Our motorhome maintenance checklist

At Chelston we have a huge selection of motorhomes for sale, and there’s nothing we like more than seeing our customers happy with their purchase. Even a few years down the line if we get the chance to catch up with them, it’s great to hear how people are enjoying the motorhome they have bought from us.

Keeping your motorhome in good order – i.e. clean, tidy and well maintained – really pays off. It means, for a start, that your enjoyment of the time you spend in the vehicle will be higher during the times that you use it, and you’ll be assured that everything that should work, works. It also means that if and when the time comes that you decide to sell it on to raise some cash, or trade it in as part-exchange for a newer model, you’ll have something which is worth more than if you’d let its overall condition slide.

There are various things you can do to make sure the motorhome remains in prime condition – or as close to it as can reasonably be achieved. In this edition of our blog we will run through some of those things, offering handy tips and great guidance so that you can make sure your motorhome is well maintained!

See below our top tips for motorhome maintenance.

First of all, the exterior of your motorhome will always look better when it’s clean. The particular ‘shine’ that a cleaned vehicle has makes it so much more attractive. Removing any residual dirt and the grime of time on the road is a simple process involving – yes – soap and water… That could mean you indulge in a ‘bucket on a Sunday’ sort of a deal on your drive, or you could go to a car wash and pay to have a few helpful chaps do it for you. Remember to clean the occasionally ‘forgotten’ areas such as the hubcaps on the wheels, and the roof etc.

This involves a little bit more than just wiping down the odd surface. You probably won’t want or even need to do a deep clean after every time you’ve used the motorhome, but it’s important to go the extra mile on a relatively regular basis. Emptying out cupboards and cleaning them properly by getting right into the unseen corners, washing the upholstery using appropriate products, giving the oven and the fridge a thorough clean, making sure the bathroom is sparkling… all of these things will pay off by giving you a fresh feel the next time you step into the vehicle at the start of some time away – or a ‘well looked after’ wow factor, perhaps even an ‘almost brand new’ vibe, when you come to sell it.

This is really important, as water ingress is definitely not a motorhome’s friend. Unwanted moisture and damp can damage the fixtures and fittings as well as make a mess of any soft furnishings. Watermarks, mould or a strange fusty smell are all signs that you might have a damp problem. There are mitigating steps you can take. Check all window and door seals are secure – essentially, any point in the vehicle which might leak. You can do this by having someone soak the exterior of the vehicle using a garden hose, while you are inside methodically going through all of the seals etc. Once you’ve checked and are satisfied that everything is functioning correctly, take the extra step of installing an absorber such as BirchSorb, which will handle atmospheric moisture more than adequately.

You might need to get the professionals involved at this point, but you should make sure that the systems – i.e. water, electric and gas – are working exactly as they should. Check electrical appliances are functioning correctly and that (on TVs for instance) there are no frayed wires and the like. Check gas appliances to make sure they are clean, with unobstructed points, and that all joints and seals are tight. This includes the external BBQ point, if there is one. If necessary, get a gas registered engineer to inspect the system. For the water system you should flush it through before the next use and give internal tanks a clean using steriliser.

Back on the outside of the motorhome, check the tyres. Tyre pressures can be affected by the temperature and altitude so you should always check them before any trip (and at the end of any trip – even during trips if necessary). When tyres are cold, friction from driving heats them up and affects their pressure. Over-inflated tyres are at risk of popping, which could cause an accident or damage your motorhome. Under-inflated tyres are also dangerous as they will affect your control of the vehicle while driving (as well as mess up your fuel economy due to their increased resistance). Also make sure that the lug nuts on your wheels are tightened properly.

Making sure that the ‘moving parts’ of things like awnings is very important. You don’t want to be in a position where this important part of your leisure experience doesn’t work due to a jammed or damaged slider. This kind of thing will also ‘turn off’ potential buyers when the time has come to sell. Reduce the likelihood of any issues by keeping sliders correctly lubricated – and the awnings themselves clean and free from debris or damage. They are often susceptible to mold issues, so cleaning is very important – both aesthetically and in terms of functionality.

You should make sure that your motorhome is serviced regularly. Having a professional mechanic look at the engine and associated systems is important as there are things which you yourself may not be aware of looking out for, and they are more likely to be able to spot potential issues etc, and correct them (at a cost, of course – but it’s always worth it). Before you kiss goodbye to real life for a while and hit the road, you should also ensure that all of the required tests for roadworthiness have been undertaken, that your motorhome insurance coverage is valid and, of course – your driving licence is up to date!

Here at Chelston we have many new and used motorhomes for sale, from various different brands – but they all have one thing in common. That is that they have been well looked after by their previous owner, so they represent great value to you, the potential buyer. Really, keeping on top of the upkeep and maintenance of your motorhome is a way to ensure you receive the best price for it when you sell, but also that it remains an attractive proposition to potential buyers. You can discover which vehicles we currently have available by browsing our website, and once you’ve found something you like simply get in touch. We’ll be happy to talk through it with you or answer any other queries you might have.