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Checks to Get Your Caravan Summer Ready

By , 25th July 2025, 15 min read

Before embarking on a summer of caravanning, it's important to give your caravan the care and attention it needs. A few checks will allow you to ensure everything runs smoothly throughout the summer.

Whether your caravan has been sitting idle through winter and spring, or you’ve had a quieter off season, a little TLC can go a long way. Taking the time to address essential maintenance and a thorough clean now can help you avoid issues later in the summer.

This guide covers everything you should check and refresh to get your caravan ready for the warmer months - whether it's a static or touring model.


Body

To check the exterior of your caravan, start by walking around your caravan and checking for any visible signs of wear and tear. This includes cracks or leaks in the roof or exterior panels, and gaps or damage in the windows or seals.

After identifying any initial signs of damage, you can begin the cleaning process. Cleaning your caravan not only improves its appearance but also preserves the outfit’s overall structural integrity.

Once your initial checks are done, you are now ready to clean. If you own a touring caravan, pitch it on a slight angle to allow water and soap to run off - just don't forget to lower your corner steadies.

Avoid washing over any peeling graphics as this could make damage worse.

It's best to work from top to bottom as the roof is the place that collects the most debris, moss and algae. Use a stepladder to clean it, rather than standing directly on the roof as it's not safe and hose it down to start with to loosen dirt, grit, moss, leaves and similar. Avoid using a pressure washer as this can damage seals, vents and other delicate parts.

Work your way down from the roof using a caravan-specific cleaner. Always ensure the products you're using are suitable for caravan surfaces to prevent damaging your caravan.

Be aware that cleaning on a sunny day can lead to your caravan drying faster than usual, leaving watermarks and a dull finish. If this happens, polishing will help restore the shine.

To bring your caravan back to life, use a specialist liquid polish and apply a small amount with a soft applicator. Avoid rubber seals, textured plastic and trims. Leave the polish to dry for 15-20 minutes and then buff it with a clean cloth.

After polishing, you should wax your caravan. Wax adds a protective layer which helps to repel water and dirt. Apply the wax just like you did the polish and leave for around 30 minutes before you buff it out. To test its effectiveness, spray water on a small area and if it beads it has been successfully waxed.

Cleaning your caravan will be a lot easier if you have the right equipment. This includes:

  • Telescopic soft brush
  • A blade for removing rinse water like a squeegee or water blade
  • Water, either from a hose or in a bucket
  • Large, non-abrasive sponges
  • Ladder
  • Caravan shampoo
  • Caravan polish
  • Caravan wax

Keeping on top of your cleaning prevents the accumulation of dirt, grime, mould and mildew, which can be damaging.

After it’s clean, you should walk around the caravan again and check for signs of wear and tear, and damage that dirt was previously concealing.


Running Gear (Touring Caravans)

Tyres and Wheels

Now your caravan is clean, checking your tyres and wheels should be easier.

Firstly, inspect the tyres for any cracks, bulges, embedded objects and other general wear and tear. You should also verify that the wheels and tyres are all correctly aligned. If they are not, this could accelerate uneven tyre wear.

Next, check the tyre tread. This should be done before you read the tyre pressure and inflate them as this can affect how tread wear appears.

To check the tread depth of your caravan wheels, use the tread wear indicators, a tread depth gauge or a 20p coin. To use the coin, place it inside the grooves. If the outer rim of the coin is hidden, there is sufficient tread. The legal minimum is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre.

Now you can check the tyre pressure of all tyres which is best to do when the tyres are cold. Locate the recommended tyre pressure (PSI) for your caravan – this should be, usually found in your manual or on a sticker inside a door frame or locker. Use a pressure gauge to measure and inflate/deflate as needed, and don't forget to check your spare tyre too.

Regardless of mileage and the quality of your tyres, it's recommended that caravan tyres should be replaced every five years.


Lights

The importance of checking your lights is two-fold. It protects you and others on the road, and it protects you from fines and penalties.

You must ensure that your brake lights, headlights, tail lights, indicators and reverse light are working as normal. To check they are, either use a reflective surface or ask someone to help you confirm all lights work. Don't forget your rear number plate light and fog lights too, if they're fitted. To stay legal and safe, replace any faulty bulbs immediately.


Hitch, Towbar and Jockey Wheel

You need to check that your caravan is correctly coupled to the towball or pin.

Confirm your breakaway cable is intact and has enough slack, not so much that it drags as you drive, but not so little that it pulls on the brakes.

Inspect for rust, unusual movement or wear on the towbar, hitch and stabiliser.

Lubricate all moving parts for smooth operation.

You should also check that the jockey wheel raises and lowers without resistance and that the mirrors are in the correct place for safe towing.

Finally, don't forget to check the wheel bolt torque on both your car and your caravan.


Brakes

Check that the brakes and the handbrake are all operating correctly. If your caravan has been idle for a while, then your handbrake may have begun to seize up. If it does feel stiff, apply a lubricant. If you still notice any squeaking or stiffness then you should have your brakes checked by a professional.

To check your caravan brakes, you first need to make sure the caravan is on a level surface and the handbrake is engaged. Disconnect the breakaway cable to ensure the cable is disconnected from the towing vehicle to prevent accidental activation of the drum brakes during testing. Then, gradually apply the towing vehicles’ brakes to see how the caravan responds.

You can also inspect the brake pads, if they are visible. You should be able to see at least 3mm.

Check the breakaway system. Pull the tag to activate the brakes and check if the brake lights and any warning buzzer, if it’s fitted, activate.

Being vigilant about the maintenance of your caravan brakes is important.

Warning signs for your brakes include your brakes activating unexpectedly, a delay in their activation, and the braking feels too hard or too soft.


Battery

Your leisure battery powers essential 12V systems when your caravan is not connected to mains electricity.

The voltage of the battery should read at 12.8V when it's fully charged. To measure the voltage, you need either a voltmeter (this reads voltage only) or a multimeter (this reads current and resistance alongside voltage). Measuring voltage requires you to disconnect the battery from the circuit, then you are able to connect the voltmeter to the red (positive) probe of the voltmeter to the positive terminal of the battery and the black (negative) probe to the negative terminal.

To access the leisure battery, you’ll need to locate the battery box or compartment. This may be under a seat, cupboard, or in a dedicated external bay. Once you’ve located it, you need to unclip it, lift off or unscrew a cover or panel.

Once you’ve located the battery, you should inspect it visually to make sure it looks okay. This means the terminals are clean and there is no sign of corrosion. Battery corrosion looks like a flaky, crumbly or powdery substance on or around the battery terminals, posts or cables. Typically, it's white, blue or green.


Gas

Conduct a visual inspection of your gas cylinder for any damage. You should be checking that there are no leaks. An easy way to do this is by doing the soap test. For this, you need to mix together soap and water and apply it to gas connections. The formation of bubbles indicates a leak. Alternatively, a dedicated leak protection spray can also tell you where gas may be leaking out.

It's also worth checking the gas burner. A yellow flame indicates incomplete combustion, meaning there is something wrong, and there’s a potential carbon monoxide risk.

If you are unsure about anything gas-related in your caravan, it’s a good idea to book a professional gas safety check.


Electrics

Visually inspect all plugs, sockets and fuses for signs of overheating and damage. To check that sockets are correctly wired, you can use a polarity tester. Test each appliance and outlet, watching out for frayed cables or faults.

Then, check your Residual Current Device (RCD) to ensure it functions properly.

Ensure all circuit breakers are on and reset if this is needed.


Water System

Once the gas and electricity are all in order, check for leaks in pipes, joints or taps. You should also refill the fresh water tank with clean water and flush the system.

If it’s been a particularly long time since you’ve used your water system, you may even want to sterilise it before using it again. To do this, fill the water barrel with a sterilising fluid and then run it through all the taps. Then turn off all the taps and let the treatment sit overnight. Finally, you should flush it through thoroughly with clean water.

Now ensure the submersible pump is working and is correctly placed in the water container.

Open all the taps, starting with the cold water. Let them run until the water flows smoothly without bubbles.

Check the pump switch on your control panel to ensure it’s on and the pump is operating. If you have a hot water system, check the bypass valve and ensure it's in the normal position, not bypass. Finally, inspect for leaks around the hoses, taps and connections.


Deep Clean

Clean all your windows, floors, curtains, upholstery and surfaces in your caravan so your caravan is clean and comfortable.

Inspect your furniture for excess wear and tear that you might like to address, and test important safety devices such as smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers.

Check for damp around windows, doors, high-level cupboards, roof lights and under seat areas.

If your caravan has solar panels, make sure to clean and inspect these to see that they’re functioning as they should be.

We have a full guide to preventing and dealing with caravan damp, if you’d like to learn more about this.


Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning

Test your vehicle’s air conditioning system to check it’s cooling effectively – this is particularly important before a summer of caravaning.

Clean and inspect ventilation fans so airflow can be maintained.


Miscellaneous

Verify all hinges, locks and other moving parts are not stiff or creaking. If you find they are, apply some WD-40 or similar.

Fire extinguishers and smoke alarms should be in working order and up to date.

Clean around vents, grilles and outlets so everything can breathe.

Restore your rusty tow ball with an emery cloth and a brake cleaner spray.

Now you’ve conducted all safety checks, we’ve written a guide so you can refresh your knowledge of towing.

Caravans should be serviced and inspected periodically by a qualified technician.

Summer caravanning can mean, increased likelihood of insects and bugs coming in through open windows, doors and air vents. To still be able to enjoy the fresh air without insects, you should consider fly screens and mesh. You’ll also need to ensure you’re storing food properly, and some even use peppermint oil to keep insects and bugs away.


Caravan Insurance

With summer caravan adventures on the horizon, caravan insurance becomes essential for peace of mind. With increased road traffic at this peak time of year, busier campsites and unpredictable British weather, insurance means you can enjoy your time without having to worry about the cost of repairs or replacements.