Maintaining a motorhome is essential to enjoy it under the best conditions. You don’t want to break down on the day you leave for vacation, for example 😅
Whether it’s to ensure safety or extend the lifespan of your vehicle, regular maintenance is important. A motorhome is both a vehicle and an apartment on wheels, so it’s crucial to monitor a few key aspects. This includes mechanical aspects for the vehicle part as well as the living area, similar to how you maintain your home. In this article, we will look at the key points that should not be overlooked.
Let’s start with the vehicle, where many aspects need to be monitored and maintained, either once or several times a year.
Maintenance of your motorhome chassis
A thorough check-up is essential
Even if your vehicle is only used for vacations, it quickly accumulates many kilometers! Careful maintenance of your mechanics will allow you to take your travel companion far.
First and foremost, it’s fundamental to regularly check all fluid levels: engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, and power steering fluid. Also, remember to regularly change your filters (air, oil, fuel).
Don’t hesitate to refer to the manufacturer’s recommendations, which you can find online or in your maintenance logbook! It’s often more reliable 😉
Running gear : tires and brakes
Before hitting the road for your vacation, make sure to check the condition of your tires: are they ready to handle a few more thousand kilometers, or will they need to be changed in the middle of your vacation?
Also, regularly check the tire pressure to ensure it matches the manufacturer’s recommendations. To avoid having to take out a pressure gauge every time, you can install pressure sensors that replace your valve caps. This is what we did, and it allows us to check the pressure level at a glance before hitting the road. Very convenient!
Check yourself or have your braking system checked (during a service, for example). Discs and brakes are heavily used on this type of vehicle. Before embarking on a long journey, it’s important to ensure that these components can handle the entire trip!
A top-notch battery
You don’t want it to fail at the first frost! When the vehicle is not in use, even for a few weeks, it’s important to keep the battery charged. To maintain the battery at a sufficient charge level, there are maintenance chargers available that will handle this task perfectly.
A battery with a lifespan of about 4 years should be replaced at the first signs of wear, especially before embarking on a long vacation. It’s better to anticipate and replace it to travel with peace of mind.
Maintaining the living area of your motorhome
Sealing check
Carefully inspect the living area to detect any water infiltration around seals, windows, skylights, and walls. Water can cause significant long-term damage, such as mold, so repair leaks as soon as possible. This sealing should also be checked once a year by a specialist to ensure coverage by your insurance in case of damage, so keep this in mind!
Maintenance of door and window seals
Clean and treat the seals with suitable products to keep them flexible and effective for a long time. These products are available in specialized stores or online. Remember to re-glue or repair if necessary, but don’t let a damaged seal continue to wear down—intervene before it’s too late!
Proper ventilation of the living area
Good ventilation is crucial to prevent the accumulation of moisture inside, especially on windows and the windshield. Moisture can lead to mold problems. It’s important never to block these ventilation areas, even in winter!
Checking the electrical system
Ensure the proper functioning of the living area’s electrical system, including outlets, lighting, and electrical appliances. Check that the living area batteries are well-charged and in good condition.
Don’t hesitate to check out our article on managing electricity in a motorhome.
Fresh and grey water tanks
Regularly clean the water tanks to prevent bacterial growth, especially the fresh water tank. Specialized products are available for treating and cleaning this tank. This cleaning should be done at least once a year and more frequently if you live in your vehicle year-round. While you’re at it, a quick check and cleaning of the water pump filter won’t hurt.
Also, inspect the plumbing systems for any leaks and address them promptly to prevent mold—your motorhome’s number one enemy! Disinfect your grey water tank with appropriate products to prevent bad odors in the pipes.
Detectors and safety
Regularly test your gas detectors if you have them, and ensure that fire extinguishers are in good condition and not expired. It is essential and mandatory to have at least one inside, and it should be easily and quickly accessible 🔥
General hygiene
Just as you clean your house, clean your motorhome! Maintain your fabrics by washing them regularly, ventilate your motorhome to avoid bad odors, clean your refrigerator to prevent bacteria, and clean your chemical toilets! Hygiene is especially important in a small space where multiple people often live.
Furniture
Check the closures of your furniture! It would be a shame to hit the road with all the cupboards opening and everything falling out!
We thought these tips would be useful to share, especially if you are a beginner as we were not too long ago. Feel free to let us know in the comments if you have any additional tips to add to our list.
