Getting motorhomes, vans and caravans ready for the new season
Now is the time to bring your camping vehicle out of hibernation. We have put together an overview of the most important checks, cleaning and maintenance work for a perfect start to your next camping season!
The most important points in brief
- All-round check for any visible interior or exterior damage.
- Functional checks, maintaining and servicing your caravan or motorhome technology.
- Clean it, tidy it, pack it – and your new camping season can begin!
The first all-over check at the winter storage site
When you visit your camping vehicle after winter, you should first take a close look at it – inside and out.
Checking the exterior
- Is there any damage to the vehicle (scratches, dents, dirt deposits, etc.)?
- Are there any damp or moldy spots on the vehicle?
- How do the tires look? Do they have enough air pressure? Is there any visible damage caused by the vehicle’s long standing time? Is the tread depth OK?
- Are the TÜV certificate and gas safety check up to date?
- Can the caravan’s supports extend and retract easily?
- Can the caravan’s drawbar tube be pushed in and out?
- Are all the locks on the service flaps and doors easy to close?
Checking the interior
- Does it smell of damp or mold? Is the indoor climate OK?
- Are there any damp spots, such as in the bathroom, inside cupboards, on the floor?
- Are the seat cushions and mattresses dry (if left inside over the winter)? Are the cupboards dry inside?
- Are there any signs of mice in the camping vehicle?
- Visually inspect the water tanks: Are there any residues or marks?
Is everything working? Check and maintain your vehicle!
If everything looks good at first glance, you can then get straight to work and check each individual function. Depending on what you have removed or disconnected for winter storage – for example, the on-board battery(ies), gas bottle(s) – the first step is to reinstall this equipment so that you can test all the functions.
Our top 10 checklist
- Do all the vehicle lights work: headlights, taillights, brake lights, indicators, rear fog lights, reversing lights?
- Are the fluid levels such as engine oil and coolant correct?
- Can the handbrake be released and re-applied easily?
- Do the caravan’s towbar electrics and mechanics work OK?
- Electricity: Do the body batteries charge fully via the electric hookup or solar power? Does the interior lighting in the living room work? Is there power at every socket (12 V or 230 V)?
- Water system: Are the water pump, taps, toilet flush and boiler working properly?
- Gas supply: Can the gas hob, heating and refrigerator be switched on without any problems?
- Refrigerator: Is the refrigerator running OK on gas, 12 V or 230 V (depending on the type)?
- Is all the additional equipment such as the satellite system, maneuvering system, etc. working OK?
- Can the awning be cranked out and back in again? Is it damaged? Does it need any repairs?
In addition to these functional tests, your camping vehicle will benefit from some minor maintenance work:
- Treat rubber seals (windows, doors, toilet cassette) with care products (e.g. rubber care spray with silicone)
- Maintain locks and hinges with resin- and acid-free oil spray
- Clean the fresh- and wastewater tanks and, if possible, rinse them out completely
- Treat the crank supports on the caravan with a grease spray.
Maintenance and care of additional equipment
Pay special attention to your vehicle’s additional technical equipment during dewinterization, too.
AL-KO suspension systems for motorhomes are generally maintenance-free – there’s no need to carry out any special work. Unless you notice that something is not working, in which case please visit a specialist workshop!
For hydraulic support systems for motorhomes such as the LevelM Pro or HY4, you will find information on maintenance intervals, which should be carried out by an expert, in the operating manual. The same goes for vans. Maintenance usually consists of cleaning and a visual inspection, and if necessary, a change of hydraulic oil. For mechanical support systems, maintenance and care vary depending on the model. Basically, you should clean bearing points and deflection points and then lubricate them with grease spray. However, if the whole support is dirty, clean it completely.
For hydraulic support systems for caravans such as the Level C, the maintenance intervals must also be observed in accordance with the operating manual to ensure proper functioning. The crank supports on the caravan will appreciate a little grease or oil to ensure they extend and retract smoothly. The spindle should also be cleaned at regular intervals and have fresh grease (e.g. Teflon-based dry lubricant) applied.
Your caravan’s anti-sway coupling (AKS) – if it has one – requires special care, as does the corresponding ball head on the towing vehicle. You should clean your car’s hitch, but do not grease it – otherwise the AKS’s function will be impaired. It is best to use fine sandpaper until everything is sparkling clean again.
For new towbar couplings, remove the paint completely before your first trip, otherwise it will stick to the friction linings. If the wear indicator on the AKS is green, everything is fine. If the indicator is red or if it creaks while driving, the car’s towbar coupling, the AKS and the anti-sway coupling’s friction linings must be checked and replaced if necessary. You can either have this done in a specialist workshop or do it yourself: The spare parts can be purchased from AL-KO or from specialist camping retailers. Towbar couplings on towing vehicles without AKS are cleaned and lubricated as normal.
Not an additional feature, but an important part of the basic equipment, is the overrun brake for caravans. This must be able to move freely; you will find the lever for this on the drawbar.
The self-adjusting drum brake is, as the name suggests, self-adjusting when the clearance between the brake shoes and the drum becomes too large due to wear. However, this will only work if you comply with the maintenance intervals and necessary care in a specialist workshop.
Spring-cleaning your home on four wheels
After all the technology has been checked, serviced and maintained, it's time for the final step: cleaning. No matter where you parked your camper over the winter, dirt and dust deposits always build up, so a thorough external cleaning is always a good idea.
You can either wash the exterior at an official washing area (for self-washing) for motorhomes, caravans, vans or even trucks, or there are also special washing facilities for these large vehicles. In the first step, hose down the exterior and carefully scrub it with a brush and detergent – it is best to wash the lower base afterwards to remove dirt from the chassis. Think about the wheel arches as well. Windows and roof hoods are usually made of acrylic and so should be omitted. You can get special cleaners and cloths to prevent scratching these. Then dry (or leave it to dry). Don’t forget the awning: Extend it out once, check for any damp spots and dirt deposits, and clean if necessary.
Depending on how thoroughly you cleaned the inside of your camper before winterizing it, the impending spring clean will be either short or extensive. You should always dust and thoroughly ventilate everywhere – along with any other necessary tasks. The same goes for any awnings. No matter what, it is advisable to spread these out completely on a dry surface, check them for damage, and dust them with a hand brush or, if necessary, wipe them down with a damp cloth. Then waterproof the seams and surfaces.
Load up your camping vehicle … and off you go!
Depending on what you cleared out when winterizing your camping vehicle, you can now pack it with these items again – from camping furniture and kitchen equipment to books, games and cosmetics.
Check the condition and completeness of your caravan’s basic equipment to give yourself peace of mind and an overview of what you may want to replace. This might include, for example:
- adapter, power and extension cables
- wheel levelers
- camping furniture
- watering can and hose
- pegs for awnings
- sun sail
- shims for supports
- awning
- warning signs
- water containers
You can find a comprehensive camping equipment checklist here.
