Maintaining your campervan while travelling or even when parked in the garage is necessary to extend its life and keep it as reliable as possible.
The following guide will explain all the key points to carry out proper campervan maintenance over time.
Table of Contents
1. Understanding Your Campervan
As a basic starting point, you should know your car’s components, features, and any modifications that it may have had in the past.
Knowing what you own doesn’t directly impact its maintenance, but it will give you a better idea of what you may need in the future, not to say knowing what you own is important.
2. Regular Checks
If you are planning to do a trip with your campervan, it’s crucial to do a regular check before you start your adventure; you should consider looking at the following:
- Check fluids, such as oil, coolant, brake fluid, etc.
- Check tyre pressure and fill them if needed.
- Inspect the correct functions of all the lights.
- Make sure you have an emergency kit in case of a breakdown.
How about while traveling?
When you are on a long road trip or making long driving journeys, you can additionally check coolant and oil fluid from time to time.
Just to make sure, the car is not using or leaking any of these two fluids. This is important, especially for old cars.
3. Preventive Maintenance
Another aspect of maintaining your campervan is following the manufacturer’s guidelines to maintain your vehicle on time.
On these “scheduled revisions”, usually you will need to carry some work out on the following components:
- Change oil at regular intervals (like every 10,000 Km)
- Replace air filters and fuel filters.
- Clean battery terminals (to prevent corrosion)
- Wipers replacement
Note that these are essential components that all vehicles need to be looked at, but there might be additional ones depending on the brand and model of your car.
4. Exterior Care
When discussing the exterior of your campervan, it is recommended to clean it from time to time to prevent dirt, grime or road salt.
At the same time, you will prevent any dirt or leaves from coming close to the windows and roof, where this material can block them.
Even if you have it parked for a long time in your garage or on the street, giving it a good clean is not a big job, and at the end of the day, it will look as beautiful as it can be!
5. Interior Care
We must remember the interior. Keep your campervan clean and ventilated is crucial.
When you are not using it for long periods, ventilation is highly needed so we can prevent mould from growing inside the vehicle and expanding everywhere.
As a tip, if you park it in your garage, leave a couple of windows open so it can have some ventilation. However, keeping the interior clean is a small task to carry out from time to time, and it will allow you to have your campervan clean and ready to go at all times.
Cheers for a spotless campervan!
6. The Storage Side
Having your vehicle correctly stored in a secure and dry location is crucial when possible.
You can also cover it to protect it from the exterior elements. Still, remember to leave the windows slightly open to keep them ventilated at all times.
The cover is a must-have component if you still need to get a covered car park.
On the other hand, if you have no choice but to leave it on the street, you can consider renting a storage campervan spot where it will be safe and well looked after.
7. Advanced Maintenance
If you have the time, and you like to do some basic mechanical work without extended knowledge, you can carry different tasks when needed, such as:
- Changing spark plugs
- Replacing belts
- Oil change and filter
- Air and fuel filters
When talking about advance maintenance, it doesn’t mean you will need a workshop to carry out small jobs; with the correct tools and space, you can correctly keep it up to date without spending extra money at the workshop.
Make sure:
- You put safety first, be cautious and know what you’re doing before putting a hand in your campervan.
- Use proper lifting techniques and equipment that guarantees your safety while working on it.
- If you are not 100% sure about carrying a job, do not take it; bring your car to a professional workshop.
More information about campervans be found here, now let’s see some common questions about maintaining your campervan.
FAQs about Campervan Maintenance You Should Be Aware Of
How often should you maintain your campervan?
Usually, basic maintenance should be done in older cars every 10,000 Km or every 12 months, whichever comes first.
What are the common fluids to regularly check and top up?
When needed, these fluids to look at are the oil, water, brake fluid and transmission fluid.
How do you prepare and store a campervan during winter?
Give it a good clean, make sure your coolant has antifreeze on it and cover it with a protector to prevent any elements from blocking windows or the roof or simply to avoid dirt.
What are the tools you should have with you at all times inside your campervan?
These essential tools include Jumper cables, a tyre repair kit, spare fuses, and a flashlight. Ensure you have an emergency contact number in case on-road assistance is needed.
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