Although motorhomes They are prepared to travel throughout the year, it is now, when the good weather begins and we have more days off, when we move more with these vehicles. If you want enjoy the trip to the fullest, without unpleasant surprises along the way, it is important to carry a good maintenance of our motorhomes and do a complete overhaul before we get going. Here are some tips to prepare your motorhome for the holidays!
A mechanical review
A mechanical set-up is essential to guarantee the correct operation of our vehicle. We must be up to date with the regulatory reviews and, in addition, do a series of checks before leaving.
- Oil levels: Oil changes must be carried out following the manufacturer's recommendations and, in addition, before starting off, we will check that the levels are correct.
- Status of the lights: both those of position, crossing, road, reverse and brake, as fog, turn signals and clearance lights.
- Tires: Before starting, we must check that they are in perfect condition. We will look at their age, wear and if they have the right pressure. A running blowout can be a huge hazard in a vehicle of this size and weight.
- Batteries: If we have had the motorhome stopped for a while, it is possible that the batteries, both in the engine and in the passenger compartment, have been affected, losing load capacity. Before leaving, we will try to leave the motorhome connected to 220V so that they can recharge and we will monitor if their capacity is 100% or if we must replace any of them.
- ITV in force: on June 1 the new ITV has come into force, which all vehicles must pass on the dates that correspond to them. With this, the penalties for driving without it in force have been toughened, with fines that can range from € 200 to € 500. Therefore, before leaving on a trip, check that your inspection is in force and that you have correctly placed the corresponding sticker on the front window.
Installation of gas
The correct operation of the installation of gas It will depend on whether elements such as the "boiler" work well, which heats the water in the shower; cooking fires; or the refrigerator, if it is trivalent. Before leaving, we will verify that the propane or butane cylinders have gas, we will open the installation and we will verify that all the devices that depend on their supply.
Speaking of gas installation, you should know that, as in homes, it is necessary to pass a regulatory inspection every four years by an authorized installer. In this inspection it is verified that the lyre of the cylinders is in perfect condition and that there are no gas leaks anywhere. Be careful not to keep it up to date! In the event of an accident caused by this system, the insurance may not cover the damage.
Exterior elements
It is also advisable to do a good maintenance of exterior elements to guarantee their correct operation. These elements include:
- Locks and hinges: The hinges and locks of the passenger compartment and garage door, as well as the security locks, if installed, should be greased periodically to avoid rust, jams and noise.
- Windows and skylights: it is good to do a cleaning if we have not used them for a long time. To do this, we will use water and neutral soap, we will not use other corrosive agents or dry clean them, since we could scratch the material with which they are made (methacrylate).
- Rubbers and sealing elements: We will check that they are in perfect condition, since this is the way to guarantee that they keep the interior of the vehicle watertight and avoid vibrations and noise.
- Cleaning: A visit to the washing center is also beneficial for our motorhome, in order to eliminate waste. We must pay special attention to the roof of the vehicle, especially if we have solar panels installed, since accumulated dirt can reduce the performance of the energy charge.
Inside
Inside, it is convenient to check the correct functioning of electrical appliances and other elements that facilitate our day to day in the motorhome.
- Trivalent fridge: We will start it at least 24 hours before going on a trip to verify that it cools properly. If not, we will remove the outer grates to clean the fireplace and the burner (always with the gas closed!), Two elements that, when dirty, can reduce the performance of the refrigerator or even make it not cool. We will also check that it works at 200V and 12V.
- Water Pump: essential to have water in the kitchen, sink and shower taps of the motorhome, as well as in the toilet cistern. Before going on a trip, check that it works well and that it transmits the necessary pressure to the taps.
- Fires: It is good to do a thorough cleaning of the fires, to eliminate possible remains of dirt that have accumulated and that can clog the gas outlets and impair their performance.
- Blinds and mosquito nets: they are fragile items and can break due to use. To make the opening and closing more fluid, we can use a little Vaseline or a silicone spray to make them slide well.
- Deposits: finally, the clean, gray and black water tanks also need maintenance. The most advisable thing is to do it before storing it, if we are going to be without using it for a long time but, if we did not do it at the time, before going back to the road we can also carry it out. For the clean water tank we can use a chlorine solution (very carefully and always respecting the manufacturer's quantities depending on the capacity of our tank) or using purifying tablets. For gray and black, we can use a disinfectant liquid from any of the manufacturers on the market or, failing that, use cleaning vinegar. With this we will avoid bad smells.
All these checks will allow us to start the adventure with greater security. And remember that, if you are thinking of joining the world of motorhomes and you do not feel like facing all this maintenance, you always have the option to rent and we take care of giving you the vehicle ready to enjoy. Visit our section "Rental" and get in touch with us to know the availability of dates and vehicles.