20 January 2023
Get set for Spring
There’s nothing more exciting than getting ready for those summer months and setting up your caravan after a very long Winter. The thought of hitching up and setting off on your adventures will soon be a reality, but you must complete the necessary checks well in advance to ensure a smooth start to your touring holiday.
Be sure to check for any damage that may have occurred over the Winter season. These checks and common occurrences will be highlighted within this blog post.
Tyres
After the changing of the seasons, one of the first things you should check is your tyres.
You must rotate your caravan’s wheels periodically over winter. This is so that the weight isn’t concentrated on one section of the tyres over a long period. Of course, this may not always work to protect your tyres completely. It’s important that in the changing seasons, you check your tyres carefully for signs of warping, cracking, or bulging. We also recommend topping up the air pressure to the manufacturer’s recommended level.
Spring clean
Keeping your caravan clean on the inside and out will help to prolong its life and keep it in top condition. This is not only important for the enjoyment of your caravanning holidays; it also means that if you decide to change or upgrade your caravan then you will get a much better price when trading in or selling on privately.
Spotting signs of damp
Whilst completing your spring clean, remember to keep an eye out for any signs of damp.
Damp is a caravan’s biggest enemy if left alone it can quickly cause a huge amount of damage. It is vitally important you spot the tell-tale signs as early as possible and deal with the problem quickly.
Check around windows, doors, and skylights for signs of leaks and also give all upholstery a once over for signs of damp. Your nose is as good a gauge as your eyes for spotting damp, so make sure you keep a nostril out for a fusty, musty smell as this is a big indicator that there is damp or mildew around!
Spot the damp early and it can generally be fixed with a dehumidifier or even a few hours of fresh air circulating.
Security
It’s important to test that all your security equipment is in full working order before setting out on your first trip of the season.
Check your alarm still activates via its door or window contacts, PIR or tilt sensor and check the siren is still audible. For those of you with tracking devices fitted, it’s also worth towing your caravan a few miles away from its usual storage position and then calling the monitoring centre of your tracking company to make sure they can get its location.
You should also check physical security devices. Make sure things such as the wheel clamp and hitch-lock are not showing any serious signs of wear or damage. Checking that they can be fitted and removed easily without any seizing or sticking.
Safety
Fire-related caravanning claims were on the increase last year. It’s well worth investing in a fire extinguisher so you can tackle a small fire in your caravan.
A multi-purpose dry powder fire extinguisher suitable for A, B and C class fires can tackle most small fires, such as those involving fabrics, woods and butane or propane gasses.
Note that fires from cooking oils and fats are F-class fires. These are not to be tackled with an ABC fire extinguisher. A fire blanket is great to have to throw over small cooking fires.
And if you do already have a fire extinguisher in your caravan, be sure to check the expiry date to ensure it is still useable and then replace it if needs be.
Of course, if the fire is large and spreading quickly don’t try to tackle yourself, just get all occupants out of the caravan to safety asap and call the fire brigade.
Get paperwork in order
It can be difficult to remember the renewal dates for all the different services you use when caravanning. Things such as your insurance, car breakdown, tracking device subscription, travel insurance or even your passport. All these things need to be checked and renewed when appropriate. You don’t want to be sorting these things out when you’re on a trip.
Servicing
We of course recommend getting your caravan serviced every year to ensure no issues surface whilst on the road or a campsite. Caravan dealerships and service centre workshops get busy at this time of year. Make sure you allow plenty of time for your service to be completed before planning your first trip to avoid disappointment.
