A motorhome is a house and a vehicle at the same time, so it needs double the care: the mechanics of any car, plus everything in the living area. The good news is that with simple, regular maintenance, your camper will last for years and, above all, won't leave you stranded halfway through a trip. Here's the check-up worth doing, especially at the start and end of the season.
The mechanical side (like any vehicle)
- Levels and services: oil, filters, brake fluid and coolant, following the manufacturer's schedule.
- Tyres: check pressure, wear and age. On a camper, which spends a lot of time parked, tyres age even when unused; watch for cracking.
- Brakes and starter battery: two things that give you a fright if neglected after a long lay-up.
- Timing belt: stick to the service intervals; a failure here is a serious breakdown.
The living area
- Weatherproofing: check window seals, roof lights and the roof itself for leaks. Water is a camper's worst enemy; a small leak ends up rotting the woodwork.
- Water system: disinfect the tanks, check the pump and pipes. And drain it if freezing temperatures are expected.
- Gas: check the installation and the date on the hoses; when in doubt, call a professional. A gas certificate may be required for the roadworthiness test.
- Heating and fridge: test them before you set off, not halfway through the trip.
The electrical system
Check the state of the connections (no loose or corroded terminals), the fuses, and that lights and sockets work. And pay attention to the auxiliary battery: it's one of the components that suffers most from lay-ups. A lithium battery with an app makes this much easier, since you can check its charge, temperature and health from your phone without dismantling anything. See the battery control app and how temperature affects it.
Care during winter storage (a long lay-up)
If the camper is going to sit unused for a while:
- Drain the water system completely.
- Leave the fridge open and clean so it doesn't pick up odours.
- Look after the battery: neither fully discharged nor always at 100%. If you can disconnect it (ideally from the app), you avoid phantom loads.
- Move the vehicle now and then, or protect the tyres from flat-spotting.
- Ventilate it to prevent damp and mould inside.
In short
Maintaining a motorhome means looking after both the mechanics (levels, tyres, brakes, timing belt) and the living area (weatherproofing, water, gas, electrics), with extra care before and after each season. The one thing to do today: check the window and roof seals for leaks today; catching a leak early is what separates a cheap fix from a very expensive woodwork repair. And before you travel, don't forget the roadworthiness inspection.
