15+ Tips for Caravan Maintenance & Servicing [PDF Checklist]

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Caravan maintenance and servicing is often an important part of caravanning that can be overlooked in the initial excitement of the purchase.

Just like any RV, motor vehicle or camper, maintenance and servicing is the key to ensuring a longer lifespan and higher resale value.

With these caravan maintenance and servicing tips, you’ll always be on top of your van’s upkeep and have peace of mind when you hit the road for your next trip.

If you really want to stay organised with your caravan maintenance and servicing items, check out the Caravan Maintenance & Service Log further down in the article. It’s a downloadable 7-page planner with checklists, date fields and additional tasks to make sure you’re always on track.

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Caravan Servicing

Why Do You Need to Service a Caravan?

It’s easy to slip into the mindset that only the tow vehicle needs to be serviced, however that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Although caravan servicing is much simpler (and often cheaper) than car servicing, it still needs to be done on the regular to avoid problems blowing out and causing unnecessary stress or expense.

How often should you service a caravan?

When buying a caravan from new, there will be a scheduled service at around 3 – 6 months or 1,000 km. This is just to make sure everything is working as it should, as well as tightening things back up.

The rule of thumb with caravan servicing is to make sure it’s done every 10,000 km or every 12 months – whichever comes first.

If you’re caravan is parked up for most of the year, you might like to also do a pre-travel service before hitting the road, just to have the peace of mind that all is well with the van.

The best way to keep track of your caravan’s kms is with a Caravan Log Book.

What Does a Standard Caravan Service Include?

When booking in for a professional caravan service, you will sometimes have a choice between a standard service and a premium service.

If you’re doing some regular checks and maintenance on your caravan yourself at home, then a standard service might be all you need. For those who prefer to get everything looked over professionally, a premium service would be the way to go.

Here’s what you can generally expect to have included in a standard service.

What Does a Premium Caravan Service Include?

When you are due for the 10,000 km or 12 month service, getting a premium caravan service will certainly put your mind as ease, particularly if the caravan has been parked up for some time.

Here’s what’s generally included in a premium caravan service.

How much does a caravan service cost?

In the table below I’ve pulled together some service pricing from a variety of different caravan service providers.

This should help to give you an idea of what you’ll need to budget each year towards caravan servicing costs. Don’t forget to allow extra for parts that will need to be replaced every so often.

Can you service a caravan yourself?

If you’ve purchased your caravan from new, you shouldn’t miss the scheduled services within the first year as they will be a requirement of your warranty. These services also give you the opportunity to bring up any issues that may need to be addressed while you’ve still got the warranty to fall back on.

Beyond that, you are well within your right to do your own caravan servicing at home if you’re mechanically-minded and good on the tools. As long as the caravan is always kept in a roadworthy condition, you should always be covered by insurance, no matter who services the caravan.

Caravan Maintenance & Service Log

Keep track of your caravan servicing schedule, plus all additional maintenance items with the Caravan Maintenance & Service Log.

7-page Digital & Printable Planner

• Caravan Service History Log
• Checklists
• Pre-filled Maintenance tasks
• Add in extra items
• Record dates

MAINTENANCE & SERVICE LOG →

Extra Caravan Maintenance Items

Whether you service your own caravan or get it done professionally, there is always a list of additional caravan maintenance items that need to be addressed regularly.

Replace the Hot Water System Anode Rod

The majority of caravan hot water systems in Australia will have a sacrificial anode rod within. The role of the anode is to prevent rust and corrosion inside the hot water system by ‘sacrificing’ itself as the point of corrosion.

Replacing the sacrificial anode rod is something that needs to be done every six months (if used very regularly) or twelve months (for more infrequent use). Changing the anode is a fairly simple task, which you can do yourself at home with a few basic tools and knowledge.

Materials you’ll need:

Water Tank Brush (eBay) →

Anode Rods (eBay) →

Thread Tape (eBay) →

To be taken through the process of changing an anode in a Suburban Hot Water System (common in Jayco caravans), take a look at these step-by-step instructions.

Reseal the Windows

One of the most common ways for water to find its way into a caravan is via old window seals that have gone hard and brittle. Resealing the windows every 12 months or so is good practice and will help to prevent potential larger issues down the track.

Whether the caravan is being used regularly, or is being stored for much of the time, the last thing you want to be dealing with is water leaking inside.

It’s also important to note that most caravan insurance policies will not cover for water or moisture damage. For more on that topic, check out this Guide to Caravan Insurance.

Lubricate the Toilet Cassette Seal

Something rather important that needs to be lubricated every so often is the rubber seal on the caravan toilet cassette. This is the bit around the flap that you open and close to use the loo.

If that rubber ends up drying out, it will result in leakage… which I just know you don’t want to have to deal with!

For more info, here’s How to Empty & Maintain a Caravan Toilet Cassette.

Clean the Drains & Pipes

Caravan pipes can get a bit smelly and even tend to clog up easier due to their smaller size. Giving them a good clean out every so often will help to keep them clear, plus prevent the smells from permeating the inside of the van.

Clean the Vents, Hatches & Air Conditioning Filters

The interior vents and hatches around the caravan are common places for dust and dirt to build up. A clean with a damp cloth every few months will keep the dust down and the air flowing well.

In addition, to keep the air conditioner running at full capacity, pull out the filters every couple of months and give them a wash under the tap, then sit them outside to air dry before popping them back in.

Replace the Water Filter

When was the last time the water filter was replaced (if you have one)? Unless your caravan is being used all the time, a water filter replacement once every 12 months is more than enough.

Clean the 12v Fans

Another very popular spot for dust to hang out is on the 12 volt fans, especially when they’re getting used a lot. Although it’s finicky work, getting in there with a damp cloth and giving them a good clean every few months is essential.

Mould Prevention

As they say, prevention is better than the cure, which could not be any more relevant with mould. Keeping the mould away is far easier than trying to eradicate the spores once they’ve already moved in.

Still Air + Humidity + Dust = Ideal mould growth conditions

Mould growth in the ceiling corners and far reaches of the caravan cupboards is more common than you might think. If you find yourself with the dreaded spores, this Guide to Dealing with Mould in a Caravan will be useful.

Clean the Caravan Exterior

To maintain your caravan’s resale value and increase its lifespan, you’ll want to give it a good wash every 3 months or so. To extend this out, consider storing the caravan in a shed, under a tall carport or at least invest in a good caravan cover.

Here’s 22 Tips for Cleaning a Caravan.

Clean the Awning

Caravan awnings end up pretty dirty over time, which of course will increase the chance of mould growth. Pulling the awning out to give it a good clean, then letting it air-dry before being put away is the key.

Clean the Solar Panels

To make sure that the caravan’s batteries are always being maintained, it’s important to keep the rooftop solar panels clean and clear.

One way to access the solar panels, depending on their placement, is to poke your body up through the roof hatch and see if you can reach them from there with a soft-bristled broom and hose.

Otherwise, you’ll have to get yourself a good ladder so that you can reach the solar panels from around the edge of the van.

Inspect for Rust

Regularly inspecting the caravan for rust will save you lots of headaches down the track. Getting on top of surface rust is a much smaller task than replacing entire sections that have extensive rust patches.

Keeping the caravan clean and dry will prevent rust from popping up. In addition, if there is any damage on the outside of the caravan, particularly where the paint has chipped off, get it fixed as soon as you can so that rust doesn’t ensue.

As well as inspecting the outside walls of the caravan, don’t forget to check underneath the caravan and make sure there are no stress cracks or rust appearing on the chassis and A frame.

Wheel & Tyre Maintenance

Maintaining your caravan tyres is one of the most important things to keep on top of. They keep you rolling and your safety on the road depends heavily on the health of your tyres.

Lubricate Moving Parts

Inspect Wiring

Wiring can become frayed, pulled out or broken over time. However, those little wires have pretty important jobs, particularly when it comes to tail lights and the breakaway system.

Wiring to Check:

• Anderson plug (to trickle feed power into the caravan’s battery system)
• Breakaway system
• Caravan tail lights

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Now that you’ve got the caravan maintenance and servicing covered, here are 30 Tips for Storing a Caravan.

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