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Caravan and motorhome maintenance: Getting ready for the season

Home Inspiration Caravan and motorhome maintenance: Getting ready for the season

Proper caravan maintenance and motorhome maintenance are key to ensuring a smooth and stress-free travel season. This guide provides a caravan and motorhome checklist for essential pre-season checks, helping you avoid last-minute issues before hitting the road. Let’s set up the RV for departure!

Caravan & Motorhome Inspection Checklist

1. Cleaning the exterior of your RV

Start by giving the exterior a good wash, including the roof and the underside of the vehicle. Inspect doors, windows and vents to ensure that the seals are still intact and are not showing any sign of cracking or other damage. Make any necessary repairs and use Thetford’s Seal Lubricant Spray to lubricate the rubber seals and protect them from drying out.

a well-maintained motorhome engine

2. Essential vehicle checks

Before hitting the road, it’s crucial to inspect your motorhome or caravan, especially after a long period of (winter) storage. Start with a RV maintenance checklist, beginning with the tyres – check for enough air pressure and signs of wear. Move on to inspect all lights, brakes, and fluid levels, including the motor oil, coolant and wiper fluid. For motorhome maintenance, also check the air-conditioning system and the engine. If you own a caravan, pay special attention to the towing system, hitch lock, and mover. If you spot any issues, contact a certified servicing specialist.

3. Checking for water damage

To protect your caravan, camper van, or motorhome from water damage, inspect key areas for gaps or leaks. Pay special attention to areas around window and door seals, air filters and roof lights, as these are common entry points for moisture. If your caravan or motorhome is showing signs of dampness or mildew, act quickly to prevent further damage. Replace seals or fix air filters and roof lights, if applicable. Also clean the RV interior thoroughly, and wear gloves and a face mask to avoid exposure to mould, which can affect your health. If the issue persists, consider using a dehumidifier or seeking professional assistance to address the problem.

check of caravan ventilation - ready for the season
To reduce the risk of dampness and mildew, ensure that you ventilate the vehicle as often as possible, and maintain rubber seals with Seal Lubricant Spray. Always contact your dealership if you have any doubts about leakage.

4. Performing a deep-clean of the interior

Follow up with a complete caravan or motorhome interior clean: tackle all dust and fluff, clean the floors, wipe surfaces, nooks and crannies. Change the filters in your air and water systems regularly too, as they collect dust and debris. For plastic surfaces, make sure to use a plastic-safe cleaner, such as Bathroom Cleaner, to avoid staining.
finger pressing thetford fridge display

5. Inspecting the electrical, gas and water systems in your caravan or motorhome

A thorough inspection of your RV’s electrical, gas, and water systems ensures everything is in safe working order before your trip.

Electrical system

Start by checking if the RV battery is charged and free from rust or corrosion. If you removed it for (winter) storage, test its ability to hold a charge and replace it if necessary. If necessary, replace the battery.

Next, switch on your electrical appliances to confirm they are functioning properly. Are the lights working? Check if the lights work and if the fridge runs on both 220V and 12V power sources.

Gas system

Once you have completed the inspection of the electrical system, the next task on the caravan checklist is to inspect the gas system.

After re-installing the propane tank, turn the gas on slightly and check for any leaks by applying soapy water to the hose connectors with a sponge. If you see any bubbles appear, this could indicate a leak. Contact your dealer for repairs.

If there are no leaks, turn the gas on fully and check if all gas-powered appliances, including the heater, fridge and cooker, are functioning correctly. If the any appliances fail to ignite, inspect the gas jets – spiders or insects sometimes nest near these areas, blocking the gas flow. Removing any webs or debris can often solve the issue.

finger pressing flush thetford cassette toilet
Water system

Proper maintenance of your RV’s water system ensures clean, safe water and prevents leaks or malfunctions.

Before filling the system, check if the winter drain valve on the boiler is closed. If left open, water fill flow straight outside. Next, sanitise and run water through the plumbing system with a safe cleaning product and leave the water to run until all traces of the cleaning detergent are eliminated.

Don’t forget to check the pipe system for leaks, or cracks, and make the necessary repairs before use. Lastly, turn on the taps, shower and the flushing system of your cassette toilet to ensure proper water pressure and functionality.

6. Checking your (waste)water tanks

Preparing the waste and water tanks is another important item to tick off your checklist.

Start by inspecting the cassette tank, grey water tank and freshwater tank (if applicable) for any signs of damage or leakage. Proceed by cleaning out the cassette with fresh water and refill it with clean water as well as a waste-holding tank additive of your choosing. To extend the lifespan of your cassette tank and grey water tank, treat them periodically with an effective maintenance solution, such as Duo Tank Cleaner Concentrated.

Last but not least, add a grey water tank product to the grey water tank to prevent unpleasant odours while travelling, and a flush water product to the flush water tank (if applicable).

thetford waste holding tank, thetford seal lubricant spray to seal toilet maintenance

7. Maintaining the RV toilet

Here are some more tips to keep the caravan toilet in great shape during your travels.

The waste holding tank blade should be left open during winter storage to prevent it from sticking to the lip seal. Otherwise, the lip seal may become damaged, leading to leakages. Replace the lip seal if necessary. Regularly lubricate the lip seal with a maintenance spray to keep it from tearing or breaking.

Also don’t forget to check the flushing system and regularly clean the bowl and the outside of the toilet with plastic-safe cleaning products.

RV toilet maintenance products

Video: Which toilet care product do I need?

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8. Performing all safety and security checks

Be sure to schedule a service appointment for your motorhome or campervan and verify that the burglar, carbon monoxide and smoke alarms, as well as the fire extinguisher, are all in good working order.

Additionally, make sure that all necessary documentation and insurance policies are up to date.

9. Caravan and motorhome stock checklist

It’s almost time to hit the road. Ensure that your water and gas tanks are full and that the battery is charged. Also, make sure you stock up on enough food and non-food items. It’s easy to forget the essentials, such as toilet paper, so double-check your supplies before you leave.

Motorhome and caravan essentials

By following this caravan maintenance and motorhome checklist, you’ll ensure a safe and comfortable trip. Whether you’re planning a long journey or just a short weekend break, it’s crucial to carry out these checks regularly throughout the season to prevent any unforeseen issues while on the road.

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