Preparing Your Caravan for Summer: The Complete Checklist

The start of the camping season is the perfect time to get your caravan or motorhome ready for the months ahead. A proper pre-season check catches problems before they become trip-ruining failures and makes sure everything is working when you arrive at your first pitch. Here is a practical checklist covering everything from electrics to cooling.

Electrical System Check

Start with your leisure battery. If it has been sitting over winter without a maintenance charge, check the voltage with a multimeter. A LiFePO4 battery should read around 13.2 to 13.4V when fully charged. AGM batteries should read around 12.7 to 12.8V. If the voltage is significantly below these figures, charge the battery fully and monitor whether it holds charge. Batteries that have been deeply discharged over winter may have reduced capacity.

Test all 12V circuits — lights, water pump, USB sockets, fridge. Check for any blown fuses and replace them. Inspect visible wiring for damage, especially in areas where rodents may have been active during storage.

If you have solar panels, check the connections and clean the panel surfaces. A winter of grime, bird droppings and tree sap reduces output significantly. A simple clean with water and a soft cloth restores performance.

Cooling and Climate

Test your cool box or fridge well before your first trip. Plug it in, set the temperature, and verify it reaches and holds the correct temperature. Compressor cool boxes should reach their set point within an hour or two. If yours is struggling, check that the ventilation around the compressor is not blocked and that the seal is intact.

If you have an air conditioner, run it on both cooling and heating modes to confirm it operates correctly. Check that the remote control batteries are fresh and that any filters are clean. A blocked filter reduces airflow and cooling performance.

Gas System

Check your gas system for leaks before the first use of the season. The simplest method is to turn on the gas supply with all appliances off and check whether the gauge drops over 15 minutes. Any drop indicates a leak that needs professional attention. Do not use the system until it has been checked.

Test all gas appliances — cooker, heater, fridge if gas-powered. Blue flames indicate correct combustion. Yellow or orange flames suggest a problem with the burner or air supply that needs servicing.

Water System

Flush the entire water system thoroughly before first use. Stagnant water from winter storage can harbour bacteria. Run all taps, the shower and the toilet flush until the water runs clear. Consider using a water purification treatment for the first fill of the season.

Check all pipe connections for leaks, especially joints that may have been stressed by freezing temperatures over winter. Replace any perished or discoloured hoses.

Damp and Ventilation

Inspect the interior for any signs of damp — musty smells, discolouration on walls or soft furnishings, and condensation on cold surfaces. Check around windows, roof vents and any external penetrations where water could enter. Damp left untreated leads to mould and structural damage.

Open all windows and roof vents on a dry day to air the vehicle thoroughly before your first trip. Leave doors open if possible to get airflow through the entire space.

Essential Gear to Check or Replace

• Cool box: Test before you go. Check the seal and clean the interior.
• Leisure battery: Charge fully and check voltage holds.
• Solar panels: Clean and check connections.
• Gas cylinders: Check you have enough gas for your first trip.
• Hook-up cable: Inspect for damage to the cable and plug.
• First aid kit: Check dates and replace expired items.

Browse the full Mestic travel appliances range if you need to replace or upgrade any gear before the season starts, and check the Mestic battery range if your leisure battery is showing its age.