We hope you’ve enjoyed many adventures with your campervan or motorhome this year, whether exploring Ireland’s scenic routes or travelling further afield. With winter well and truly upon us it’s time to ensure your vehicle is fully prepared for the months ahead. Whether you’re planning winter adventures or laying your campervan up until spring, proper preparation is key to protecting your investment and staying safe.
In this guide, we cover everything you need to know:
- Getting a Pre-Winter Service – essential checks for tyres, brakes, lights, and batter.
- Driving Tips for Adverse Weather – advice for handling rain, frost, ice, and strong winds.
- Laying Up Your Vehicle – steps to guard against damp, water damage, and tyre issues.
- Breakdown Assistance – making the most of your insurance if something goes wrong.
Whatever your plans, follow these tips to protect your campervan or motorhome and enjoy a safe and worry-free winter.
For the right cover this winter call us at 01 634 9300 or get a quote at www.campervaninsurance.ie.
Pre-Winter Service
If you are going to continue to drive your vehicle throughout the winter period, it is advisable to book your vehicle in for a pre-winter service.
As weather and road conditions deteriorate, we become even more dependent on the safety features of our vehicles – not least of which are our tyres, brakes and lights. Remember that proper preparation will significantly reduce the risk of having an accident or breakdown.
Tyres
As our tyres are the only part of our vehicles in contact with the road, it is important that they are: -
- The right types of tyres for our vehicle
- Properly inflated
- Free from defects
- That the tread depth at the very least meets the European minimum requirement of 1.6 mm for cars and light vans.
For more information on tyres and tyre safety, please review the Road Safety Authority’s Guide to Tyre Safety – Your Guide to Tyre Safety.
On a standard camper van (a van conversion) using Commercial “C” marked tyres may be adequate, but for motorhomes you should use Motorhome “CP” marked tyres. These tyres have a higher load index and pressure as well as a reinforced carcass. Your motorhome has a higher intrinsic (or unladen) weight than a regular commercial vehicle, a higher centre of gravity, a more uneven distribution of weight (internal furnishings, water tanks etc.) and in some cases a large overhang. Campervans and motorhomes are often left stationary for longer than an equivalent commercial vehicle so having tyres that can support this weight and distribution is important. If you talk to your local professional tyre suppliers, they will be able to guide you to the most suitable tyres for your needs.
Brakes
While our tyres are our only point of contact with the road, our brakes are essential to providing a controlled reduction in speed, bringing us to a stop when we need it and in the shortest distance possible and keeping us stopped or safely parked. As weather and road conditions can deteriorate over winter, braking distances can increase. A full or even partial failure in our brakes could have catastrophic or even fatal consequences. The information below provided by the Road Safety Authority is extremely helpful.
Between service schedules, look out for tell-tale signs of worn brakes such as:
- The brake pedal requires more pressure to stop the vehicle.
- Noises in the form of scraping and squealing when the brakes are applied.
- The vehicle pulls to the left or right when the brakes are applied.
- If brake fluid is at or below the minimum level contact your garage immediately.
Lights
During winter months you are likely to do more driving in poor lighting conditions or at night compared to the summer months. It is important not just that you can see, but that everyone else can see you.
Please check all lights to ensure that they are functioning correctly, and that your lenses are clean and free from damage and condensation. If any repairs or replacements need to be carried out, now is a good time to arrange it. It is also important to ensure that your beam alignments are correct.
Battery
One of the most common causes for calls to the Emergency Breakdown Service is a flat battery. Usually, you will need to replace the engine battery every four to six years. You should get your battery health checked by your garage at your regular service. If you start to see any signs of deterioration in your battery, such as increased difficulty starting the engine, then contact your garage to see if you need a replacement as soon as possible.
Secondary leisure batteries are often used in campervans and motorhomes and these need to regularly checked as well. Apart from using them for habitation lighting and other appliances or electronic devices, these batteries often power the fans in habitation heating systems. If you run out of leisure power, you may also run out of heat.
Bright Sunlight
When you think of winter you probably think of darkness. However, bright sunlight can bring its own challenges. With the sun so low in the sky in winter, we are more likely to be dazzled by the sun or its reflection on wet or frosty roads.
If possible, avoid driving around sunrise and sunset as this is when driving conditions can be most challenging.
It is important to ensure that your windscreen washer fluid is well maintained and has a low freezing point. Keep your windscreen, both inside and outside, clean and free from grime, dirt or grease. Ensure your windscreen wipers are also clean, in good condition and working properly. Keep your dashboard clean and avoid storing anything on your dashboard as these items can produce reflection on your windscreen which can also dazzle you.
Have a good pair of sunglasses to hand, preferably with polarized lenses as these greatly reduce sun and headlight glare and make use of your vehicle’s sun visors.
Slow down and increase your distance from the car in front - driving at a reduced speed will give you more opportunity to respond to sun glare and any hazards or dangers, particularly when approaching junctions, bends and corners.
Adverse Weather Conditions
When roads are wet, frosty or icy our grip on the road reduces and our breaking distances increase. It is important that we slow down and exercise additional caution when driving in the early morning or late evening, and when driving on steep roads.
We should also avoid harsh breaking or acceleration, sudden steering or excessive speed for the road conditions as these all increase our risk of skidding. Skidding could result in an accident which could result in serious injury or even fatalities.
If there is heavy rain, slow down and increase the speed of your windscreen wipers. Avoid excessive speed, because apart from increasing our breaking distance it increases our risk of aquaplaning. If the rainfall is too heavy for your comfort, find a safe place to park and wait it out.
If the road ahead is flooded and you are unsure about how deep the water is, then do not proceed. You should turn around and find an alternative route. If you can gauge the depth of the water, a golden rule would be not to proceed if it is higher than half your wheel diameter, but this still does not guarantee that you will not cause damage to your vehicle. Our recommendation would always be to err on the side of caution.
If there are strong winds, please remember that you are more than likely driving a higher sided vehicle than your private car. Higher sided vehicles are more prone to being affected by intense winds and gusts and you should be particularly careful around hills, junctions, bridges and any other exposed areas.
Weather Warnings and Common Sense
Met Eireann regularly issue weather warnings during periods of severe weather, to help everyone protect themselves and their property. These are classified as Yellow, Orange and Red warnings and they each mean different things.
The Yellow warning advises us to take preventative action but does not pose an immediate risk to the general population.
Orange warnings are given in advance of weather events that could significantly impact people, property or activity in certain areas, and people affected should prepare appropriately for the expected conditions.
Red warnings are issued only for the most severe expected conditions.
These warnings are issued within 48 hours of an expected weather event. Weather advisories may be issued for events which are expected to be more than 48 hours away.
Please respect any weather warnings or advisories and take account of them when planning your journeys. You may be better off postponing a journey if the expected weather conditions are too inclement or dangerous – let your common sense prevail!
Breakdown
There is never a good time to have a mechanical breakdown, but having a breakdown in winter could mean spending more time at the roadside in poor light, inclement weather and cold temperatures. It is important to ensure that you have good breakdown cover.
With Arachas campervan & motorhome insurance customers automatically have a breakdown service through Aviva. When you call them after a breakdown, they will dispatch a competent repairer to help you at the scene offering up to 1-hour free roadside breakdown assistance. This includes dealing with punctures that require assistance to fix, or to replace a wheel. If your vehicle cannot be immediately fixed on the roadside, the service also provides cover to tow your vehicle to the nearest motor garage.
If your vehicle breaks down outside of Ireland and, after being towed to a local repairer, the repairs are expected to take more than 12 hours, Aviva will reimburse up to €400 for additional hotel accommodation. Additionally, if your vehicle cannot be repaired before your scheduled return, Aviva will contribute up to €500 towards the cost of transporting your vehicle back home. Please note though that it is important that you refer to the policy booklet, a copy of which is available on www.campervaninsurance.ie , for full terms, conditions and exclusions.
Whoever you are covered with it is essential to save the contact number for your breakdown assistance provider both on your phone and in your vehicle. In addition to having this cover, it is a good idea to keep high-visibility clothing, a torch, and an easily accessible emergency breakdown kit in your vehicle. A fully charged power bank is also highly recommended to ensure your phone remains powered if needed.
While your insurance policy may provide some emergency support for breakdowns, it is always wise to keep your vehicle in good mechanical condition. Beyond potential financial costs like replacement parts, labour, or transport, breakdowns can lead to accidents or injuries - and no one wants their travels disrupted by an avoidable issue.
Laying Up Your Vehicle
If you are laying up your vehicle for the winter period, there are certain steps you will want to take to help protect your vehicle from damage and to ensure you can safely get motoring again in the Spring or Summer.
Location
If you cannot store your vehicle at your home, look for a suitable professional storage location with good security. It is better to store your vehicle on a hard stand rather than grass.
Water
One of the perils most likely to damage your vehicle is the freezing of water in your tanks or pipes. It is recommended that you empty your water tanks (both fresh water and grey). You should also drain all taps and leave them open. You should also make sure that your toilet system is empty and clean and leave your drain points open too. It may be a good idea to cover the open drain points with a breathable fabric to allow them to remain fresh, but also prevent vermin from over wintering in your cosy, dry vehicle.
Tyres
Ensure your tyres are properly inflated. If they are underinflated this could cause damage to their tyres while parked. You should also ensure that you are parked on even ground with no stones or other such objects under your tyres, and that they are pointed straight ahead. This will help ensure that the weight distribution and load is such that it is least likely to cause any damage.
Damp
When your vehicle is laid up it will not be aired as frequently as if it were in continuous use. There is a risk of damp building up in your habitation area.
It’s advisable to remove any linen and, if possible, lift cushions and mattresses to prevent moisture from being trapped. Placing dehumidifiers in the cupboards and around the vehicle can also help reduce moisture build-up. Additionally, consider leaving cupboards open and keeping the fridge/freezer doors slightly ajar.
Without compromising the security of your vehicle, to prevent stale air, it is a good idea to maintain some airflow throughout.
The Engine
Most commercial vehicles are designed for continuous use, so be sure to check your manufacturer’s guidelines for periods of increased inactivity or consult with your garage.
Contact Us
Whatever your insurance queries or to arrange cover, please feel free to reach out and speak to any of our dedicated Camper Team. We are available by phone on 01 634 9300 Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, or you can email us on [email protected] or visit www.campervaninsurance.ie.