Save a Fortune: Basic Caravan Maintenance You Can Do at Home

Maintaining your caravan is just as important as maintaining your tow vehicle. You want to make sure that your caravan is reliable and ready to go on your next adventure.

There are many caravan dealerships and workshops that will provide routine services for your van, but what maintenance can you do yourself at home or while you are out on the road travelling?

Well, there are plenty of things you can do that are probably easier than you think. After decades of caravanning and travelling long term, here are the top tips:

If you want an easy way to keep track of what’s been checked and when, take a look at our Caravan Maintenance Schedule.

Maintenance Outside the Caravan

Let’s start with the front of your van, then work backwards. We’ll then head inside to make sure everything is going smoothly before you depart.

The tow hitch

Check if any of the mounting bolts are loose, especially after you have travelled on corrugated roads. If they are loose, give them a tighten. Check if the coupling is rotating freely.

Most couplings (DO35, Poly-block or standard 50mm) will have a grease nipple or two to be able to grease it up with a grease gun. If you don’t have a grease gun, you can apply grease by hand to the moving parts.

If the coupling is loose or has excessive free-play, you can tighten the coupling . Don’t over-tighten it as the coupling needs to rotate.

Check your handbrake.

When you engage your handbrake, does it hold the caravan, or can you still move it? If you can pull the handbrake lever all the way up, and your van still moves, you may need to adjust it.

The adjustment screws are usually on the cables near the handbrake. Don’t over-tighten the cables as you need a little bit of free-play in the cables when the handbrake is off, so that you are not pulling the brakes on while driving.

Jockey-wheel.

The jockey-wheel is the unsung hero in the caravan world. They usually get used, abused and forgotten about. Give it a bit of love with some spray lubricant on the winding mechanism, wheel and swing-up joint or clamp. After all, the humble jockey wheel carries the weight of your van. 

Gas bottle connections.

Check the condition of your gas hoses. If any of your hoses are cracked, get them changed for new ones. Check the rubber o-rings on the connection to the gas bottle. If they are cracked or split, replace them too.

While you are there, check the date of your gas bottles. If they are getting old, you may need to change them. Check in your state on the regulations for gas bottle date stamping.

Tyres.

Check your tyre pressures. It is amazing how much extra wear your tyres can get by having the wrong tyre pressures. It’s very simple to check with a tyre pressure gauge (no, don’t be lazy and just kick the tyre). Set your tyres at the correct pressure and your van will thank you for it. Not to mention that you will be safer on the road and van will tow better too.

Check with your manufacturer for the suggested tyre pressure. While you are at it, don’t forget your spare tyre too! Also, check your tyres’ tread depth. All tyres have a minimum tread depth indicator. These are the little bumps within the grooves between the tread. If your tread has worn down level of the tread depth indicator, it’s time for new tyres.

Suspension.

While you are checking your tyres, stick your head under the van and check the bolts around the suspension. If any are loose, give them a tighten up. Most caravans will also have grease nipples on the suspension components, so while you are there, squirt a bit more grease in.

Stabiliser legs.

Give the swing up joint a squirt of WD-40 or silicone spray to keep it moving freely. Inside the stabiliser leg is a worm drive, which is what raises and lowers the leg. If it is getting hard to turn, you will need to get some grease on it. I have found that the easiest way to get to the worm drive is to use spray grease.

Light sprays like WD-40 lubricant or silicone are not suitable; a grease is preferred. Did you know that most stabiliser legs are not designed to lift or level your van? If you are using them this way, you may be damaging them. They are only designed to support and stabilise your van and not have too much pressure placed on them.

If you want to be able to use your stabilisers as a levelling device, there are stabilisers on the market that are designed to do this.   

Caravan Step

The pull-in-pull-out step is something that is often forgotten about. When it starts getting stiff and hard to move, give it a quick squirt of WD-40 lubricant or silicone spray on the joints, and it will be moving smoothly again, just like new.

Before we get to the inside of the van (and use your smooth-moving step) give those squeaky door hinges a quick squirt of WD lube or silicone spray.

Maintenance Inside the Van

Dust Reduction System Filters and More!

If your van has a DRS (dust reduction system), pull out the filter and give it a good clean. If you can’t get all the dirt out, it may be time for a new filter. While you are at it, check the air-conditioner filters and the kitchen exhaust fan filters and give them a clean too.

Water system filter

Does your van have a water filter system? If so, when was the last time you changed the filter? Many areas don’t have the best quality water, and your filter could be working overtime.

You may be surprised how much better your water will taste with a new filter fitted.

If you need an inline filter, check out these inline filters from Caravan RV Camping

Toilet

Now for the nasty one. The toilet! If the slide is getting hard to move on your standard RV toilet, you can do something about it. After you have done a “toilet dump”, before putting the canister back in, give it a bit a maintenance.

You can partially dismantle the slide mechanism and remove the rubber seals to thoroughly clean them. Give the slide mechanism a good squirt of silicone spray, and it will be opening and closing like new. Make sure to wear gloves and use disinfectant.

Electrical

Another item to check that you may not think about is your extension power cord. Completely unwind your cord and give it a close-up inspection. If you see any signs of cracking, splitting or exposed wires, ditch it and get a new one. A good quality extension is designed to work safely in all weather, but only if it is in good condition.

Need a new power cord? Check out the range here

Our Thoughts

As you can see, maintaining your caravan can be quite simple. Once you have completed your maintenance routine, your van will feel like new again. You may not have the knowledge or skills to fix or make repairs….. and that’s OK.

At least take the time to go around and check your van. If something doesn’t seem right, ask someone. If you identify anything that needs fixing, find someone who can do it for you.

By regularly checking, you will get to know your van better and be able to identify if something is not quite right. Keeping your caravan well maintained will give you safer travels, fewer breakdowns and allow you to enjoy your caravanning to the fullest.

If you’re after another quick, cheap job while you’re at it, lining your tunnel boot with carpet is worth doing too, it stops gear sliding around back there and it’s about half an hour’s work.