Motorhome Maintenance

Campervan Maintenance Campervan Repairs Campervan Upgrades Motorhome Maintenance Motorhome Repairs Motorhome Upgrades

51% of vehicles are likely to suffer an electrical breakdown during the winter. Our Motorhome Winter Health Check, will give you a fighting chance when the weather takes a turn.

30Aug

Can 12v Accessories damage Motorhomes with a Smart Alternator?

Campervan Cambelt Replacement Motorhome Cambelt Replacement

Motorhome Issue: Smart Alternator This article is positioned as an overview of “smart alternators, motorhomes and accessories”, describing basic principles.It is meant for discussion, if you have any comments or suggestions please contact the author direct at:oakleigh@bristolcaravans.com Issue Can incorrect accessory fitting damage the engine battery or engine battery charging? Background EU legislation was introduced to help reduce vehicle emissions. “Smart alternators” are part of the EU emissions initiative.Smart alternators were introduced to the UK car market around 2015, some motorhome brands were slower to implement. We recommend that you check. Do not assume your motorhome or campervan has a […]

21Feb

Top 5 tips for Motorhome or Campervan Cambelt Replacement

Campervan Maintenance Caravan Maintenance Motorhome Maintenance

Thank you for finding this article, my aim is to build your motorhome & campervan knowledge, so you can make an informed decision about the maintenance of your vehicle. Before we jump in, and just for transparency, “disclosure”, I own and operate a workshop. Customers often ask questions about Cambelts, I figure an article covering frequent questions will help to inform you, so further questions are built on a common understanding. There are different types of repairers, so hopefully, this will help you decide if we are the right fit for you. Motorhomes and Campervans come in all shapes and […]

08Apr

Rust Prevention for your motorhome, caravan or campervan

Campervan Maintenance Caravan Maintenance Motorhome Maintenance

Protecting Your Investment: Motorhome Rust Prevention Motorhomes, caravans, and campervans represent significant investments. When a water leak or scratch catches your attention, it’s easy to address. But what about the areas hidden from view? The Hidden Vulnerability The underside of your vehicle is often overlooked yet plays a crucial role in maintaining its value and structural integrity. Neglecting it can lead to costly repairs, increased MOT expenses, and heightened risk of water ingress from road spray. Invisible Threats Everyday wear and tear, road debris, inclement weather, and winter road treatments can all take a toll on the underside of your […]

27Jun

What Is ALDE Heating System Fluid?

Campervan Maintenance Caravan Maintenance Motorhome Maintenance

ALDE use a specific type of glycol fluid in the heating system, which is similar to antifreeze. As the glycol fluid ages it becomes less effective. If not changed at the correct interval, your system could be at risk of permanent damage. The damage is usually to internal components, when the fluid becomes acidic, the acid corrodes aluminium components. At the time of writing a relacement Alde system is in the region of £3,500 plus fitting, so definately cheaper to maintain the system rather than replace it. When first built, manufacturers fit Pink or Blue fluid. The blue glycol must […]

What is ALDE Heating?

So what is ALDE Heating? ALDE is a Swedish heating company, and design systems to heat the hot water system and the interior of your Caravan, Motorhome or Campervan using radiators or underfloor heating. It works in a similar way to your central heating at home. A heats transfer liquid is heated, and pumped through pipes to convectors (radiators), the fluid then back to the boiler. Within the boiler, there is a hot water tank, which produces the hot water for your shower and taps. The single boiler within the ALDE system works on 230v and LPG gas, and heats […]

Winter preparation for your motorhome or caravan: Winterisation

Winterisation is the Winter preparation for your Motorhome/Caravan. Bristol Caravans have put together a check sheet of all the things your vehicle requires before it goes into hibernation this winter. Winter Preparation Top Tips Drain down Watch out for ‘The First Frost’. Try to beat Jack Frost, by emptying your water system and any water tanks. Why should your water system be emptied? As temperatures get colder, water begins to freeze in the taps. As water freezes, it expands! If even the tiniest droplet of water was to expand in your pipework, the taps could begin to split. Split taps […]

ALDE Heating System FAQs

What is ALDE Heating & How does it work? The ALDE Heating system for Caravans and Motorhomes works in a similar way to your central heating at home. The system heats a transfer liquid, which is pumped through convectors and pipes then back to the boiler. The ALDE Heating system is very efficient, and only uses 1 amp when in operation! The convectors are placed in an optimal position all along the walls of your leisure vehicle, providing an ideal barrier against the cold. As heat is pumped around the vehicle, hot air rises creating a circulation of heat throughout. […]

Campervan Maintenance Caravan Damp Repairs Caravan Maintenance Motorhome Maintenance

Top 5 tips for maintaining your Caravan & Motorhome

Campervan Maintenance Caravan Maintenance Caravan Service Motorhome Maintenance

You have just bought a new Caravan / Motorhome and want to make the most of it. Do not worry, we are here to make sure you are maintaining and making the most, during the ownership of your pride and joy. Here are the Top 5 Tips for you to maintain your Caravan / Motorhome: 1. Make sure you book into a trusted workshop for your annual services! For you caravan owners it is important to book a service every year, ensuring all the water, gas, electrics, brakes, chassis, and A frame hitch assembly are checked thoroughly. Not only does […]

30Jul

How does the RCD work in my Caravan?

What is the 230v RCD in my motorhome, How does it work? Why is it a safety critical unit? How often should I get my RCD checked?

Cleaning my Caravan & Motorhome

How often should you clean your Caravan / Motorhome? We recommend giving your vehicle at least two deep washes a year. One at the start of your holiday season, and one at the end. Of course, whilst your Caravan / Motorhome are in storage it will gather dirt, algae, and moss; making it harder to clean. If you regularly give it a wash over, the easier and quicker your seasonal washes will be. Should I wash my Caravan / Motorhome with Hot Water? It is important to bear in mind you Caravan, or Motorhome is made of up many plastic […]

How to connect my caravan or motorhome to 230v hook up

How to plug in to mains electric on site The last thing you want is to arrive on site and your electrics do not work. As soon as you get on site, follow these steps and you will be sat back relaxing in no time! How to hook-up: My electrics are not working on site – What do I do? First you want to plug in your 230V hook up cable into the mains electric supply. Next, connect your Caravan or Motorhome. Using the mains socket tester, insert the tester into a socket and turn on. The tester will indicate […]

How to set up the WHALE water system and pumb

Setting up a WHALE Water Pump First things first… Make sure your WHALE pump is securely attached and locked into position. Is your 12v power supply working? Assuming your caravan / motorhome has a charged battery, and all the appropriate fuses are intact, the power to run a water pump’s motor is usually activated at the 12V control panel. WHALE Control Panel: Now your pump is in the correct position, go inside your caravan / motorhome and check the control panel. It should look something like this: All switches should be in the on position. If your control panel presents a fault […]

How to maintain my Caravan / Motorhome Toilet

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Nobody wants to go back to a smelly toilet in their Caravan or Motorhome. Bristol Caravans is here to provide helpful tips all year round to keep your toliet fresh and ready to go. How to leave the toilet out of season: Flushing the Top Tank –Before tucking your Caravan or Motorome away over the winter season, make sure you flush the top tank with clean water. You do NOT want to leave any resedue of chemical in the system as it will crystalise. Once crystalised your flush pump will seize, and you will have to pay for a replacement. […]

Why do I keep tripping at the post?

Campervan Maintenance Motorhome Maintenance Motorhome Service

Overloading your Caravan / Motorhomes Electrics There are two ways you can trip the electrics,1. Overloading2. You have an Earth Fault The last thing you want to do on holiday is trip your electrics, and potentially your neighbours! To avoid this, keep reading for our helpful tips and advice on your Caravan or Motorhomes electrics. Overloading – What does it mean to overload your electrics? By overloading the 230v system in your vehicles electrics, this means the appliances your using are trying to take more power than the system is designed to handle, causing a trip. This kind of trip […]

26Feb

Brake fluid replacement at Bristol Caravans

Brake Fluid Replacement, What, Where, How, When

Campervan Maintenance Caravan Maintenance Motorhome Maintenance

Automotive experts agree that Brake Fluid should be changed regularly as a part of normal routine service. Not all manufacturers mention Brake Fluid in their scheduled maintenance recommendations, those that do, recommend fresh Brake Fluid approximately every 2 years or 24,000 miles, your motorhome probably cover less than 12,000 miles per year, so when was the last time your motorhome benefitted from some new Brake Fluid? The tech bit… Brake Fluid is a safety-critical subject, how important are the people onboard your vehicle? Most people don’t know why Brake Fluid should be changed, well Brake Fluid is hygroscopic, which means […]

26Feb

How Do I Drain Down My Caravan, Motorhome or Campervan?

Campervan Cambelt Replacement Campervan Maintenance Motorhome Cambelt Replacement Motorhome Maintenance

Why are we talking about drain down, does it really matter? Yes it does, this article is about “draining the fresh water” out of your caravan, motorhome, campervan. This is usually undertaken at the end of the season, before you store your vehicle for a long period. If water is left in the system, as weather temperatures drop, water can freeze in your taps. As water freezes, it expands! If teaspoon of water was to expand in your tap, the tap could split. A split tap usually means a new tap, a repair you want to avoid. The cost could be […]

26Feb

Motorhome and Campervan Cambelt Replacement: A Complete Overview including What, How, When, and Top Tips