Since your motorhome is your trusty steed that takes you to your destination and back again, it’s essential that you take proper care of it at all times.
This is especially true if you’re headed to the middle of nowhere such as The Grampians where a breakdown could result in you being stranded. While you’re on the road then, make sure to keep an eye on the following parts to ensure they’re in proper working order throughout the trip.
1) Lights
Your motorhome will almost certainly come with a variety of lights, all necessary for your safety and comfort. These include:
- Headlights
- Brake lights
- Tail lights
- Cabin lights
- Indicators
All of these will need to be in perfect working order at all times during your trip. Thus, you should check all of these components prior to your Melbourne departure and replace any bulbs if anything is broken. Also remember that a blown fuse can result in broken headlights too so check this as well before replacing any bulbs.
2) Tyres
Another vital component for road safety and control is the tyres on your campervan. Here, checking the tyre pressure on an RV is similar to on a large truck since the chassis is made in the same way. Before you depart, make sure that each tyre is pumped up to the optimal pressure. You can find the right amount in the owner’s manual. Don’t forget to make sure the spare tyre is inflated too just in case you have a blow-out on the road! You should also have a look at the tread of each tyre to ensure they’re not too worn and can actually hold the road properly while you’re out exploring the country.
3) Heating
Since you’re travelling around Victoria or southern NSW, you’ll need some heat during the autumn and winter especially in the higher altitudes. Thus, it’s important to check and double check that your motorhome heater is fully functional before you leave on your adventure. In this way, you’ll remain comfortable throughout the road trip. Those starting their holiday with the best campervan hire in Melbourne will already have the heating checked out for them by the rental agency. Of course, you’ll still have to double check the door and window seals before you leave to ensure they are fully air tight to retain heat. In this way, you can keep warm without draining the battery in the process.
4) Hoses & Plumbing
Since there are a number of different pipes and valves in your motorhome, you’ll need to check every one to prevent unnecessary leaks or spills. While examining your vehicle, look at the following parts:
- Clean water supply
- Flexible interior pipes
- Wastewater tanks
- Tank valves & seals
- Exterior hoses
It’s important to make sure everything here is in working order. Check for leaks and blockages which could ruin your holiday while you’re on the road. This additional step will also prevent sewage spills which caravan parks and camping grounds around Victoria have very strict rules against.
5) Battery & Generator
Lastly, you should always make sure you have enough electricity for the trip. While most campervans will have a battery in the engine, whether they have an on-board 12 volt battery or a diesel generator depends on the model you’ve bought or rented. For this reason, you should check the water level of your RV battery every month. If you’re hiring a motorhome, the rental agency will have checked this beforehand. What you need to do is ensure you have enough diesel for the generator if one is supplied. Otherwise, the on-board 12 volt power supply will be recharged when you run the engine. Always double check to see how everything is powered so you have enough energy for the trip you have planned.
As you can see, there are a number of critical components that you have to take care of to ensure your campervan runs as smoothly as possible. Since you’re heading into depths of the Aussie outback, you’ll need everything in perfect working order so you can get to your destination and then return home in a safe manner while minimising the number of obstacles you experience along the way.
