If you're not traveling with your campervan during the winter, you should give it a good winter's sleep. To ensure nothing breaks on your campervan during the winter and you can start the next season right away in the spring without any nasty surprises and a lot of repairs, you should keep a few things in mind. Because nothing is more frustrating than having to cancel a planned trip because something broke on your vehicle over the winter.
Here's how to properly prepare your camper for winter hibernation. Our 11 tips for you:
- Check when the next MOT and gas inspection is due and, if possible, do it right before winter. This way, you don't have to wait for a new appointment in the spring and can start your first trip right away.
- Consider where your camper will be stored in the winter. Whether it's in a heated or unheated barn, you don't have to worry about as many things. However, if your camper is outside without shelter or perhaps just under a carport, it's important to read the list all the way through.
- Before you end the season, you should fill up your vehicle's tank. If possible, fill up with winter diesel. This has good properties for winter use, should you ever need to move your motorhome. Furthermore, a full tank prevents condensation, which prevents the tank from rusting and becoming porous.
- You should also dry the brakes to prevent rust, just like with the fuel tank. You can dry the brakes by gently braking for a few meters at low speed.
- For the axles, it's better if you raise the vehicle slightly on chocks. This relieves the load on the axles and helps them survive the winter. Also, slightly increase the tire pressure.
- If you do want to drive in the winter, you should definitely put winter tires on your camper.
- Now it's time to check the outside of your motorhome. Remove any dirt and thoroughly clean it. This way, you'll immediately see if there are any small dents in the paint that need to be repaired. Otherwise, the area could start to rust over the winter.
- You should also check the inside of your motorhome. It's best to remove anything you don't need and arrange pillows and mattresses to allow better air circulation. Dehumidifiers can help with this by absorbing moisture.
- Do you have gas installed in your camper? It's important that the valve is completely closed and that there's no gas in the pipes, as otherwise, frost can cause them to burst. Furthermore, many barns don't allow you to leave gas bottles in your vehicle. It's best to read up on this or ask the barn owner what's permitted there.
- The same applies to the water and the water tank. It's best to completely empty the water tank to prevent it from freezing and bursting. Also empty the pipes, as they can also burst.
- Check what kind of auxiliary battery you have installed. Is it suitable for cold weather, like this Batteries of the Watt-hour brand, then you only need to charge the battery once and check its condition periodically throughout the winter. If your battery isn't suitable for low temperatures, you should remove it and store it in a warmer location to prevent it from damaging itself.
If you keep these 11 things in mind before winter, nothing should stand in the way of your next trip in the spring, and you can use the winter to relax and plan your first trip of the new year. Of course, not everything may be relevant to you, but this will give you a complete overview and allow you to apply the things that are relevant to you and your camper.
Can you think of another important point? Then please leave us a message!
