Our vans have been sitting around a lot over the past year. Nigel Donnelly outlines some simple postlockdown checks to make before you hit the touring trail

 Whether your caravan is stored on your drive or at a storage unit

There are plenty of ways to make sure that you are road-ready

THINGS WITH WHEELS are designed to move, but low-season weather, high-season crowds, coronavirus pandemics and more can mean your caravan becomes something of a garden ornament.

Idleness causes things to deteriorate, rather than wear out, but being aware of the potential problems and carrying out some preventive maintenance will help to avoid difficulties later on.

With some simple potions and tools, you can give yourself a great chance of ensuring the first trip out this season is memorable for all the right reasons.

We are taking for granted that your van has been serviced in recent memory, and laid up for an extended period.

Essential tools and kit 

We aren’t doing any heavy lifting here. You won’t need loads of tools or specialised kit, but a few items go a long way in ensuring that first trip is a smooth one.

Depending on what you are planning to do, you should get yourself the following:

❏ Warm water

❏ Car shampoo

❏ WD-40 or equivalent

❏ Silicone spray

❏ White lithium grease

❏ Graphite grease

❏ Surgical spirit

❏ White vinegar

❏ Cotton buds

❏ Petroleum jelly

❏ An old toothbrush

❏ Microfibre cloths

❏ Cotton cloths

❏A nailbrush

Check and charge batteries 

Experienced caravanners know that a neglected battery quickly becomes an expensive annual bill.

If you want to avoid replacing batteries on a regular basis, you need to put some effort into looking after them. If most of your touring is on sites with hook-up, then as long as the battery has enough puff to power the control panel, the hook-up will take care of things.

If you have a motor-mover, or brave stays away from the sanctuary of the hook-up cable, battery health really matters.

Before worrying about the charge level, it makes sense to look at the batteries’ physical condition. All you can really do is visually inspect for bulges or physical damage, check and replenish the level of charge, and ensure the terminals are clean. There will also be some sort of battery restraining strap. Make sure that is in good shape and tight enough to do its job. You don’t want a loose battery trying to escape from the locker. There is enough weight to cause damage to the locker and cabling.