How to take care of the mechanics of a motorhome during the winter

How to take care of the mechanics of a motorhome during the winter – main image

The vast majority of motorhomes are used only for a few spring and summer months of the year. They spend the remaining time in garages, under shelters or in guarded parking lots - waiting for the next holiday season. Unfortunately - their owners very rarely decide on pre-winter service procedures aimed at keeping mechanical components in good technical condition. The vast majority of campers spend the winter unattended.

Perfect time for service

It would seem that a few winter months of a motorhome's downtime are the best times to make all the necessary repairs and a number of other service activities. With a lot of free time at our disposal, we can confidently commission specialists to prepare our own camper for further use. Of course, we can carry out a large part of the maintenance work ourselves by devoting a Saturday afternoon.

Tasks for a specialist

Many motorhome owners forget about periodically checking the condition of the braking system and the suspension - focusing only on the engine. Drivers forget about the large curb weight of mobile homes, which affects the accelerated wear of the braking elements. Regardless of the annual mileage - it is worth carefully checking the degree of wear of brake pads and brake discs , of course, the cables should also be verified. Only after putting the vehicle on the lift (or entering the service channel), the mechanic will accurately assess the current condition of the brakes - making any possible replacements (replacing the set of brake discs and pads will cost a minimum of PLN 500 ).

A service technician viewing the motorhome from the bottom will also check the condition of the suspension components - shock absorbers, springs and springs . All damage, cracks in the casings or leaks will qualify them for replacement, which will obviously affect the improvement of driving safety . Defective suspension (including worn metal and rubber elements) in a short time will contribute to the degradation of other parts exposed to increased vibrations.

Verification of the technical condition and any repairs in the case of modern diesel engines are best left to a specialist with experience and appropriate diagnostic equipment . Replacing engine oil, air filters and fuel will cost about PLN 300 . Another PLN 100 is worth spending on replacing the coolant.

We will do it ourselves

A lot of savings will come from personal care of the motorhome mechanics. The simplest thing to do before a winter break is to wash the chassis thoroughly. In this way, we will get rid of dirt that can damage the brake discs and pads and hide the beginnings of corrosion .

Drivers with more knowledge and skills can also remove the simplest mechanical defects in the motorhome on their own. Pulling or replacing the handbrake cable will take several dozen minutes, the installation of a new radiator fan will be similarly complicated.

By investing our time and money before each winter, we can sufficiently take care of the technical condition of the motorhome. A few-hour visit to a specialist and our own work will significantly increase the service life of the mechanics that are expensive in repairs.

Maciej Mokwiński
Maciej Mokwiński

I follow the latest trends in the automotive industry, not only in caravanning

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Motorhome accident repairs – image 1
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Motorhome accident repairs
When we have a motorhome with a minor or larger accident, or we intend to buy a collision car, it is always worth contacting a proven service, specialized in repairing motorhomes. The Elcamp company from Krakow, known as a manufacturer and seller of motorhomes and a distributor of car parts and accessories, also runs a camping car repair service. Not only what's outside Most often, during a collision, elements of the outer skin of the car are damaged. The effects, however, can be much more serious. It is always worth checking if the equipment inside the vehicle and installations: water, gas, electricity, TV and others have not been damaged. The next stage of repair is the replacement of damaged parts . It is safest to get a specific, new part directly from the manufacturer. Elcamp gives a guarantee for all work performed, unless the repair at the customer's request was not carried out in accordance with the recommended technology. Then no one will take responsibility for any future faults. The biggest enemy of any building is its leakage . The vast majority of motorhomes have "sandwich" coverings. After a collision, check if there are any leaks through which water enters the interior, causing the frame to rot. In the event of damage or leakage of the roof, we will usually have nothing else to do but replace it with a brand new one. This usually takes a lot of time and money. Is the repair worth it? In the autumn and winter period, the workshop is working at full speed. A company with as much experience as Elcamp undertakes every repair of a damaged vehicle . Clients usually ask two questions: about the cost and duration of the work. Unfortunately, post-accident repair can take up to several months . This is due to the fact that not all parts are available "out of stock". The cost obviously depends on the degree of damage to the vehicle or its equipment. When the initial cost , which is usually estimated at the first inspection, exceeds the value of the car, it makes no sense to undertake repairs. Repair expenses are, of course, a river topic. They can be up to 100% of the market value of the vehicle. It is worth emphasizing, however, that it is not synonymous with the actual selling price - well-kept cars, repaired with the use of original parts, reach prices above average market prices. Please check before buying Sometimes it's a good idea to buy a used vehicle. However, be careful with new (or almost new) cars at bargain prices . Then we can almost be sure that they have had an accident. Of course, you can do something with them, but it is important to know about a possible collision. The purchase of an accident motorhome can even be profitable, provided that the vehicle is thoroughly inspected and, during the inspection, as much damage as possible related to the incident (or even earlier) is noticed. It even happens that the cost of post-accident work is lower than in the case of non-damage repair. Remember that previous defects are easy to hide in a damaged car, in which the seller will not allow us to connect, for example, electricity or gas during the inspection, explaining that the installations may be out of order. Sometimes it is of course true, but in this way we are deprived of the possibility of checking individual pieces of equipment. Haste is a bad advisor To find a used motorhome in good condition, you need to spend some time searching for it. It is rare that the first copy that catches our eye is actually worth buying. Here there is a small problem - buying a car abroad. Since we are going far and spending money to see the car, even if it does not correspond to the description, we often decide to buy it anyway. This is a serious mistake. When we are not specialists ourselves, it is best to opt for an advisor - it is an expense much lower than the unexpected repair later. Elcamp's experts often advise on the purchase of damaged or used cars, both at the company's headquarters and at the seller, at the request of customers. However, as they say themselves, nothing can replace a car inspection in a professional service prepared for the comprehensive service of camping vehicles, which has all the necessary equipment. Thanks to them, it is possible to detect defects that even an experienced specialist will not notice with the naked eye.