Camper Care and Maintenance Tips From the Experts

Owning a camper or caravan is a great investment for those who seek to traverse the great outdoors in the comfort of their own mobile home. However, you can’t expect it to live long and function properly after parking it in your driveway, out in the open, for weeks on end. Like anything else you own, campers need proper care and maintenance to function at their best. If you own a camper or caravan, here are some expert care and maintenance tips you should follow.

1. Regularly Run the Generator

Like when you leave your car unused for weeks, its engine can become faulty or stop working. Leaving a caravan’s generator unused for too long will lead to the same outcome. Gasoline usually has a 30-day shelf life, and after its expiry, it can degrade and damage your generator. To keep your camper’s internal components intact, activate your generator every month for about two hours, with your generator load at half capacity. If you fail to do so each month, your generator will seriously get damaged as your carburetor will varnish, and fuel won’t be able to power it. You won’t be able to fix that issue by cleaning the generator, which is almost impossible, so you’ll have to replace it, costing you a lot of money.

2. Check All Seals

Making sure that all of your seals are doing their job is important if you want to maintain your camper in good condition. If your seals (doors, windows, and roof seals) are not working correctly, any serious change in weather can cause internal damage to your camper. Over time, your caravan’s seals will naturally degrade—that is, if they weren’t faulty products from the start—and this can damage the camper’s surfaces and allow mold infestation and water to trickle in. Every three months, make sure to check all of the seals, ensuring that they’re well fitted and in peak condition. If you have any loose items, cracks, or stains, then opt for immediate repair and replacement.

3. Roof Protection

Keeping your camper roof in tip-top condition is also quite important for your caravan’s overall “health.” Camper roofs are usually very susceptible to damage as they’re always exposed to direct sunlight and adverse weather conditions. Yet, it’s very common for them to be neglected as most camper owners don’t exactly look forward to climbing their camper’s roof. Therefore, some sort of protection is needed, which is where a shed will come in handy. It’s very easy to find a shed to fit your camper or caravan as many contractors can build customized shelters for your vehicle. Getting a shed for your camper won’t only protect its roof from the sun and rain, but it’ll protect every part of your caravan from all kinds of potential environmental harm as well.

4. Ventilation and Lubrication

Not all camper maintenance can be tiring. Some only need you to do one thing, then leave the caravan to its lonesome self. Ventilating is such an activity. During summer, the camper’s interior can overheat, leading to serious damages, which is why opening up your caravan for ventilation is a must. Additionally, ventilate your camper during winter, making sure to put it under a shelter to avoid any rain or snow from entering. It’s also quite important for you to lubricate your rails at least twice a year as it will prevent them from rusting, corroding, or making annoying squeaky noises.

5. Pay Attention to Your Tires

Caring for your tires is essential if you don’t want to replace them often and, obviously, let your caravan move. Make sure to regularly clean your tires, covering them when not in use to protect their integrity. Staying under the sun for a long time can rapidly deteriorate your tires, so along with covering them, you should treat them with a UV protectant solution.

6. Keep Track of Maintenance Schedule

It should go without saying that with all the care and maintenance activities you need to perform, keeping track of your progress can be a bit difficult without taking the proper measures. Make sure to create a document scheduling all of your maintenance activities and keep track of them. It’ll simplify the process and keep your camper in tip-top shape.

So, there you have it! These are the tips you need to follow to maintain your camper properly. Campers are usually not a cheap investment, and without regular maintenance, you will find yourself spending even more money on repairs and replacements, so make sure to always do what needs to be done to keep your mobile home in tip-top shape.