Our tourers are largely constructed by humans, so if you’re willing to learn a few simple skills and invest in some basic hand tools, you should usually be able to fix many minor caravan faults yourself.
This can save you money, avoid wasting time visiting a dealer and help to keep your stay at one of the best caravan parks on track. It’s a win-win! Here’s what you need to think about – and what to do if your caravan is still under warranty.
Still under warranty?
It’s essential to know if your caravan is still under warranty before you dive into your toolbox, and to understand that often, several warranties will be in force on new or nearly new tourers.
Many appliances also have their own warranty attached to them. These can all vary in length, so the first task is always to read your bill of sale and check all the paperwork supplied with your van, to find out if the problem is covered under any of the maker’s warranties.
This might mean that you don’t have to fix (and pay for) it yourself and might save you going to any undue effort.
You need to be clear on where to take the caravan, though – obviously, it’s no good going to a gas expert if there’s an issue with the toilet!
Only just bought it?
If you have only just bought the van – whether its a new or used caravan – and it immediately developed a fault, your first contact should always be the supplying dealer. As seller, it is liable for your contract under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which states that goods have to be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described.
If you bought the tourer (or any product) within 30 days, you have the right to reject the goods and claim a full refund. After 30 days, you’re not legally entitled to a full refund, but you can ask the dealer to repair or replace the van.
During the six months after purchase, if a fault develops, it is assumed it was there at the time of purchase. The onus is on the dealer to disprove this and either offer a repair or a mutually agreed refund.
Dealers not playing ball?
Occasionally, we hear of dealerships and manufacturers not playing ball – refusing to fix things under warranty that they rightfully should. In this scenario, make sure that you keep a paper trail – either printed or email – of all correspondence and raise the issue in writing with the manufacturer’s complaints or customer service department.
Thanks to some recent changes in the Consumer Rights Act (which superseded the Sale of Goods Act), it is now a pretty powerful piece of legislation and most companies are wise to this.
If this still fails to get results, lodge a complaint with the Small Claims Court. The Small Claims Court is an effective tool and can be used for claims of up to £10,000, with costs from £35 to £455, but can also be used for items up to £200,000 (for 5% of the claim value) or even higher. Companies rarely want to go to court to defend Small Claims, so will usually settle before that stage is reached. It is not a complex process to go through – you can easily apply online and you don’t need the cost of a solicitor – but it can be surprisingly effective.
Going DIY?
If your caravan is out of warranty, or it’s an older model you’ve had for some time, it probably makes good financial sense to roll up your sleeves and fix it yourself. You’ll save both time and cash.
You do need to be self-aware as to your own abilities, though, or be patient and willing to learn a new skill. It also helps to have a basic toolkit, including a socket set, a selection of screwdrivers, a hammer and some pliers.
Before you invest in any tools, though, do a bit of online research about the task you’re considering doing.
You’ll generally find a forum, or better still a video, outlining the task, to give yourself a better understanding of what the job entails. Sometimes you’ll want to have a crack at it and at other times, it will help you leave well alone and head to your local dealer! Either way, do your homework before digging in.
Often, you’ll find that the problem you are dealing with is one that many other people have also had – and found various ways to resolve it. This will save you not only wasted time visiting the dealership, but money as well.
Electrical issues
One of the biggest causes of complaint in modern caravans has to be electrical issues. Many are the result of low battery voltage or damaged batteries.
No matter what kind of electrical problems you are presented with, always start with the basics and check the battery voltage. Bear in mind that 12.7 to 12.9V is fully charged, while 12V is flat.
Appliance faults can often be triggered in error by a faulty (or low voltage) battery, so check that first, before you believe the control panel or the appliance.
If electrical items don’t see enough voltage, they can trigger erroneously and lead you on a wild goose chase. So step one is always checking the voltage. If you’re looking for one too, don’t miss our guide to the best leisure batteries for a caravan too.
It helps to invest in a multimeter to check voltage – they can cost as little as a tenner – because control panels can misinform you if they suffer low voltage. This gives you a second opinion that can help to prevent problems.
Next, check all of the fuses and replace any failed ones with the current amp rating. Never increase the fuse rating if one fails: fuses are designed to protect the wiring and increasing the rating will risk overloading the wiring, which can cause a fire if the wire melts before the fuse does.
If this is all fine, but you’re still having issues, you’ll need to consider having the battery drop tested, which loads up the battery and tests its ‘strength’. Sometimes batteries appear fine, hold a charge and behave as they should, but then you find that they can’t sustain a heavy load.
You can buy basic battery load testers for as little as £30. Batteries will often fail in the winter, because temperature affects their capacity.
If the batteries check out, then you’ll need to dig a little deeper – we would strongly recommend visiting your dealer to have an electrical check carried out.
Another common problem in caravans is with modern control panels – they can be very complex. Unlike older panels, which simply used a series of intuitive rocker switches, modern control panels will have numerous settings.
Without reading the manual (or watching the instructional video), you could possibly set the panel up incorrectly, and switch off the battery charging circuits. So ensure that you read and understand the manual, or have your dealer run through its operation, so that you’re crystal clear about all of the settings.
Caravan tyres
Caravan tyres are rarely covered by any warranty, but they can cause issues in caravans, especially if the tourer is kept standing idle during a winter lay-up. Inflate the tyres to the maximum pressure detailed on the sidewalls prior to winter storage and try to move the caravan once in a while, so it is not standing on the same contact patch for long stretches.
Left for lengthy periods, tyres can go egg-shaped, owing to the weight of the tourer pressing on them.
Sometimes a flat spot on a tyre will sort itself out when the tyre heats up – on the motorway, for example – but if the problem persists, you might need to have them replaced.
If left unattended, the tip of the egg shape can wear to a hole and cause a blow-out, so you need to check the tread of the whole tyre carefully, to look for uneven wear or damage.
Punctures are not that uncommon in caravans, so it’s always wise to carry a spare wheel (or just a tyre if your payload is tight) – that way you can always fix it while you’re on the road.
Although tyre sealant and foam work okay for minor damage, such as nails, screws or thorns, they’re not much use for blow-outs, tears or larger damage. You’ll also find that the vast majority of garages only keep the more common car tyres in stock – and if you suffer a flat in France on a Sunday, you could well be stranded for some time if you lack a spare.
To avoid issues, always check your tyres are correctly inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended pressures (or better still, visit a weighbridge, weigh the axle and ask your tyre maker for recommendations).
Never skimp on tyres – a premium tyre will last longer and stop in a shorter distance in wet conditions than a cheap, unbranded, budget tyre.
Water ingress
Water ingress is one of the most serious things to watch out for in your caravan – it’s probably the single most costly issue to sort out if your tourer is affected.
It can take the form of a small problem, such as a failing seal on a window frame, and then develop into a much more serious issue.
Signs of water ingress can range from water stains on the ceiling to damp stains behind furniture (often under windows), and you can usually smell the issue before you see it – a ‘wet dog’ or musty smell is a sure sign something is amiss and water is getting in. Warping panels or spongy floors are signs of more advanced levels of water ingress and need to be tackled immediately. Just like rust on steel bodywork, water ingress will spread if it is left untreated.
The best method for avoiding water ingress is to have an annual habitation check carried out. These act as an early warning detection system for this issue and dealers will often use expensive specialist gauges to sniff out any traces of damp and nip it in the bud. If you have water ingress around a door, window or rooflight, check the rubber seal as a first step.
You might be able to replace this on its own – many of them simply knock into place – or dismantle the item to reseal it with a suitable product.
This will be a setting or a non-setting mastic, depending on the manufacturer’s recommendations. Typically, mastics and polyurethane sealants (such as Sikaflex) cost less than £20 a tube, so they aren’t going to break the bank.
You can also buy a variety of two-part products to tackle more serious damage (for example, to the floor) and these can be quite effective. But this is best left to professionals or seasoned DIYers.
If you’re looking for a way to avoid excess moisture in your tourer, the best caravan dehumidifier can help here – while a well-ventilated van is the best deterrent, a dehumidifier can be a short term fix.
Habitation checks
Some people regard habitation checks as optional. This can be a false economy; the habitation check can act as an early warning of future issues.
Picking up signs of damp or a problem with your gas system early on can stop it developing into a costly major fault.
Make sure the habitation check includes not only the basics, such as testing the gas system for leaks, but also a more comprehensive check with the best caravan moisture meter. Water ingress checks may be optional, but they are worth doing. You might think the extra expense isn’t worth it, but it is.
Take a look at what to expect when you take your van for its annual caravan servicing too.
Future Publishing Limited, the publisher of Practical Caravan, provides the information in this article in good faith and makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Individuals carrying out the instructions do so at their own risk and must exercise their independent judgement in determining the appropriateness of the advice to their circumstances and skill level. Individuals should take appropriate safety precautions and be aware of the risk of electrocution when dealing with electrical products. To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither Future nor its employees or agents shall have any liability in connection with the use of this information. You should check that any van warranty will not be affected before proceeding with DIY projects.
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