A Guide To Bringing Your Caravan Out Of Winter Storage

With springtime almost upon us, it’s wise to give some forethought and attention to your caravan. In particular, to getting it out of storage (or off the driveway) and ready for the open road.

In fact, now may be a good time to get your caravan serviced, while there’s time to make any necessary repairs before the start of the holiday season. After all, the last thing you want is to be fixing a suddenly urgent problem when you could be exploring, unwinding, or having fun with the family. 

If you’re not yet ready for a service or would rather make these checks yourself, we’ve included a few simple pointers to set you off in the right direction before your next jaunt.

Safety first…Checking everything over, inside and out

No one knows your caravan better than you do. And post-hibernation is the perfect time to get properly re-acquainted. 

Give all the important internal and external elements a thorough once-over to make sure they’re working as you remember. Pay special attention to the handbrake and tyres; not just checking for punctures but also for pressure, tread, and torque on the wheel nuts as these are vital to your safety.

Lights are also a crucial safety feature, so check they are all working properly too. And don’t overlook the expiry date on your fire extinguisher. Make sure it’s still useable and, if not, be certain to replace it.

Test your security equipment

It’s also important to ensure that your caravan security is in good working order, such as testing alarms and tracking devices.

If you have a tracking device fitted, you might like to tow your caravan a few miles away from its usual storage spot and then call the monitoring centre to make sure they can pinpoint its location.

Don’t forget to check your wheel clamp and hitch lock for signs of wear and tear and to ensure they can be fitted and removed with the usual ease. The few minutes it takes to make these checks calmly (and away from interested bystanders) is a much better call than a sweaty fight with a stubborn wheel clamp in front of a curious audience…

Maintenance matters…Ensure you’re fully charged and connected

Another important preparatory task is ensuring that your leisure battery is fully charged. You can then check it’s working by turning on the interior lights and water pump.

If you use a gas bottle, you’ll also need to return that to the caravan and check that the fridge, cooker, and any heaters connected to the gas are firing on all cylinders. 

It’s much better to test these essentials now than test everyone’s patience later.

Prepare your water tanks

If you drained your pipes for winter, first reconnect them, then fill your water tank to check for any leaks. If your pipes or tank show any signs of leaking, you’ll likely need to replace them – then try again, to ensure you’ve got to the root of the problem.

Make a clean break of it…Clean your couplings, car sockets, and pipes

Over winter, damp has a habit of getting into caravan couplings and car sockets, so be sure to clean these out to remove any moisture and dirt. 

Also, once you’ve checked your pipes, it’s a good idea to clean them with a sterilising fluid to get rid of any mustiness. This fluid can simply be left inside for a few hours and then flushed through. Then replace the water filter and you’re good to go.

Freshen up your caravan interior

Banish any stuffy smells by wiping down all your caravan surfaces and washing or airing any soft furnishings. For plastic windows, a 50/50 mix of water and vinegar works wonders – while also rousing fond memories of seaside fish and chips.

Keeping your interior in good condition not only makes it more pleasant to be in but it can also help your caravan to hold its value. So there’s a good rate of return on every inch of elbow grease.

One last important check

Finally, it’s wise to check that your caravan insurance is up to date and fit for purpose. With InsureMy, you can quickly and easily compare specialist caravan insurance providers to find cover that suits you.

Our insurers truly understand the caravan market and, better still, you can be sure you’re getting the best deal with our lowest price guarantee. Get adventure-ready without even leaving home.