14 February 2024
Gear Up for the 2024 Caravanning Season: Your Essential Caravan Preparation Guide
This year, an early Easter means that spring is on its way (at last) and the 2024 caravanning season is gearing up. Lighter nights and family adventures are just around the corner!
After months in winter storage, your caravan is likely to need a bit of TLC. It's important to carry out essential checks and prep needed in plenty of time, to ensure your caravans are not just ready but safe for the road ahead.
Here at Towbar Express, we recommend you get started early and don't leave these checks until the last minute, in our experience, panic preparation never goes well!
Here’s where to start and what you should be looking out for:
Essential External Checks for Your Caravan
Body and Seal Inspection: Winter can be harsh on a caravan's exterior. Check the bodywork for any signs of damage or wear, such as cracks or leaks, especially around seals and trims.
Tyre Check: Inspect your tyres thoroughly. You should be checking for the correct tyre pressure, and looking for signs of wear, or damage like cracks and flat spots. Your tyres must be in top condition to handle the load and dynamics of towing.
Lighting and Electrical Systems: Caravan batteries can often lose charge over the winter, leading to difficulties in starting the caravan's electrical systems. Ensure all exterior lights, indicators, and brake lights are working correctly. Check electrical connections for signs of corrosion or damage.
Brakes and Bearings: Check brakes for responsiveness and make sure bearings are operating smoothly.
Important Interior Checks for your Caravan
Ventilation: Thoroughly clean and dry any areas affected by mould. Open all windows and doors to air out the caravan, it's a good opportunity to check vents and windows open correctly and haven't seized over winter.
Appliance and System Tests: From the fridge to the heating system, check all appliances to ensure they are working correctly. This includes checking the gas appliances ensuring there are no leaks, and running tests on all electricity, and water systems.
Safety Equipment: Your safety equipment, including smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers, should all be functional. Replace batteries in all alarms and check your extinguishers are within their expiry dates.
Water Systems: Flush the entire water system with a suitable cleaner designed for caravans and refill it with fresh water.
Towbar and Towing Safety
A reliable towbar and towing setup are crucial to ensure safety.
Towbar Inspection: Check your towbar for any signs of wear, damage, or corrosion. Check it's secure and that all electrical connections working as they should.
Vehicle and Towbar Compatibility: Double-check that your vehicle's towing capacity is suitable for your caravan, especially if you've made any changes or additions to your setup, this includes if you have changed your towing vehicle.
Practice Run: If it's been a while since you last towed, consider a short drive to get the hang of it again. This helps to familiarise yourself with how your car feels and handles when towing, and it's also a great opportunity to practise that tricky towing reverse manoeuvre!
Ready for the Road
At Towbar Express, we're a part of your journey. Whether you need advice, accessories, or support, we're here to ensure your 2024 caravanning season gets off to the smoothest start.
Have a great Easter on the road! Here's to new routes, new adventures, and loads of new memories ahead.
Happy caravanning!
Download your printable checklist: Gear Up for the 2024 Caravanning Season
Enter your reg at the top of the page and view our range of products to stay safe and well-prepared this caravanning season.
