Top 10 pre-season caravan checks

With daylight hours increasing at a seeming exponential rate and spring flowers brightening every hedgerow, it's time to hitch up your caravan. What a shame if, after only a few miles you get a flat, then you arrive on site and find the corner steadies won't wind down, the handbrake's seized, the cooker won't light and...

Better by far to spend time making a few pre-season checks and undertake some preventative maintenance. Here are our top ten tips:

1. Check the tyre pressures and tread depth and inspect the tyres for signs of cracking or premature failure. Re-torque the wheel nuts.
   
2. Make sure the handbrake operates freely by pulling and releasing the lever several times. Lubricate and adjust it as necessary.
   
3. Couple up a gas cylinder and make sure all the appliances are working.
4. Check the battery. It should have been removed, and charged occasionally, while your caravan was laid up for the winter. Give it a charge now if necessary.
   
5. At the start of the season, run a sterilising solution – such as used for babies' feeding bottles – through the water pipes.
6. Connect the 12N and 12S plugs to your tow car and check that the external and internal caravan lights and 12-volt appliances are working. Regularly clean the plugs and spray them with a moisture repellent.
   
7. Clean your caravan inside and out regularly and apply a coat of polish to help protect the exterior.
8. If you have an awning, check that there are no parts missing and that it is not damaged.
9. Lubricate window and door hinges and check that curtains and window blinds operate smoothly.
10. Finally, arrange for the gas system and appliances, the mains electricity supply and the refrigerator to be serviced annually by an expert – who should provide an inspection certificate.

    These are just ten tips for maintaining your caravan and there are many more in the The Caravan Manual by John Wickersham. It contains comprehensive information on storage, towing accessories, preparing for winter lay-up and many other topics of interest to caravanners and prospective caravan owners.

Haynes