Start of the camping season
This is important to consider for the motorhome
Before you go on tour, the camper or motorhome should be properly checked again.
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If you haven’t moved your camper or motorhome for a while, you should check the most important things now. This is what the TÜV experts recommend.
Regardless of whether you have a smaller camper or a large luxury motorhome: For everyone who hasn’t moved their vehicle in the winter and wants to travel to new places again in the spring, now is the time to check the most important things. The TÜV gives tips on what to consider before the first tour of the year.
“Motorhomes are usually in winter quarters for many months,” says Frank Schneider, vehicle technology consultant at the TÜV Association, in a press release. To ensure a safe start to the season, owners should check “the vehicle and all technical components and functions after a long period of standstill”.
Bring the motorhome out of hibernation
Schneider explains: “First, motorhome owners should take a look at the vehicle registration document, the yellow inspection certificate booklet or the sticker on the license plate and clarify whether the general inspection or the so-called G 607 inspection is due.” Without this, campers and motorhomes are not allowed to take part in road traffic. The G 607 test is an assessment of installed gas systems, which, like a general inspection, is due every two years. You should also check when an inspection, which usually involves changing fluids and wearing parts, is due again. The TÜV recommends going to a specialist workshop for this.
If the vehicle has not been moved for a long time, the starter and on-board battery must be checked before the next tour. If the battery is discharged, it must be disconnected and charged. It is also vital to check the brakes. If the brake discs are visible, a visual inspection can be carried out, otherwise the condition can be felt. According to the TÜV association, a brake disc should have no grooves and be smooth. Rust after a long period of standing should disappear after a few test braking sessions. When testing the brakes, make sure that the brakes do not squeak, the motorhome does not pull to the side and the steering wheel does not vibrate. If the braking effect decreases, the vehicle must be taken to the workshop immediately.
The tire pressure also needs to be checked. “If the air pressure has been pumped up to maximum pressure for storage, it may need to be reduced again,” says Schneider. And the wheel nuts should also be tightened. If winter tires were previously fitted instead, summer tires are now used again. The tread depth also needs to be checked. “Despite the legally required minimum tread depth of 1.6 millimeters, there should still be three to four millimeters left for safe driving, for example to reduce the risk of aquaplaning,” advises the expert. And are there jacks and a spare wheel or a tire repair kit included?
Other things that should be checked include checking the headlights, taillights, turn signals, brake and parking lights, oil level, brake fluid, coolant, windshield washer and windshield wiper blades. The underbody of the vehicle should also be inspected for visible damage. And are additional awnings, rear racks, etc. securely fastened?
Check everything inside and clean thoroughly
There are also many things to check in the interior of a camper or motorhome. The TÜV association lists, among other things, points such as heating, stoves, refrigerators, sanitary rooms and camping toilets as well as all electrical appliances and lighting. Gas burners including ignition and gas bottles as well as associated lines and hoses should also be checked for damage. In addition, the testing and maintenance of smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and carbon monoxide detectors, which must be carried out regularly, is essential. The water system should therefore be rinsed, disinfected and rinsed again, even if it was emptied before winter.
“A regular inspection of the seals [von Fenstern und Türen] “Prevents water damage and mold formation and protects the motorhome from premature aging,” says Schneider. The seals can therefore be treated with talc or glycerin to extend their service life. Since moisture can be problematic in the vehicle, little water should be used when cleaning the interior Use a vacuum cleaner or microfiber cloth to help with light dirt.
If the vehicle has been left outside over the winter, it is advisable to clean it carefully first. If you don’t have a high-pressure cleaner, you can usually find it at car washes or gas stations. However, if you use a hard jet of water, be careful as it can damage paint and seals, among other things. The TÜV recommends that you then lather the vehicle with a mild cleaning agent and rinse it. Schneider points out: “Special attention should be paid to the underbody, the wheel arches and the roof of the motorhome, as dirt and salt residues may have accumulated there.”