How to make your Caravan Service go smoothly

Servicing a Caravan or Motorhome is a big job and there's lots of things that YOU can do to help ensure that on the day, your service is completed fully.

So here's my top 12 things that will make your service go smoothly, or to put it another way the top 12 things that can cause problems on the day.

#12  ​

​Let me know if there are any known faults with your vehicle BEFORE the day of your service (and if you want me to investigate/fix it).  At worst this will save me "discovering" faults you already know about and at best I may be able to bring parts with me to fix it on the day.

#11  ​

It's a great help (though not essential) if I can access mains (230v) electricity to power up your van.  Its not always possible (on storage sites for example) but as long as you tell me ahead of time, I'll know to pack my generator.  If you leave me your normal Caravan hookup lead too, I will check and test this for you.

#10

​Ensure your freshwater container (Aquaroll or similar) is available (full!) and that your water pump if it’s an external one, is also present.  Again let me know ahead of time if this is a problem.

#9

Please ensure that your leisure battery is fitted AND charged if possible.

#8

I'll need your gas bottle (with some gas in it!) so I can operate and check all your gas appliances as well as the gas installation.

#7

Let me have any operating manuals for your caravan including appliances and added devices.​

#6

 If you have an alarm fitted please let me have instructions for switching it off and on (I will reset it upon completion) including any codes.

#5

Got a Tracker type system fitted? Please note that I may be disconnecting the leisure battery to carry out electrical safety tests and if your tracker is a monitored system it may be worth letting the monitoring company know that I will be working on your van on that day.

#4

 If I will be servicing your vehicle at a storage site please let the site know I will be there, to avoid failed visits, which will incur a call out fee.

#3

 Make sure that keys for the Caravan/Motorhome are available AND keys for any wheel locks, hitch locks or other security devices (security wheel nuts for example).

#2

​To enable me to move around your caravan and jack it up to inspect your brakes I will need around 1.5 metres of space around it.  It also needs to be on level ground for safety reasons.

#1

So all of the above will help ensure the job gets done on the day with the least difficulty.  ​But for me the number one thing is not turning up to find a caravan stuffed full of caravanning bits and pieces. 
​
So​ PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make sure the caravan is free of stored items (eg awnings, chairs, tables, BBQ''s, carpets, patio heaters, spare gas bottles etc etc).  I need to be able to move around inside, lift seats and open cupboards etc. to inspect and test.  A real help is removal of seat cushions and don't forget the front locker!