Getting your motorhome ready for use

Cabin and living space

First up, you should check your cabin space. This may include maintenance of the engine and an MOT.

Check if your motorhome warranty is still valid

If your motorhome is still covered by a warranty, then check the terms and conditions as it will almost certainly say that it has to be checked and serviced by an authorised workshop every year.

Check internal motorhome gasworks and electrics

With all the equipment, including gas and electrical systems, inside motorhomes and campervans, it should be fairly obvious that for your own safety these items need inspecting regularly – especially if they haven’t need used for a while.

Check internal fixtures and fittings

The fridge, cooker, and water and heating systems usually have periods of being dormant and are given a good shake while travelling – all a bit of a tricky mixture of conditions for any item to cope with, so checks and maintenance are important.

Don’t forget to check any accessories fitted, such as a towbar, roll-out awning or air conditioning too.

Check motorhome walls as well as tyres

The sidewalls of motorhome tyres may crack before the tyre tread becomes illegal. A blow-out, while you are travelling, will be inconvenient and dangerous.

Non-mechanical items

A key thing to check is signs of water ingress. If there’s water leaking into the motorhome and it’s not detected quickly, it will spread and create more damage (and increase the bill to repair it).

Any leisure battery fitted will have to be charged and checked.

And finally, please check that your smoke detector and any carbon monoxide detector are both working properly.

Don’t forget your insurance

If you’ve got everything serviced and checked, including how much gas is in your cylinder, then the last thing to remember to check is that your motorhome is insured, not only as a motor vehicle but for all your contents and roadside recovery.