Caravans come equipped with all kinds of amenities designed to make travelling more relaxing and comfortable, but if something goes amiss, it could potentially ruin your holiday.

There are caravan repair Adelaide you can complete yourself to help speed up the return on your investment and get you back out on the road quickly. Here’s how to do it:

Check the Tyres

Caravan tyres are exposed to heavy loads, acceleration, braking and cornering which can easily damage them or wear out over time. Therefore, it is crucial that they are kept correctly inflated – under-inflation will reduce grip, increase braking distance and cause excessive sidewall flexing which could result in delamination or blowout. Before embarking on your caravan adventure, it is a good idea to check both pressures and tread depths (not forgetting the spare) with a reliable pressure gauge before visual inspecting for bulges or lumps.

Noting the age of your caravan’s tyres is also important; experts advise replacing them every five years for optimal safety reasons, so if you purchase second-hand caravan with older tires it may be worthwhile replacing them sooner rather than later. You can easily do this by checking its DOT code, which should have three or four digits which indicate when and where it was manufactured.

Check the Awning

Caravan owners frequently report problems with their awnings, from minor to major defects that cause serious disruption. Therefore, it’s wise to regularly inspect the awning to avoid potential mishaps and ensure its functionality.

First and foremost, make sure your awning is threaded through its rail properly and is centrally positioned. Next, begin to assemble its poles – it is best to follow your awning’s instructions when doing this step – starting with centre/side poles before progressing onto roof ones.

Once the awning is up, it’s important to tension it and add guy ropes and storm straps before adding finishing touches such as curtains or draught skirts. To ensure waterproofness of your awning, periodic reproofing may be necessary; there are kits available online with chemicals specifically tailored to help reproofing. You may also hire caravan repair Adelaide for a seamless job.

Check the Chassis

The chassis of a caravan is particularly important, as it absorbs shock from driving while also protecting against potential damage. Therefore, regular checks for signs of wear should be conducted, especially after heavy loads. Furthermore, this process should also occur before changing seasons (i.e. when summer tyres are being removed and winter ones fitted).

Caravans and motorhomes can become damaged from weather conditions, vandalism or other incidents that result in dented or scratched side panels, leading to dented and deep scratches on contoured side panels.

Replacing panels is both costly and time-consuming, but there is an affordable and time-saving alternative: using a specially developed repair system, damaged panels can be repaired in minutes with virtually invisible results – saving both money and time as well as maintaining vehicle value through vacuum technology and templates that use special mouldmakers.

Check the Electrical System

Caravans utilize a 12volt system separate from your car battery which powers appliances such as fridge, water pump, lights, and TV. As this power source isn’t connected directly to mains electricity in your home, its condition must be carefully maintained. To test its condition simply connect a multimeter to the caravan battery – readings should fall between 2.5-3.6 volts if properly working; otherwise it indicates an issue with its voltage regulator or generator.

Checking the caravan’s fuse box for current-carrying fuses that correspond with its rating (colour coded), as well as connections that are not corroded is also essential. If the circuit breaker keeps tripping it may be time to consult an electrician.

Over time caravan fittings, hinges and window seals may become stiff and seized; a quick spray with silicone spray should keep them functional. Furthermore, an experienced caravan repair Adelaide should find any damp walls to allow them to fully dry before proceeding with repairs.