As winter is here, the colder weather can bring with it a whole host of risks.
Not only does driving become more hazardous but it can also leave your prized Motorhome exposed to some unwanted attention. The long winter months bring with them a stout warning that leaving your vehicle unattended can result in the need for some costly repairs.
Our General Service Manager, Nigel Chafer, oversees the service and maintenance of hundreds of Motorhomes each year from our Iveco and Fiat Professional dealerships throughout Yorkshire and the North West. Nigel and his team have seen a wide variety of problems with motorhomes throughout the years and speaking on the subject Nigel said:
“Our mechanics don’t just specialise in Iveco Daily and Fiat Ducato motorhomes, we offer servicing on many makes so we’re pretty clued up on some of the most common mistakes we see being made in motorhome maintenance. To many people their motorhome is more than just a hobby, it’s a way of life, so looking after such a big investment is really important to our team. Although some of the points might seem straight forward hopefully these tips will be a good point to start from for the avid motorhome owner to follow.”
Look after your motorhome inside and out
Keeping the inside and outside of your motorhome clean is hugely important. Make sure to give the interior a good clean and polish (including all the appliances) leaving the fridge door open and it’s sensible to keep taps in the open position.
Make sure all tanks are empty including hot and cold water tanks and be sure to empty your toilet flush tank as if things get really cold, freezing water will become a big problem for you come top up time.
As well as the tanks make sure you, turn off the gas and water supply and be sure to find the external water drainage plugs and leave them in the open position. Don’t forget the toilet will need a few flushes to get rid of excess water.
Under the bonnet
As well as keeping things cosmetically clean make sure you top up your major fluids including antifreeze, oil and screenwash whilst also cleaning away unnecessary dirt from around the engine, wheels and major vehicle components. For people operating the motorhome in winter weather antifreeze plays an important part in winter protection and you should always ensure that the level is full as it breaks down over time and will often need replacing. The antifreeze will ensure your engine runs at the temperature it should and will help avoid costly repairs.
In the case of screenwash it may seem obvious but always make sure you have a good mix of screenwash and water to avoid the potential for freezing water splitting pipes.
As well as under the bonnet make sure to look after your tyres as they are an extremely important area to check especially if you are driving on the winter roads in any vehicle. The tread depth is crucial; ensure these are well above the legal minimum depth.
Finally, if you remove the battery, make sure it is stored in a warm and dry place and is charged up every four weeks.
Keep it covered
As the winter months kick in, leaving your motorhome unprotected from adverse weather can result in unnecessary damage. If possible try and make sure that your vehicle is under cover at all times. Keeping windows tightly shut might seem a given but to ensure dust and moisture doesn’t get in and fade the interior it’s always a good thing to double check.
If your motorhome is going to be left for a long period of time it’s worth your while to remove as much as possible, especially the soft furnishings when you give it a good clean.
Make sure you’re roadworthy
Your motorhome is a great investment and a hard working road vehicle so it’s in your best interests to keep it roadworthy. The best way to do this is to have it serviced annually and it’s best to do this before your big seasonal trips.
If possible, it’s worth getting your annual service done at an Approved Workshop to ensure the work is carried out by an experienced professional.