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5 Tips For Extending the Life of Your Motorhome

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5 Tips For Extending the Life of Your Motorhome

There’s much to love about having a motorhome in your life, but there’s no avoiding the fact that they can be expensive. To make sure you get most from your motorhome, here are five top tips.
We’re going to make sure your motorhome lasts for as many years as possible.

5 Tips For Extending the Life of Your Motorhome

Pexels – CC0 Licence

Protected from the Elements

While you might dream of spending all your time travelling in your motorhome, the reality is that it will be spending a time sitting on your driveway, or in storage. Your motorhome will be exposed to the elements, the weather and UV light. A lot of sunshine and rain can have a hugely negative impact on any vehicle, including a motorhome. As such, it’s important to take steps to keep it protected. This could involve covering it with a motorhome cover or a wheel cover. This will protect the paintwork and rubber tyres from degradation and damage.
It is worth considering a ceramic coating to protect your paintwork from the elements. This will make washing your motorhome easier to keep it looking sparkling.
Try to keep your batteries topped up when you are not using your motorhome. His will prolong their life and improve their performance.

Keep the mileage down when you can

It might be that your motorhome is in regular use as a main vehicle. This can be a tempting way to cut costs (since you won’t need a car), but it’s not a recommended approach. Your motorhomes mechanical parts will wear sooner with a higher mileage. You will find servicing costs increase as parts such as brakes, filters and tyres need replacing.
The more you drive it, the faster you’ll reach the limit of your motorhomes life span. Instead of wasting precious mileage on just getting around town, get a runaround vehicle. Perform a used car search, and you’ll find plenty of affordable, high-quality options. It is nicer to drive a vehicle that’s designed for urban spaces when you are popping to the shops or collecting a takeaway. If you purchase a small car you may be able to tow this behind your motorhome too.

Servicing and Maintenance

You will be putting your motorhome through its paces when away touring. It might be you take short weekend breaks, a few weeks touring Scotland or eight weeks around Europe. Whatever your touring style you must remember to service your motorhome. Depending on the chassis your motorhome is built on will depend on the service intervals. Some require a minor service at one year and a major at two years. You will need a mechanical service for the chassis and cab and a habitation service for the motorhome. A yearly habitation service is needed to maintain any warranty you have. The engineer will check your gas appliances and check for any damp too. A service is important to ensure your motorhome is safe and roadworthy. At three years of age it will require an MOT test on a yearly basis, like a car.

Deep Cleaning

We all want out motorhomes to look clean and shiny. When touring in bad weather that is easier said than done though. There are plenty of good blogs available with tips around cleaning your motorhome. Make sure you deep clean the interior and exterior of the vehicle on a regular basis. You will notice any damage to your motorhome if you clean it regularly.
Some products can be abrasive and not suitable for your motorhome. Make sure you use specific products such as those from PP Protect.

Leave it to a professional

Unless you know what you are doing, do not start DIY projects on your motorhome. If you motorhome is new then leave it to a dealer or reputable engineer to fit equipment to it. It might be you are considering air conditioning, satellite or a solar panel. To start cutting or drilling in to your motorhome is not recommended. You may invalidate your warranty, cause water ingress or cut through an electric cable.
When you come to sell your motorhome, it won’t look good is you have fitted some wonky plug sockets, or had a go at painting a wall. After all your motorhome should be your pride and joy, so treat it as such.

These tips should have given you some very quick and simple guidance about motorhome care.

RV-Van

Why Holiday In Your own Caravan Or Motorhome? 3 Top Reasons!

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Why Holiday In Your own Caravan Or Motorhome? 3 Top Reasons!

Why Holiday In Your own Caravan Or Motorhome? 3 Top Reasons! Here we tow
Image Credit;- Pixabay

Whenever you are setting off on a great holiday, there will no doubt be all sorts of things that you want to achieve. Usually, the goals for the trip will include a combination of relaxation, excitement and adventure. We all want to create a collection of new memories and interesting stories.

While there are many ways to have a great a holiday, there are certain specific benefits to adventuring with a motorhome or caravan. If you are considering holidaying in a caravan or motorhome this blog will help you.

Here are a few benefits to adventuring with a motorhome or caravan.

The ability to get off road, and get close to nature, while still having temperature control and conveniences at hand

There are all sorts of beautiful, scenic, but inaccessible natural locations that you might be interested in exploring on your holiday.

All the same, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you are in a position where you can disappear into the wilderness for a week with a tent and a rucksack. Many of us love the idea of remoteness but still like our home comforts. This is certainly true if you have children who need to be entertained.

Travelling with a motorhome, or a caravan, allows you to get off grid, get close to nature, and explore those destinations which would otherwise be inaccessible. The benefit is you still have temperature control and conveniences at hand. Modern leisure vehicles are fitted with fridge freezers, heating, kitchens, showers and very comfy beds. You certainly wont be ‘roughing it’ for your holiday.

In many places, “wild camping sites” will have space for motorhomes. During summer months, small pop-up sites become available which offer great value. These are usually a farmers field set off the beaten track. They may not offer any facilities but that is the bonus of having your own onboard.

If you’re going off-road with a caravan, you might want to investigate the New Jaguar Range. A suitable tow car for your caravan is a must for safe towing. Campsites with grass pitches can prove a challenge if you suffer a downpour of rain during your holiday.

Being able to turn a single holiday into a series of multiple destinations with ease

On a typical holiday, logistics will need to be planned out carefully. Most people can’t afford to jump from location to location. Instead of booking several hotels we arrange for a stay in one resort for a week or two. Most of us can relate to a package holiday to Spain or Italy, for example.

With a motorhome or caravan you can wake up in one location and go to sleep in another, every day. The only extra expense, other than fuel, will be the cost of a pitch at a local campsite. Typically a pitch is far more affordable than a hotel room. Pitches at certified sites start from around £8 per night. A pitch at an adults only site will start at around £20 and a luxury site in high season could be as much as £50 a night. There is something for every budget, we know as we have tried various types or sites around the UK and Europe.

If you like the idea of your holiday encompassing a number of destinations, a motorhome or caravan might be just the thing.

Having a familiar environment with you at all times

There’s something to be said for having a familiar environment with you at all times while travelling. It offers reassurance, privacy and familiarity. With your own caravan or motorhome, you know you have a fully stocked kitchen of utensils. Your toiletries are ready to use in the bathroom. The wardrobe is hanging with your clothes before you even set off.
The great thing is you don’t need to sit in an airport lounge waiting for your delayed flight. Once you hit the road your holiday has begun.

You can find your own routine with your leisure vehicle. It is nice to go to sleep in the same bed every night, your bed. Knowing no-one else has slept on your mattress and in your fresh bedding. A motorhome or a caravan can change the way you experience your holidays.

There are many more benefits of holidaying with a motorhome or caravan. It certainly offers a unique way to explore the countryside and coastal destinations. Will 2021 be another year of the Staycation? Quite possibly.

security

Motorhome Security: Top Tips To Avoid Theft

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Motorhome Security: Top Tips To Avoid Theft

Your motorhome will no doubt have been a large financial investment for you. The last thing you want is for it to be stolen, or broken into. In this blog we will look at some of the best preventative measures you can take.

Make Your Motorhome Less Attractive To Thieves

Here We Tow - Motorhome Security: Top Tips To Avoid Theft

There is a saying that “if they want it, they will have it”. Whilst this is true, it is also true that thieves will steal the easiest motorhome they can. There is less chance of them being caught and they can be on their way with their ill gotten gains. The key factor to securing you motorhome is to make it the least attractive to thieves.

The most simple precautions you can take cost nothing. Make sure you close all your windows, lock all your doors and do not leave valuables on show. It may sound obvious but I am sure we have all been guilty of not doing these things at some point.

The second precaution is to use visual deterrents. These include security devices, windscreen etching and security tagging. The cost of these varies but we will look at a few recommended devices shortly.

Invest in non-visual security devices such as alarms, immobilisers and trackers. Some manufactures will fit these as standard but if not they are a sound investment. Most insurance companies will require a level of security fitted, depending on the value of your motorhome.

Look at where you store your motorhome. It is more likely to be stolen whilst left in storage than when you are asleep in it, on a touring site. For more information about secure storage visit the CaSSOA website.
If you store your motorhome at home, we will look at some steps you can take to improve the security there.

Motorhome Security Locks and Devices

Wheel Clamps

The Bulldog Wheel Clamp will fit most motorhome alloy wheels, with a tyre width up to 220mm. It offers a cost effective security option, is lightweight and easy to fit.
If you want to bulk up your wheel clamp security, for example in storage, then the Bulldog CA2000C Centaur Wheel Clamp is ideal. This wheel clamp is tested to Sold Secure standards and comes with a five year warranty.

Steering Wheel Locks

Steering wheel locks are an excellent visual deterrent and they work.

We have tested two types of steering wheel lock and found them both to be robust and easy to use.
The first is the Maypole Stronghold MP5494 steering wheel lock, costing between £40-50, it offers a good level of protection. We have reviewed this for our website and on YouTube.

The second is a more compact version, ideal for when you are touring. This is the Maypole Steering Wheel Overdash Lock, costing around £20.

Clutch or Pedal Locks

Here We Tow - Motorhome Security: Top Tips To Avoid Theft

Clutch locks work by securing the clutch and brake pedals together.

The Centinel Clutch Claw has resisted testing using a professional car thief for more than 30 minutes. They are available for VW Transporters and a range of base vehicles, including Fiat Ducato, Mercedes and Peugeot Boxer. The claw also comes with flashing LED and window stickers to warn off thieves. This device costs around £119.

Motorhome Alarms, Immobilisers and Trackers

Let’s take a look at tracking devices, if your motorhome doesn’t have one here are a few you should consider. Trackers are rated based on accreditation through Thatcham. Founded in 1969 by a leading group of insurers, Thatcham Research is an independent non-profit making research centre. Its roots are in vehicle safety, but in 1990 it expanded into vehicle security, announcing categories for alarms and immobiliser. This includes tracking systems for vehicles too. There are currently two main Thatcham accreditations for trackers.
A Category S7 device is an asset location system, to increase the probability of the recovery of a stolen asset.  A Category S5 device is a vehicle tracking system. It will detect unauthorised use of a protected vehicle and increase the probability of the recovery of a stolen vehicle.

A vehicle alarm and immobiliser should be Thatcham Category One. This means it has been tested and certified to Thatcham standards and will meet the requirements of insurance companies. Modern motorhomes should already have a manufacturers immobiliser fitted.

Phantom Sentinel – Thatcham S7 Approved

The Phantom Sentinel is Phantom’s leading motorhome product, comprising a Thatcham category 1 alarm and approved tracking system. It offers protection of cab and habitation doors, plus bonnet, with internal ultrasonic sensors.
For many base vehicles, it will integrate with the remote control key to arm/disarm and set for night time or pet mode. It can also be upgraded to make it a Thatcham S5 device.
Sentinel comes with a smartphone app with battery monitoring. Enhanced app functionality means you can remotely arm or disarm or lock or unlock your vehicle, or simply check on its status. The Phantom Sentinel will cost around £699 plus a monthly tracker subscription.

HAL-Locate

The HAL-Locate is Thatcham S7 approved and claims 100% success rate in recoveries after a theft. It offers a priority monitoring service across the UK and Europe. The device operates using GPS, GPRS and GMS technology. Having an inbuilt battery backup, the device can remain active even if the vehicle power supply is disconnected.

Here We Tow - Motorhome Security: Top Tips To Avoid Theft
Image Credit – HAL-Locate

The system automatically arms itself if your vehicle is left stationary for over two hours. You can also control the tracker via a Smartphone with the HAL-Locate App.
HAL-Locate can be bought and fitted via several UK motorhome and caravan dealers, as well as a nationwide group of approved installers.

You can install the HAL-Locate from £260, including VAT and installation charges. The price includes access to the Hal-Locate App and a two-year subscription to a UK-Based European wide monitoring service.

Outsmart The Thief

Outsmart The Thief offer their own package of alarm and tracker, known as Lockdown. Whilst this system is not Thatcham S7 or S5 certified, it does claim an excellent success rate against electronic theft. The system comes with a high level of features and is fitted for £649. The annual subscription is additional to this but offers 24 hour cover. Lockdown is accepted by Safeguard, Lifesure, Caravan Guard and CAMC (Caravan and Motorhome Club) Insurance, to name a few and is highly regarded by its motorhome customers.

VIN Chip

It is worth mentioning here an added level of security offered by CRiS. This is VIN Chip. VIN Chip allows you to add tamper proof window labels and hidden chips to your motorhome. The package costs £34.99 and can be ordered direct from Cris. Not only is VIN Chip a deterrent, if your motorhome is stolen it will assist in the identification of it by Police.

Home Storage Security

Security Posts

A security post on your driveway is another visible security measure. It could make a thief think twice about trying to steal your motorhome.
They’re cheap to buy but they will need fitting to your driveway. There are a number of variations including telescopic, removable and fold down – which are locked into the ground to create a robust barrier to secure your vehicle behind.

They’re also easily removed when you need to drive your motorhome away.
Manufacturers of these posts include Bulldog, Sentinel and NKGroup.

Home CCTV System

Whilst is might not be an insurance requirement, a home CCTV system can offer peace of mind. Not only will it allow you to monitor your motorhome, but when you are away touring you can keep an eye on your home. The Ring CCTV system is effective and reliable. We fitted this system ourselves in January and have been very pleased with it. The benefits include cameras that don’t have to be hard wired, and a subscription service that covers the theft of your actual cameras – should the worse happen. We produced a vlog of the Ring system which shows the benefits of it and the installation.

Make Sure You Are Insured!

Your motorhome is a motor vehicle and will need to be insured, by law, to drive it on a road or highway. Third party cover is a basic requirement, but that won’t protect you from loss or damage to your own vehicle.
There are a number of insurance companies who offer varying levels of cover for your motorhome. The best advice is make sure you read the small print and ensure your cover is adequate. If you are unsure about insurance requirements around security products then contact your insurance company. We would recommend you use a specialist motorhome insurance provider, such as Shield Total Insurance. They can offer breakdown and recovery cover too for if the worst happens.

Hopefully, this blog has given you some insight in to some of the security measures you can put in place.