End of Season Checklist for your Caravan
When the season comes to a close, preparing your caravan for the winter months ahead is essential – taking the right precautions at this time helps to keep your caravan in good nick until spring.
Here’s a list of practical tips to help you safeguard your caravan when the colder weather sets in.
- Remove any valuable items and ensure the locks on all doors and windows are secure. If they can’t be removed, make sure electrical items such as DVD players and TVs are hidden from view.
- Make sure your caravan is watertight, because even a small crack or gap could cause a lot of damage if left for a significant period of time.
- If you have indoor storage for your touring caravan, make sure the area is secure and free of dust and debris.
- To help keep the caravan’s interior mildew free, remove and store all linen and blankets and as much of the loose furnishing as you can. Open all cupboard and locker doors, ensure all windows and roof lights are shut, and check that fixed ventilation points are completely unobstructed.
- Shut off the gas supply: Take into consideration the type of gas you may use, remembering that butane will freeze in temperatures below 4 oC.
- Drain the water in the caravan – this includes the toilet system, water system and water heater – and remove your touring caravan’s battery.
- If possible, leave the handbrake off so it can’t seize up and grease the mechanism and the caravan’s corner stays. Other key maintenance points include the jockey wheel if it hasn’t been greased.
- Book your annual service just before the winter to make sure your caravan is properly equipped to deal with the winter.
- Whether your touring caravan is stored under cover or on your driveway a winter cover is a great way to protect the caravan from the winter elements.
- Check your insurance policy – not all policies are the same so make sure you know what is covered and what isn’t. And importantly, make sure your policy hasn’t lapsed!
Having the right insurance policy gives you confidence in case anything happens, and it is worth checking what your excess is, as many policies have a special winter excess that applies.
As specialists in insuring caravans, our Coast policies cover as standard a lot of the problems above, including theft of possessions left in caravans during winter months, storm, damage, accidental damage and, for static caravans, legal expenses, and unlike many of our competitors we don’t charge an additional winter excess.
For more information on our caravan insurance or to get a quick quote, please contact us on 01892 784059 or quote online now.