Customer Motorhome Guide: Useful Tips and Advice

As the motorhome you have purchased is a large investment, we have put together this basic customer guide to explain some useful tips & advice covering both the mechanical and habitation side of your motorhome. We cannot stress enough the importance of following these basic guidelines as this help protect your investment both in the short and long term.

As many motorhomes systems and specifications can differ, as well as our guide below please also refer to your habitation and mechanical handbooks for general advice.

Preparing Your Motorhome for the Road

Before setting off on your travels, please take time to double check the following:-

• Check mains hook up lead has been unplugged
• Check all gas appliances have been switched off & turn off all gas bottles
  (ensure you turn off from the bottle itself))
• Check all accessories such as awnings & bike racks are stowed away & mounted securely.
• Check step has been retracted
• Check levelling blocks or rear steadies have been moved or retracted
• Check free standing table has been stowed away & secured
• Check cooker lid & sink top have been put down
• Check all cupboards & lockers are closed & locked with no heavy items stored in high level cupboards
• Check all loose items such as pots, pans, kettle, cups, plates, tvs etc are put away in cupboards / lockers
• Check all windows & roof lights have been closed & locked
• Check the tv aerial / satellite dish has been lowered down safely
• Check grey waste water tank has been emptied
• Check fridge has been switched to 12v operation & secure items for travelling
• Check all seat swivels are in the forward facing position.
• Check all cab blinds have been retracted back with latch secured to avoid flying shut during your journey.
• Check control panel has been switched off

Service Intervals (mechanical & habitation)

With a motorhome you have two different servicing requirements especially if the vehicle is new or still under the balance of manufacturers warranty. As well as your own safety & peace of mind, failure to have both the mechanical & habitation servicing done in accordance with the manufacturers terms & conditions could result in the warranty being void.

Mechanical Service Intervals
Most manufacturers require the engine to be serviced once a year or every 10000 miles, but for clarification please refer to your owners handbook for clarification.
• As per a car, the MOT is due every year once the vehicle is over three years old.

Habitation Service Intervals (SMMT check)
As all our new vehicles manufactured by Autotrail, Elddis & Swift come with a three years manufacturers warranty, all of these vehicles must have an annual SMMT habitation check every year to avoid the warranty being void. This applies to any used vehicles purchased whilst still under the balance of manufacturers warranty (i.e – not yet three years old).
THIS CAN ONLY BE CARRIED OUT BY AN AUTHORISED DEALER HOLDING THE RELEVANT NEW
FRANCHISE

For all used motorhomes that are older than three years old, for your safety & to ensure you protect your investment we strongly recommend you have an SMMT habititaion check carried out every year from date of purchase. However, this is not a legal requirement.

Preparing Your Motorhome for the Winter

During the Autumn & Winter months, it is vitally important that you protect your vehicle for the frosts. Frost damage to your water systems can cause hundreds of pounds worth of damage & this will not be covered under any warranties or insurances. This includes water heaters, tanks, pipes, valves, taps & toilet systems.

Every season we receive a high volume of customer calls around March time whereby vehicles have been laid up without the correct care resulting in high repairs costs. By following these simple steps, this will help avoid any potential issues:-

Water Systems

• Run your water system with all taps open (kitchen, bathroom, shower), then turn off pump & leave all taps open. This will allow water to run out of pipes & allow air to pass through them, it is also worth removing your shower head (if applicable).
• Drain your fresh water tank & leave open (consult handbook / dealer if you are unsure of its location).
• Drain your waste water tank & leave open (consult handbook / dealer if you are unsure of its location).
• Drain your water heater boiler & leave open (consult handbook / dealer if you are unsure of its location).
• Remove your water pump strainer & leave off to prevent it cracking (if applicable)
• Empty toilet cassette & drain off the flush tank (if it is separate to the fresh water tank)
• Please be aware that you may struggle to lock your water filler cap during the colder months as the cold can get to them, this does not mean that you need a new lock, all you have to do is put the cap in boiling water & leave until it cools down. This will expand the internal mechanism & the lock will work again.

General Winter Tips

• Fit your winter fridge vents (if applicable) & also your water boiler cover (Truma Ultrastore only)
• Ensure that all your windows, skylights, doors, outside lockers are all locked & secured.
• Remove all bedding, clothes, towels etc as the rapid drops in temperature can sometimes leave mildew & this may prevent it from appearing. Keep upholstery away from sidewall as these can also suffer the effects of mildew.
• Run your heating periodically during the winter months
• Do not leave flyscreens & blinds in the down position. Unless in use all blinds & flyscreens should be left in the up position to prevent them from losing tension
• Remember to book your vehicle in for its annual SMMT habitation check if applicable for this time of year. However, please ensure you read through the check list to see exactly what is carried on these checks, as a lot of the items on this guide may not be included.
• Keep all ventilation holes free, this is vital to keep a constant air flow through your motorhome & keep it dry inside.
• Make sure gas bottles are turned off at the bottle & stored in an upright position.

Mechanical

• Please also refer to your vehicle handbook for engine management during the winter months.
• Check levels of anti-freeze in your engine coolant & windscreen wash.
• If you storing your motorhome or if it is parked up for a long period of time, it may be best to leave your handbrake off as this can seize. You will need to ensure you place chocks under all of your wheels or / and leave the vehicle in gear.
• As with any motor vehicles engine, we strongly advise you not to leave your motorhome parked up for long periods of time. We suggest you take your motorhome for a good run for at least 30 minutes every week as this will help avoid seizures, battery issues, tyre walls crazing etc.

Batteries

We receive numerous telephone calls every year particularly after the winter period from customers reporting they have left their vehicles parked up for more than 2-3 weeks causing the engine batteries & sometimes leisure batteries to run flat. Therefore, it is very important to understand that both your motorhome's engine & habitation electrics are running in a constant circuit even when everything is turned off. This can cause a natural drain on your battery and is enough to flatten within 2-3 weeks, plus the more a battery is left to go flat & recharged the quicker the life of the battery will deteriorate. To help avoid this issue there are a few
ways of protecting the life & condition of your batteries both in the winter months & during anytime when your motorhome is parked up for a period longer than 2 weeks:-

Option 1:
Take your vehicle for a good drive (1 hour approx), this will recharge vehicle & leisure batteries at the same time and this should be done at least every 2 weeks.

Option 2:
Whilst plugged into mains your motorhome may have the ability to charge both your vehicle & leisure battery (consult handbook / dealer). If so we suggest you plug into mains every two weeks to charge both batteries for 24 hours each. However, please note you should not leave the charge constantly on as this may cause the batteries to over charge & sulphate.

Option 3:
Disconnect both your engine & leisure batteries & remove them from your vehicle before storing them in a dry, ventilated area sat on a piece of wood / carpet (i.e avoid leaving them on a concrete floor). These will still need a trickle charge every 4-6 weeks to keep them topped up.

PLEASE NOTE IF A BATTERY IS LEFT TO GO FLAT & STAY FLAT, REGARDLESS OF AGE IT IS COMMON LIKELY FOR THE BATTERY TO BE DAMAGED BEYOND A POINT IT WILL RECOVER (please refer to our engine battery information below).

Preparing Your Motorhome After The Winter:

Just as it is very important you prepare your motorhome for the winter, it is also vital you ensure the vehicle is checked over ready to get back on the road & for the season ahead. At the start of every season we receive a high volume of calls whereby the correct steps haven't been taken prior to booked holidays, resulting in issues whilst away. As this is the last thing you / we would want whilst you are away, we strongly recommend following these steps:-

Water Systems

• Close off your drain taps for your fresh water tank, waste water tank & hot water boiler.
• Refill your toilet flush (if separate to main fresh water tank)
• Refit your strainer to the water pump (if applicable)
• Fill fresh water system, leaving all taps in the open position during this process to push air out of the pipes, this will help prevent any air locks.
• Turn on the water pump & leave running until you have a steady flow of water coming through

Batteries
Reconnect both your engine & leisure batteries before charging them for 24 hours each or taking on a long drive for approximately one hour.

General
Check & run all appliances on gas, electrics, diesel heating (if applicable) until all functioning correctly.

• Cooker hobs
• Ovens & grills
• Heater
• Water heater
• Fridge

Check tension & operation of all roof lights & blinds, plus lubricate if necessary.
Lubricate all locks, catches, habitation doors, lockers & water filler cap.

Mechanical

• Check oil, lights & levels
• Check tyre pressures & general condition
• Check brakes & handbrakes

Engine Battery Information

As mentioned previously in this guide, we receive numerous telephone calls every year where customers motorhomes have been parked up for 2-3 weeks causing the engine batteries to run flat. A lack of general maintenance can easily result in even a new engine battery requiring replacement after a short period of time. Therefore, it is vital you follow the battery procedures above not just in the winter months but throughout the season whilst your motorhome is being left unused for more than a week.

The information sheet below details a more technical explanation for how to maintain an engine battery:-

Essential Engine Battery Characteristics & Fault Diagnosis
Lead acid automotive batteries are built to the highest standards. They are manufactured, in most cases, to correspond with vehicle manufacturer's requirements and specifications. Nevertheless, it is important to understand that a wet battery is 'alive'. Whether it is in service or storage it has a limited life span. If stored in a wet (filled) condition, all batteries will slowly self-discharge. The higher the ambient (storage) temperature the greater the rate
of self-discharge.

To ensure the batteries are not allowed to discharge to the point where they are either damaged (sulphated) or so that they are incapable of starting the vehicle or operating equipment, regular voltage checks should be made monthly.

Batteries with a voltage of 12.4v or below should be recharged. Recharging must not be effected by the means of a rapid charger. Ideally a recharge rate of 1/10th of the batteries capacity should be applied for up to 12 hours. At the end of this period, a fully charged battery will read over 12.65v and all cells should be gassing freely. Remember if a battery has vent plugs, these should always be removed before charging!!

Battery Problems Caused By Non-Manufacturing Faults

SULPHATION
If a battery is allowed to stand in a discharged state for an excessive amount of time, a chemical reaction takes place which can permanently impair performance, this is sulphation. Sulphation can be seen as a fine white/grey coating on the plates. In most cases this signifies irreversible damage & the battery will not be serviceable.

This damage can occur either in storage or if the battery is installed in a vehicle (or equipment) that is not used for a period of time, for example a motorhome, tractor, motorcycle or boat. Even a car or truck that is stored with the battery connected can still damage a battery in this way. This is because there is a permanent drain on the battery from the clock, alarm etc. As a result the level of charge in the battery falls & after a period of time sulphation will build up on the plates

The sulphation (lead sulphate) hinders the chemical reaction between the acid (electrolyte) & the active mass (lead compound) in the plates & prevents the battery from operating as normal. (This is not a manufacturing fault)

BATTERY WEAR AND TEAR
During the charge & discharge cycle, material from the battery plates (active mass) is in motion, through the electrochemical the action produces electricity. Every time the battery goes through a charge & discharge cycle, a small amount of the active mass is lost from the plates. Because the ultimate life of a battery depends on so many factors, it is impossible to stipulate a minimum/maximum life expectancy. This process of normal ageing through the charge & discharge cycle will eventually cause the battery to lose capacity & it will come to the point where the
battery can no longer can start the vehicle/equipment. (This is not a manufacturing fault)

A battery only has a limited number of cycles (x) it can go through before it losses its capacity to perform. Vehicles with high usage such as taxis, mini cabs, trucks & buses will often subject the battery to its (x) number of cycles but over a much shorter time. As a result batteries on these vehicles can display the above symptoms after 12-24 months. (This is not a manufacturing fault)

DEEP CYCLING
As mentioned above, every time a battery goes through a charge & discharge cycle, a small amount of the material from the plates is lost. If a battery is subject to deep charging (i.e – over 40%) and then rapid charging, this process is accelerated. Additionally, if during the recharge the battery is not adequately compensated for the discharge cycle, the battery will quickly exhibit loss of performance even after recharging the voltage will be low (under 12.4v) but the
cells will generally give even readings. (This is not a manufacturing fault)

TO AVOID THE ABOVE, PLEASE ENSURE YOUR MOTORHOME IS STARTED & THE BATTERY IS FULLY CHARGED AT LEAST EVERY TWO WEEKS OR TAKEN OUT FOR A DRIVE OF APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES.