Your home away from home. The beginning of all your adventures. Your happy place.
Now that we have had a taste of sunshine, you’re no doubt starting to think about bringing the touring caravan back out (if you haven’t already!). But your caravan is going to require some TLC to restore it to tip-top condition after it’s been unused over the winter. The last thing you want is to hit the road – or, worse, arrive at your destination – and realise you’ve forgotten some essential maintenance.
Our compact guide makes the process of getting your caravan summer-ready as smooth as possible, so you can leave the speed bumps to the road. We’ve even put the tips in order of what you should tackle first.
General vehicle maintenance
You’ll want to make sure that your caravan’s vitals are up to spec before you embark on your journey. Either take it for a service or, if it’s within its service period, check that all the lights are working, the tyres are at the correct pressure and tread depth, the mirrors are correctly angled, and the fluids are topped up. You’ll also want to do a gas safety check. A simple way of checking that the gas in your vehicle is safe is by turning the hob on; a healthy flame will be big and blue, whereas a yellow flame may indicate an issue that needs to be checked out further.
Battery test
Most people take out the caravan battery during the winter months, but this doesn’t exempt the battery from issues once it’s put back in. Use the in-built meter to check that your battery reads 12.8V (or similar).1 If it doesn’t, try charging the battery with a battery charger rather than the one in the vehicle. If it’s still not looking right, it may be time to replace the battery.
Sterilising water systems
Even though your caravan’s water system will have been drained prior to winter (to prevent cracking and freezing), you still might want to sterilise it before you start using it again. Simply fill the water barrel with a sterilising fluid of your choice before running it through all the taps. Then, turn off the taps, let the treatment sit overnight, and then flush it through thoroughly with clean water.
Do a damp check
There’s no way of completely eliminating the risk of damp and mould when your caravan’s been stagnant over the winter. Make sure to check for damp around problem areas like windows, doors, and high-level cupboards, but also rooflights and your under-seat area.
Safety checks
It might be worth doing a couple of safety checks. Check the battery in your carbon monoxide detector and/or smoke detector, if you haven’t already got these then please make sure to.
If you would like to get in touch to discuss your touring caravan insurance needs, please contact The Insurance Centre on 01524 848506.
[1] Get your caravan set for summer – Advice & Tips – New & Used Caravans & Caravanning Reviews – Out and About Live
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