Avoiding trouble
We all love it. The sound of a sea breeze in the morning on a quiet beach or the crackle of a campfire, the alluring smell of a barbecue, the heart-warming sound of conversation under a starry sky, the endless depth of red, gold and green of an Australian bush landscape.
The trouble is, enjoying adventures that offer those things can take a toll by way of wear and tear on you caravan. To help, This Travelling Life asked RV & Caravans Matt Linton how travellers might minimise the impact. Here are his tips that might mean you’re more likely to get the most out of your caravan or camper.
Sealed in
Matt says that regularly checking for dry, lost or cracked sealants means that the likelihood of further damage is reduced.
He warns that while owners might be tempted to just squirt in a little extra silicon sealant, in his experience ‘that approach never seems to work.’
Instead, he says that if sealant is dry or cracked, the best remedy is to ask a qualified professional to remove the hatch, window or door, clean off the old sealant and completely reseal and refit the door or window. Matt says that when it comes to checking for intact sealant, owners should also check mouldings, roof cross seams and running lights.
Up on the roof
Up on the roof, there is an assortment of potential trouble. Cast an eye over rooftop solar mounts no matter whether you own a motorhome, caravan, hybrid caravan or campervan. Matt recommends making sure that the silicon around the mounts is still intact and hasn’t perished.
Matt says a roof inspection should also include TV aerial mounts and seals, and check that they are not starting to lift away from aluminium roof cladding. The Winegard TV aerials, for example, have a large mount that Matt recommends you inspect to make sure it is still properly secured. It is also important to make sure that the rooftop cross-seam joints have silicon and are not starting to lift. Matt’s tip is to rub the seam with a hand to make sure it doesn’t roll away from the cladding.
Under the floor
Underneath the caravan floor, Matt recommends checking that all the wiring and plumbing is still secure. He says overtime, with continuous movement, wiring and plumbing may become loose and need to be re-secured.
In terms of suspension, Matt says, ‘if your suspension has grease nipples, it doesn’t hurt to give your suspension a grease every now and then.’
Then, while underneath, he says just check that your water tanks are still secure. Again, the rough and tumble of tackling the great outdoors can sometime play havoc with water tank strapping. ‘There is nothing worse than driving along and your water tank falls out on the road,’ he says.
As a repairer, this is an unfortunate situation that Matt has seen often. While several things may cause this to happen, he says that tank straps are certainly susceptible to fatigue from the rigours of a life literally spent dealing with the chaos of road bric-a-brac as the caravan rumbles along the roads, tracks and laneways of each adventure.
Avoiding common problems