A breakdown in the middle of a trip is one of every motorhome owner's fears. And although you can't avoid them 100% of the time, you can prevent most of them and, above all, know how to act so a setback doesn't turn into a drama. With prevention and a bit of calm, almost everything has a solution. Let's take a look.
The best strategy: prevention
Most breakdowns on the road are avoided with maintenance. Before a long trip, check the basics (see maintenance):
- Fluid levels, tyres (including the spare and pressure), brakes and the engine battery.
- The leisure battery and the electrical system, a source of many scares. A battery with an app warns you of problems before they leave you stranded (see the control app).
- The vehicle's general condition after a long spell parked up, when most breakdowns tend to appear.
What to always carry
- A basic tool kit and consumables: spare fuses, cable ties, duct tape, fluids.
- A spare wheel in good condition and what you need to change it (or a puncture-repair kit).
- Warning triangles or a V16 beacon, a hi-vis vest and the mandatory safety items.
- Your insurer's assistance numbers close at hand.
If a breakdown happens
- Get to safety: if you can, pull off the road to a safe spot; use hazard signs (beacon/triangles) and your hi-vis vest.
- Assess the problem: is it something minor you can fix yourself (a fuse, a wheel) or do you need help?
- Call your insurer's assistance line: that's why insurance with good roadside assistance cover for large vehicles matters so much (see insurance).
- Stay calm: most breakdowns get resolved; the camper community can help too (see the community).
"Living area" breakdowns
It's not all mechanical: sometimes the fridge, the heating, the water or the electrics fail. Knowing your installation (see the electrical panel) lets you solve many small problems yourself, or at least diagnose them.
In summary
Breakdowns on the road are prevented with maintenance, tackled with a basic kit and good assistance cover, and resolved by staying calm. The step you can take today: before your next long trip, do a basic check (tyres, fluid levels, battery) and confirm your insurance includes suitable assistance for your vehicle; those two things prevent and resolve most scares.
