Tip
Use a folder to store all your product manuals in the one place. This will allow for easy referencing in the event you have a problem and need to trouble shoot, as well as reading up on the correct way to use and maintain your appliances and accessories. If you don’t want to carry paper copies, most product operation manuals can be found online. You can download them and keep them in a folder or email them to yourself and keep in its own folder within your emails for easy access.
Visual Caravan & RV Inspections
Doing a visual inspection of your caravan or camper trailer can help you spot problems such as damage, cracks, mould and rust. If you are checking your seals, this will help with the mould. Living coastal, rust can be problematic, but ensuring your van is cleaned and stored somewhere dry can help to minimise these effects. You may choose to use a caravan cover but you must follow the directions of the manufacturer including cleaning your caravan before applying the cover. Getting the correct fit of your caravan cover is also important in order to get the right level of protection offered by the caravan cover.
Camping Safety Gear
Let’s not forget the safety gear of your caravan or camper trailers setup. You will need to check the operation or expiry dates of your safety equipment including:
- Smoke alarm
- Fire extinguisher
- Fire blanket
- First aid kit
- Gas detector
Tip
Create a maintenance folder/log for your van. Look at each of your appliances to see what maintenance needs to be carried out. Create a schedule and if necessary, add it into your phone calendar with a reminder set so there is no excuse for not doing it.
Disclaimer: The information provided is general information. You should not rely on this information to make (or refrain from making) any decisions. Each person’s vehicle, appliances, accessories, and situation may be different, and so you should seek specific assistance relating to your particular needs and situation.