| Most motorhomes are used in countries with seasonal | | | | the very least, start the engine regularly. Top tip -- if |
| climates, hence motorhomes tend to get used during | | | | you commute to work and have easy parking, then |
| the summer time and then parked up during the | | | | drive to work, once a fortnight. |
| winter. Inactivity and a harsh winter can cause untold | | | | When you finish using your vehicle, give the exterior |
| damage to your campervan. Here are some tips how | | | | a good clean and polish. This helps prevent dirt |
| to protect your motorhome during the winter. | | | | building up on it over the winter. You may wish to |
| First up, if you can garage your motorhome, you | | | | consider a protective cover for your motorhome or |
| should do so. Keeping it out of the wind, rain, snow, | | | | RV. These come in full cover or half cover forms and |
| ice and even sunshine offers protection to both body | | | | do offer much protection to the exterior. Icy |
| and engine. Due to the size of the vehicle, it may not | | | | conditions can cause damage, with water lodging in |
| be possible to keep the vehicle indoors, so most | | | | crevices and then expanding into ice, in extreme |
| vans will have to winter outside. One point to note if | | | | temperatures. Sap from nearby trees, bird droppings, |
| a van is indoors over the winter -- on occasions | | | | black rain streaks etc can all be avoided with the use |
| moving it outside on dry days is highly recommended. | | | | of a motorhome cover. |
| When housed indoors over an extended period, | | | | Battery maintenance is essential over the winter. |
| moisture can form in various places, causing corrosion. | | | | Motorhome leisure batteries tend to lose their |
| Putting the vehicle outside on a dry windy day is ideal | | | | capacity over long periods of inactivity. The effect is |
| to dry out these areas. | | | | even worse during cold periods. The best solution is |
| The second point is essential for any mechanical | | | | to keep your battery fully charged during the winter |
| vehicle - don't leave it inactive for an extended | | | | using a "trickle charge". You can either remove the |
| period. Many parts of any vehicle work better and | | | | leisure battery from your vehicle and plug it into a |
| last longer, when used regularly. For example the | | | | trickle charge device in your home or attach some |
| brakes - the components stay lubricated when in | | | | kind of trickle charging device to you battery as it |
| regular use. The brake pads may perish if not used | | | | resides in the vehicle. If you choose not to trickle |
| for long periods. Therefore, take your motorhome | | | | charge, at least be disciplined to charge and discharge |
| for a 20 minute spin every weekend or fortnight. At | | | | your battery on a regular basis over the winter. |