DIY Caravan Maintenance You Can Actually Do Yourself
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8th Sept 2026 Inside this newsletter👉
Good morning from Adelaide, It's spring! If that doesn't make you want to get out and explore, then I'm not sure what will! :) Is your van ready to go? Maintaining your caravan is just as important as maintaining your tow vehicle. Plenty of caravan dealerships and workshops will do routine services for you, but there's a good amount you can do yourself, at home or out on the road, and most of it is easier than you'd think - and it's much easier doing it all at home before you head away! Start From the Front of the VanCheck your tow hitch mounting bolts, especially after corrugated roads, and give them a tighten if they've worked loose. Most couplings have a grease nipple or two, so grease them up (by hand if you don't have a grease gun), and don't over-tighten, the coupling still needs to rotate. Test your handbrake. If you can pull the lever all the way up and the van still moves, the cables likely need adjusting, but leave a little free-play so you're not dragging the brakes while driving. Give the jockey wheel some spray lubricant on the winding mechanism, wheel and swing-up joint too, it carries the weight of your van and rarely gets any love. Not sure how to do this? Join our Skool community for more info, or follow our YouTube channel where Tim goes into detail on many simple maintenance tips. The other option is to simply have a look yourself. if something doesn't feel right, or look right, jot it down and get it checked on your next service.
Gas, Suspension and Stabiliser LegsCheck your gas hoses for cracking and replace any that are damaged, along with the rubber o-rings on the gas bottle connection. While you're under the van checking suspension bolts, give the grease nipples there a squirt too. Stabiliser legs need lubricant on the swing-up joint and grease on the worm drive inside if it's getting hard to turn. Worth knowing: most stabiliser legs aren't designed to lift or level your van, only to support and stabilise it, so using them that way can damage them over time. A quick word from our sponsor today:(From Margie) I've just had some super exciting news! I've been drinking Hopr for ages, it's beer without the beer effects, if you know what I mean. (Yes, call it: I'm almost 40, and while I love sitting around the campfire with a beer, I also want to get up early and feel fantastic, anyway....) I found Hopr yonks ago, and they've just asked us to be affiliate partners! As you know, we only partner with companies that we actually use and love, and I'm so excited about this one! Check them out here. My fav is getting the Variety Hops case, and I love the Sabro one. Better let Tim get back to his email :)
Tyres and the Stuff That's Easy to ForgetCheck tyre pressures with a proper gauge (not the boot-kick method) and check tread depth against the wear indicators, spare included. While you're there, check your extension power cord for cracking, splitting or exposed wires, and replace it if you see any. It's a small check most people forget entirely. If you're interested, here are a few articles to have read: Have a lovely day PS if you want a proper checklist to work through each maintenance round, our Caravan Maintenance Schedule can help you find issues before they're issues! Check it out here. |
