Caravanners all over the UK will have spent much of the dreary, wet winter looking out the window hoping for warmer temperatures to return, when they can get their caravan back on the road and start touring the best sites of the UK. But now the warm weather is here, it’s time to get your pride and joy ready. To start with, give the outside of the caravan a once over. Check the chassis for any damage, cracks or rust, that may have occurred over the winter or when you last had your caravan on the road. Carrying out this task will ensure you spot issues and resolve them before you begin any holidays.
It is also important to get underneath the caravan while it is on the drive to check that the underside is also free from damage. The last thing you want is to hear a scraping noise while travelling on the motorway. This is also the perfect time to check for rotting timbers, unprotected wiring and that all the tubing and hoses underneath the caravan look to be in good working order.
While checking the outside and underneath of the caravan it is important to cast a careful eye over the tyres. These are arguably the most important part of the caravan when it comes to actually getting to your destination, as they are the only point of contact with the road. Just as with the tyres on a car, these need to be checked for damage and that they are at the correct pressure, as they have such an influence on safety, the ride quality when towing a caravan and handling.
Good quality tyres will mean that your vehicle and caravan corner, accelerate and brake in a manageable fashion, reducing the likelihood of collisions. It is particularly important to check tyres as they can suffer damage when caravans are left unused and unmoved for long periods, which often occurs during the winter months. This is due to the weight of the caravan resting on the tyres for long periods, which can distort the shape of the tyres, increasing the likelihood of a blowout on the motorway.
The correct maintenance of the caravan battery is also important and it should have been relocated to the home over the winter if possible and charged on a regular basis. This will ensure it is in full working order ahead of the spring and summer months and appliances left on accidentally over the winter do not drain it of power. Now it’s time to check the interior of the caravan ahead of your season of touring. All the appliances should be tested properly to ensure they have not worsened during the period of inactivity.
Gas and electricity provisions should also be checked and the water tank filled, before all lines and connections are monitored for leaks. Other elements that often slip under the radar, such as the fire extinguisher, first aid kit, towing equipment, smoke detector and toilet system should be looked at to ensure they are all ready for action. It’s also worth giving the caravan a good clean, as a long period of inactivity may mean that dirt and bacteria has accumulated if it was not cleaned thoroughly at the end of last summer.
UK photos: JR P, Eric Gjerde.
