Caravan servicing may seem like a strange idea when you think in terms of servicing a car, but when put in the context of the sort of maintenance you might carry out on your house on a regular basis, it seems perfectly normal, and indeed eminently sensible.
Broadly speaking there are seven areas that require regular inspection and maintenance, exterior bodywork, interior bodywork, water system and appliances, gas supply and appliances, 240v electrical systems, 12v electrical systems, fire / safety and chassis / running gear.
From a body work perspective the main concern is that of water ingress, or rather stopping it.
Therefore the focus of both internal and external bodywork inspections should be on the integrity of the body and the condition of the various seals.
Damp is one of the most serious problems affecting caravans, and it is advisable to carry out a damp test as well during any routine servicing.
The main things to check with regard to the water system are the various filters and the water pump.
Additionally the pressure switch should be checked and adjusted if necessary.
The gas supply and appliances should be checked and serviced by someone with the appropriate qualifications, a gas safety certificate in the UK.
Pipe work should be checked for leaks, and all appliances should have their ignition flame and flame failure devices checked.
The 240v electrical system should have the Residual Current Device (RCD), the Miniature Circuit Breaker ( MCB) and the earth bonding checked.
Additionally the condition of all the wiring and the mains operation of the various electrical appliances; and of course the battery charger.
The 12v system should also have all its wiring checked, and also the operation of the road lights.
The 12v operation of the fridge should also be checked over.
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms should all be tested and have their back up batteries replaced.
The expiry dates of fire extinguishers and fire blankets should be inspected and they should be replaced in line with the manufacturers guidelines.
Last but by no means least, if the chassis and running gear.
Essentially these checks fall into two categories, those items pertaining to the attachment of the caravan to a car or truck and those items pertaining to the caravan as a wheeled vehicle.
The condition of all the coupling components should be checked, particularly things such as the breakaway cable, all components cleaned and lubricated as necessary.
The brakes, tyres and suspension assemblies must also be thoroughly checked.
In the UK caravans must be deemed to be 'Road Safe', and yet there is no M.
O.
T for caravans or trailers so it is up to the owner to ensure their caravan is kept road worthy - failure to do so can result in a fine and or penalty points on your driving licence.