Buying a camper van can be a fun process that leaves you with this awesome new way to travel around the country. But what if you have never owned a camper van before? Do you know how often maintenance and other procedures should be done to it? Below are five tips for those that are new to owning their own or hiring a camper van from Campstar.com
Inspections and Treatments
Keeping your camper van clean will not only help keep it looking great, but it will also help maintain its overall value and functionality. There are numerous products out there to help clean a camper van. You need to be aware that there are different types of materials on a camper van, particularly the roof material, such as rubber, vinyl and fiberglass. Make sure that the products you are using are fine to use on the material that your roof is made out of.
Just like ant vehicle, a camper van is subject to wear and tear from the road. It is crucial to inspect your caravan from leaky seals and cracks. The last thing you want is to have your roof leaking when it rains. By being proactive and inspecting your camper van, you can avoid bigger problems down the road.
Treating and inspecting your caravan twice a year is recommended. By doing this so, you will catch potential problems early and often and keep the cost of fixing these problems low. Rather than letting a leak or crack get bigger or worse, take an hour and inspect the interior and exterior of your camper van.
Winterize During Colder Months
During periods of colder weather, it is important to winterize your lines so they do not freeze. This is important because it can be very costly to replace these lines if you don’t. If you are unsure how to or when you should winterize, talk to your camper van dealer. They should be more than happy to walk you through the process of winterization. Since the warm summer months don’t last long in the U.K., prepare for when the cold hits again.
Get The Right Tow Hitch
You would think hauling a caravan would be as simple as just hitching up and driving, but that’s not necessarily the case. There are certain hitches made for specific types of trailers as well as hitches for particular weight limits. Have the correct trailer hitch when pulling a caravan to dramatically reduce the sway of the trailer.
The best way to find out what type of hitch you should have is to consult the owner’s manual. If you cant find it there, consult your camper van dealer. They will be able to point you in the right direction.
Practice Making Turns
While this may sound silly, this is actually a very big issue for people who are new to hauling a trailer on the back of their vehicle. In fact, gas pumps are one of the number one things people hit with caravans.
In order to avoid having a setback such as hitting a gas pump, practice driving and making turns before you go on your first trip. Get comfortable towing and turning with a travel trailer to reduce the chances of you making a mistake. One important thing to always remember is that a wider turn is required when there is a camper van attached to the back of your vehicle.
Respect the Learning Curve
Learning best practices and how to drive a camper van is just like anything else that is new, there’s a learning curve. Hopefully mistakes that are made are minor and nothing serious, but it takes practice and repetition to get the hang of it. A great way to reduce this learning curve is to talk with fellow campers when you are away on a trip. People like to share their knowledge and expertise, and probably wouldn’t mind showing you a thing or two.
Sammy J. writes for Quality RV, camper van and RV dealers in Missouri.
