Category: Motorhome Servicing

At times you really do need motorhome servicing to find out what to maintain on your motorhome. Especially making sure that all of the safety aspects are good to go.

Building up a relationship with a dealer who can help keep your motorhome in tip top condition, is important. In fact, having your motorhome servicing done on time provides peace of mind. In addition, having a good motorhome services and dates in the history, will enhance the residual value.

Motorhome Servicing.

Motorhomes are a little more different than other vehicles. Because, they have many other than just mechanical parts to receive maintenance. The actual habitation services are important to ensure that all the safety aspects of gas and electrical appliances and other things remain in good order.

Also, making sure that showers and water supply tanks are correctly clean and working. Making sure the toilet is functioning is also something that needs a little more than just cleaning. Habitation maintenance within the kitchen areas, where hobs and ovens need checking over again is important.

When it comes to servicing your motorhome, it might be worth remembering that it is effectively a two-in-one vehicle – there’s the vehicle which gets you from A to B and inside there are the living quarters that make it your temporary home away from home.

Both aspects need to be taken care of, so, you might want to insist that your motorhome servicing is performed only by a reputable, well-established and competent dealer.

Mechanical service

Your motorhome is subject to the same laws and regulations as other vehicles in terms of the MOT certificate that is required once it is more than three years old.

If your motorhome has reached the age when an MOT test is necessary, this may also be the time to arrange for it to be serviced. Regular servicing throughout the life of your motorhome is likely to be a condition of any warranty offered by the manufacturer or dealer.

To ensure that you abide by the terms and conditions of any warranty, you may also need to make sure that the workshops you use for the mechanical service use only genuine, manufacturer-recommended replacement parts.

What is a motorhome habitation service?

If it is the first motorhome you have owned, you might be less familiar with the term habitation service. It is essentially the specialised servicing necessary to maintain the living quarters of your motorhome.

A UK motorhome habitation service is a routine maintenance and safety check performed on a motorhome’s habitation area or living space. This service is essential to ensure the motorhome’s living quarters are safe, functional, and comply with relevant regulations and standards.

What does a habitation service cover?

The habitation service typically covers facilities such as the gas, electrical, water, and heating systems in your motorhome – including the galley and the fridge, although some servicing of appliances might be done separately. It also covers a check for any leaks in the structure of your vehicle and any problems which might be traced to damp or mould.

Habitation servicing is pretty thorough and time-consuming in giving the interior of your motorhome the exhaustive treatment it needs. Typical tasks involved in a motorhome habitation service may include:

  • Gas system check: Inspecting gas appliances, connections, and ensuring proper ventilation to prevent gas leaks or carbon monoxide issues.
  • Electrical system check: Testing the electrical systems, including lighting, sockets, appliances, and the leisure battery, to ensure they function correctly and safely.
  • Water system Check: Checking for leaks, ensuring the water pump works correctly, and testing the water heater and other plumbing components.
  • Ventilation check: Inspecting and testing the ventilation systems to ensure proper airflow and prevent condensation or mould growth.
  • Dampness and seals check: Checking for any signs of dampness, water leaks, or damage to seals and addressing issues to prevent further damage.
  • Fire safety check: Ensuring that fire safety equipment like smoke alarms and fire extinguishers are functional and accessible.
  • Appliance and equipment check: Inspecting and testing appliances such as the cooker, refrigerator, heating systems, etc., to ensure they work correctly and are safe to use.
  • Structural and body Inspection: Inspecting the structure of the motorhome, including windows, doors, locks, hinges, and bodywork, to identify any damage or potential issues.

As with mechanical servicing, regular habitation services are likely to be one of the conditions of the warranty that comes with your motorhome. For that to be valid, of course, you need to rely on a specialist workshop, experienced in conducting such servicing, to maintain your warranty.

Where do I get a motorhome habitation service?

Probably the best way of achieving that degree of reassurance is to use a member of the Approved Workshop Scheme (AWS) set up by the National Caravan Council, the Camping and Caravanning Club, and the Caravan and Motorhome Club.

By choosing a reputable, approved, specialist workshop for your motorhome servicing, such as us here at Derby Motorhomes, you ensure that sufficient time is taken to carry out the rigorous checks, using the specialist tools that are required.

Regular servicing of your motorhome – for both the mechanical and habitation integrity and safety of the vehicle – is an essential part of owning it. It expresses your tender loving care for your motorhome, maintains the validity of any warranty, and ultimately preserves its trade-in value.

Maintaining your motorhome encourages you to take pride in your holiday home on wheels, of course, but also safeguards what is likely to have been a significant investment. Most important of all, perhaps, maintaining your motorhome also makes sure that it remains safe on the roads and free of health hazards when you are spending your days and nights living in it.

Given the critical importance of motorhome maintenance, therefore, here are some of the most frequently asked questions about it that we receive here at Derby Motorhomes.

Do I have a legal responsibility for maintaining my motorhome?

The Caravan and Motorhome Club reminds us that, while the law does not set out the nature or extent of the maintenance you need to do, it does insist that your motorhome remains in a roadworthy condition.

If you are involved in an accident and your motorhome is shown to be unroadworthy, you are almost certain to be in trouble with the police and may also have invalidated your motorhome insurance policy.

Section 75 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 – which continues to be in force as of the 17th of February 2023 – defines an unroadworthy condition as that which “would involve a danger of injury to any person” – and it is also unlawful to sell or offer for sale any such unroadworthy vehicle.

Isn’t the roadworthiness requirement covered by my MOT?

Your motorhome is only required to have an MOT if it is more than three years old.

Not only that but any MOT only certifies the roadworthiness of your vehicle on the day of the test – it is obviously impossible to predict any change that may occur after that date.

To stay on the right side of the law, therefore, make sure to arrange an MOT test whenever it falls due since you might be fined up to £1,000 if you fail to do so. And if you book your motorhome in for an MOT test by us here at Derby Motorhomes, there is the added benefit of our being able to arrange whatever additional maintenance may be necessary too.

There are some maintenance duties you need to perform on a more frequent basis, just as you would your own car. A regular maintenance check list should include checking the vehicle’s lights and engine coolant level once a week, tyres and engine oil every two weeks, hydraulic fluid for the power steering every month, an annual inspection of the windscreen wipers and regular checks of the windscreen (for damage), screen wash reservoir levels, and the bodywork (for dinks, dents and scrapes).

How do I maintain the interior of my motorhome?

Keeping the interior of your motorhome well-maintained, clean and orderly is a bit like the housekeeping you do at home.

Take your duster to hard surfaces, sweep up bread crumbs and other debris and give it all a thorough vacuuming from time to time, especially when you’ve just returned from a trip away.

Once a year, seriously consider what is called a “habitation” service – this is a service to check and help to maintain the interior of your motorhome and its essential facilities, such as the water supply, gas, electricity supply, and heating.

It is also a good idea not only to drain down your drinking water system from time to time and allow the water to flow through it but also to flush it through with a proprietary antibacterial cleaner.

Whilst many of your motorhome maintenance chores may be done by yourself, why not treat your Auto-sleeper to a thorough mechanical and habitation service with us here at Derby Motorhomes at least once a year?

NEC Motorhome and Caravan Show, October 2022

NEC Motorhome and Caravan Show, October 2022

Hi everybody,

This week sees the opening of the Motorhome and Caravan show at the NEC in Birmingham, from Tuesday 18th October to Sunday 23rd October and once again our very own Managing Director Tim Lemon and expert sales executive Mike Smith will be assisting Auto-Sleepers on the Auto-Sleepers stand in Hall 8.

So, if you’re planning a visit to the show this week, why don’t you pay Tim and Mike visit and have a good look around the fabulous 2023 Auto-Sleepers range? You can’t fail to be impressed and if you already have an Auto-Sleeper and are thinking about a part-exchange, Tim and Mike are the very best people to talk to and will certainly give you a great part exchange deal.

Not got a motorhome. Not a problem, come and see Tim or Mike anyway, no pressure but fantastic knowledge and really good help and advice; you never know though, you might walk away with an order for a new Auto-Sleeper!

You may be thinking of giving up your motor home, if so, again, talk to Tim and Mike, we’re always looking for good quality, late, low mileage Auto-Sleepers and we buy for cash.

Please remember however, that as was also the case for February’s Camping Caravan and Motorhome show at the same venue, visitors can only buy tickets in advance, online – there is no entry by payment at the door on the day so, buy your ticket while they’re still available!

Finally, one disappointing piece of information for this October’s show however is that Auto-Sleepers won’t have the popular McLouis Fusion range on display on their stand; supply and demand issues are weighing very heavily this year and unfortunately there are no models available to display.

Tim and Mike look forward to meeting you next week, enjoy the event.

Platinum Jubilee Opening Hours

SALES OPENING HOURS

Thursday 2nd June  –  Closed

Friday 3rd June        –  Closed

Saturday 4th June    –  10.00am – 14.00pm

Sunday  5th June     –   10.00am – 14.00pm

SERVICE OPENING HOURS

Thursday 2nd June  –  Closed

Friday 3rd June        –  Closed

Saturday 4th June    –  Closed

Sunday  5th June     –   Closed

Normal hours resume Monday 6th June

Easter 2022 opening hours 

Friday 15th April        10.00 AM – 4.00 PM

Saturday 16th April    10.00 AM – 4.00 PM

Sunday 18th April       CLOSED

Monday 19th April     10.00 AM – 4.00PM

 

NEC Show, February 22nd – 27th, 2022

Finally, after two years of waiting, the NEC Caravan Camping and Motorhome Show is making a welcome return.

Derby Motorhomes, The Auto Sleeper Exhibition Centre are very pleased to announce that Tim Lemon and Mike Smith will be available to meet and talk to on Auto-Sleeper’s stand all week.

However, as an indication of just how well anticipated this event has been, the organisers have advised that tickets for this show have now sold-out and tickets are not available to buy in person on the gate, so please, do not try to attend without a ticket.

Tim and Mike very much look forward to meeting customers old and new during the event next week, however, if you haven’t bought your tickets yet but intended to come along to buy an Auto-Sleeper, please give Tim or Mike a call, we have a good selection of Auto-Sleepers on order and still available with the factory and you will be able to reserve one over the telephone.

Give Tim or Mike a call now, 01332 360222 – option 1

When buying a motorhome the motorhome weights are to some customers, a little confusing. They are essential parts of motorhome information, to assist in motorhomes being driven safely.

You may have seen the Police pulling lorries and large vehicles of the roads at weigh stations. To check that everything is compliant with the regulations, motorhomes can also be required to take a test.

So, lets investigate what motorhome weight calculations are all about. And don’t forget your motorhome also has limits for its front axle and rear axle too.

Before we start, just a reminder to also make sure you understand what driving licence you need when driving a motorhome.

Motorhome weights

How heavy?

First things to remember is that on a new motorhome, every additional optional items must be subtracted from your available payload. From removable carpets to outside awnings and bicycle racks. They all have a weight that has to be taken into consideration.

When buying a motorhome with a modest payload, with extras, this will reduce the remaining payload available to use.

Safety first

Keeping legal

When using a motorhome it is important to stay within the limits of the motorhomes capability. Also, it is extremely important not to overload your motorhome. In fact, doing so will have a detrimental effect on handling, and performance of the motorhome. Especially the stopping distances, so the overall safety and stability of the motorhome is very important to your safety.

In addition, Insurers may take a dim view if your motorhome is outside the limits recommended for the motorhome. If you have an accident that is down to this, they may not even pay out.

How heavy is the motorhome?

More than you thought?

Quite simply to find out, load up as if you were going away and pop along to a public weighbridge. There are many throughout the UK and they are easy to use. Drive the motorhome onto the weighbridge and you will then have an official certificate of the weight of your motorhome.

MTPLM – Maximum technically permissible laden mass.

This stands for the “maximum technically permissible laden mass” of your motorhome. Sometimes known as “maximum authorised mass” (MAM) or “Gross vehicle weight rating” (GVWR).

This information is usually found your owner’s manual and on the chassis plate. Basically, this is the maximum amount that the motorhome is allowed to carry in total. This typically also allows for passengers on board and any extra stuff you are carrying.

MIRO – Mass in running order

This weight calculation stands for the “mass in running order”. The motorhome’s MIRO typically includes a full tank of fuel and an estimated driver weight of 75kg.

Still not sure?

Please ask us! We will be delighted to help.

We understand that getting the weight within legal and safety parameters may be a concern. Our service department will be happy to help you on any motorhome weight calculation issues.

Christmas 2021 Opening Times

SERVICE AND AFTERSALES DEPARTMENT

OUR SERVICE DEPARTMENT WILL BE COMPLETELY CLOSED FOR CHRISTMAS AND THE NEW YEAR, CLOSING AT 12.00PM FRIDAY 17TH DECEMBER 2021, RE-OPENING ON TUESDAY 4th JANUARY 2022

SALES DEPARTMENT

THURSDAY 23rd DECEMBER 2021                                     CLOSED

FRIDAY 24th DECEMBER 2021                                            CLOSED

SATURDAY 25th DECEMBER 2021                                      CLOSED

SUNDAY 26th DECEMBER 2021                                          CLOSED

MONDAY 27th DECEMBER 2021                                        CLOSED

TUESDAY 28th DECEMBER 2021                                         CLOSED

WEDNESDAY 29th DECEMBER 2021                                  OPEN – 11.00am to 3.00pm

THURSDAY 30th DECEMBER 2021                                     OPEN – 11.00am to 3.00pm

FRIDAY 31st DECEMBER 2021                                             CLOSED

SATURDAY 1st JANUARY 2022                                           CLOSED

SUNDAY 2nd JANUARY 2022                                              CLOSED

MONDAY 3rd JANUARY 2022                                             CLOSED 

TUESDAY 4th JANUARY ONWARDS – NORMAL OPENING HOURS FOR ALL DEPARTMENTS

Happy Christmas to all our customers, old, new and those we’ve yet to meet.

Have a lovely Christmas and a safe and peaceful new year……………

The Derby Motorhomes Team

 

There’s a very good chance that you spent a tidy sum when buying your motorhome.  Just like any expensive asset, therefore, it makes sense to protect it by ensuring that it’s regularly serviced.

Professional motorhome servicing is the way to do that, and both part-exchange and private motorhome sale values may typically be increased if you can provide a full-service history for your preloved vehicle.

It’s not only a question of finance

Important as the financial considerations might be, we don’t want to labour too much the financial logic behind regular motorhome servicing. That’s because we believe there’s another far more critical imperative for regular and attentive servicing – and that is safety.

In several important respects, there is simply no comparison between a standard car and a motorhome. True, both machines need attention to matters such as engine and basic mechanical servicing and maintenance. It would be dangerous and possibly even illegal to drive any vehicle on the road that was not in a safe, roadworthy condition.

However, in the case of a motorhome, you’re not just driving it but living in it at times too.

So, you’re typically going to have electrical systems for lighting, possibly heating, and cooking. It’s also possible that you’ll be using gas for some or several of those purposes. You’re also going to have water systems aboard and possibly some waste disposal functionality.

Water, electricity, gas, heating, and waste – taken together they represent pretty much the whole package of household-type infrastructure services.

The mechanics

As with any motor vehicle, the law says that you must arrange for an MOT test on the third anniversary of your motorhome’s first registration and every year afterwards. It is illegal to circulate any vehicle that requires one without a valid MOT certificate – on penalty of a fine of up to £1,000.

But just as with the MOT certificate for any motor vehicle, it confirms the basic roadworthiness of your motorhome on the date it was tested only. It is your responsibility under the law to make sure that it remains in a roadworthy condition throughout the rest of the year – if you do not, you risk invalidating your motor insurance as well as attracting the unwanted attention of the police.

Regular servicing and maintenance by a reputable dealer, therefore, may spot any potential problems before they develop and keep you and other road users safe on the highway.

Maintenance

In our view, a thorough service isn’t something that can be done on a quick-and-cheap or DIY basis. It must be done right – leaving little or nothing to chance. So, of course, there is some cost involved. Yet avoiding that cost might prove to be dangerous. We don’t think it’s even worth contemplating.

From our extensive experience, we know just how much effort modern motorhome and campervan manufacturers go to when trying to ensure their vehicles are safe to drive and occupy when in use.

Yet all of us know that it doesn’t matter what design and engineering excellence have been applied to machines and their systems, normal wear and tear can still cause problems to arise. Maintenance is ideally all about spotting potential problems and removing that potential rather than fixing a problem once it has occurred.

That’s why a thorough professional motorhome servicing needs to examine:

  • all the electrical systems including pin plugs, cables, your road lights, earthing systems, and so on;
  • your fire safety provisions, potentially covering smoke) and carbon monoxide) detectors, fire blankets, extinguishers, appliances, and the like;
  • the water systems, including pumps, pressure devices, filters, taps, any water tanks, WC, drainage, and so on;
  • very importantly – your gas systems. As the UK’s Registered Gas Engineer advised in a posting on the 26th of May 2021, checks should cover looking for any potential gas leaks, all appliances, regulator valves, cylinders, hoses (and clips) plus flues and ventilation;
  • the bodywork – including the vehicle’s windows, doors, roof, number plates, all furniture, blinds, flooring, screens, and while you’re at it, you might also test for damp penetration; and
  • the basic mechanics of the vehicle including its undercarriage, chassis, coupling head, all tyre pressures and depth of treads, and so on.

Living in comfort – the interior

The process of keeping the interior of your motorhome spick, span, healthy, and hazard-free is known as a habitation service – and the Wandering Bird website weighs up the pros and cons of having such a habitation service done each year.

It involves a thorough servicing, inspection, repair, and maintenance of the electrical, gas, heating, and water systems in your motorhome, together with an overall service of the whole of the living and sleeping areas.

In that process, a habitation service provides an essential health and safety check and may also help to detect longer-term issues – such as mould and damp – before they spread to become especially expensive problems to resolve.

If you have a slightly older motorhome – or one that you are not using regularly – the drinking water system is likely to be especially vulnerable to the build-up of potentially harmful bacteria. Your habitation service, therefore, is likely to include flushing out the entire water system with an antibacterial solution.

In between services, you may help to keep your drinking water somewhat safer by using it regularly or at least running off some of the stored water and refilling it.

Motorhome servicing by specialists

When it comes to making sure your motorhome is in tip-top condition, you want someone you can trust. And here at Derby Motorhomes, we are big on servicing. We want to ensure your motorhome is above all safe, but that everything from the mechanics to the onboard electrics and gas is also working correctly. Winning your peace of mind is paramount.

The very nature of a motorhome makes it a specialist vehicle and second home. That calls for specialist attention, of course, and you might want to make sure that you commission a known and trusted dealer – such as ourselves – to take care of your servicing and maintenance requirements. We can do just that whether or not you bought your motorhome from us.

If you are fortunate enough to own an Auto-Sleeper, for instance, you may want the reassurance and confidence of knowing your servicing is being carried out according to the manufacturer’s specifications.

Peace of mind

Ensuring things are as they should be with all gas and electric appliances is our first port of call. Having a service is one thing, and mechanical servicing is straightforward. Or at least it should be.

We want to put your motorhome to the test and make sure that all the habitation checks are carried out professionally. Also, in a manner that will give any of our customers’ real peace of mind.

Regular servicing and maintenance – of both the mechanical and interior aspects – of your motorhome is, therefore, an important route to prolonging its working life and keeping you and its occupants safe and free from potential harm to your health.

At Derby Motorhomes, there’s nothing we enjoy doing better than helping our clients and potential clients learn more about motorhomes. So, we’ve built up quite an extensive database of frequently asked questions or “motorhome FAQs”.

We couldn’t do better than to share some of those frequently asked questions.

What driving licence do I need?

The answer is just a little more complicated than you might have imagined and depends on your age, when you passed your driving test, and the weight of the motorhome you intend to drive.

If you passed your test before the 1st of January 1997, then you’re fine for driving a motorhome up to a Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) – the weight of the vehicle, plus its maximum loading capacity – of 7,500kg. If you gained your licence after that date, you are limited to motorhomes with a MAM of up to 3,500kg only.

If you passed your driving test after the 1st of January 1997, not only are you limited to motorhomes with a MAM of up to 3,500kg, but you must also pass an additional driving test category (C1) to drive a motorhome weighing between 3,500kg and 7,500kg.

If you are considering one of those super-large American motorhomes, you’ll typically need a category C licence (a Light Goods Vehicle).

You need to hold a full, Category B driving licence and be at least 18 years of age to apply for a provisional licence in Category C1 and must be at least 21 years of age to hold a Category C driving licence.

Please note, this information is correct at the time of writing – June 2020.

How easy are they to drive?

In terms of the basics, they’re not significantly different from a car, and most or all of the controls will be familiar. The designers have also put huge amounts of effort into making them easy to drive.

It’s worth remembering, however, that once they’re fully laden, they’ll be much heavier than most conventional cars and their handling characteristics will be different as a result. It’s not a question of easier or harder, it’s just that they’ll feel “different”.

The larger the motorhome you choose, the more you’ll notice that handling difference over and above a car.

Almost everybody gets to grips with this very quickly. There are courses you can take to help, and they might be advisable – particularly for the larger motorhomes. Motorhome manoeuvring courses are offered both by the Caravan and Motorhome Club and by the Camping and Caravanning Club. Don’t also forget that you may need to change your driving licence category (as we explained above).

What are these giant US motorhomes I see on TV?

In the US, motorhomes are typically called “Recreational Vehicles” or “RVs”.

Some are almost the length and weight of an articulated lorry, and biggest of these types of US RV would not be road-legal in the UK or EU.

Some that are imported into the UK are road-legal, of course. Keep in mind that parts and servicing might be an issue and that in some cases they may not be drivable with a standard licence.

Are the bigger motorhomes the most expensive?

This one is commonly encountered in motorhome FAQs – and, as a general rule, of course, the answer is yes – but that’s not always the case.

For example, a slightly smaller model that’s a prestigious marque and superbly and luxuriously equipped might command a higher price than a slightly larger campervan.

It’s rather like comparing say a small Porsche to a large Ford. In the case of some campervans, you’re paying for engineering, build quality and design, not its cubic volume inside.

Can I drive my motorhome anywhere, on any public road?

Yes! Of course, you will have to comply with any road signs indicating that there is a limit on height or weight of a vehicle (if your motorhome exceeds it).

Some “unmade-up” roads in poor condition or off-road tracks might also be unadvisable for larger vehicles, including motorhomes. That’s largely a question of common sense.

How much does a good motorhome cost?

That is such a difficult question to answer because so much depends upon the type of vehicle you’re interested in.

To give an extremely broad view, a new 2-4 berth quality marque Auto-Sleeper is likely to cost from £55,000 upwards. For most of us, that’s likely to be our most expensive ever purchase after our house – and that’s why expert advice and guidance on your purchase is likely to prove so important.

Is it cheaper to buy second hand?

It is – but subject to a couple of caveats:

  • motorhomes hold their values well if they’ve been looked after. Don’t expect to see the same percentage depreciation on a two-year-old motorhome as you might expect to see with a two-year-old car;
  • be sensible when purchasing a second-hand motorhome from a private individual. Unless you’re an expert, that could be risky in mechanical terms, and you’ll get little or no post-sales support.

As a final tip, of course, remember that if a second-hand motorhome price seems too good to be true – that is highly likely to be the case.

Why do I see advertisements for seasonal motorhome storage?

Comparatively few people wish to use their motorhomes in the winter months.

Just like any other vehicle that’s parked-up and not in use, the weather can start to take its toll. Given the cost of such vehicles, many owners prefer to put them into secure and weather-proof storage units over the winter months.

Your insurance provider might also offer you discounts for doing so!

How do the toilets work?

Yes, this one has a certain fascination for potential first-time buyers, and it features regularly in our motorhome FAQs!

There are, in fact, a number of different types:

  • the cassette. Here, the waste is collected in a storage cassette which is extracted externally and taken into a waste site to be manually emptied. This is probably the most common;
  • the portapotti. This is like a portable toilet in two parts. The lower part contains the waste and it, too, is manually extracted externally and emptied. The top part contains the bowl and water;
  • the marine. This is slightly different because the waste is stored externally and then emptied by connecting it to a special on-site facility so it can be drained. Note that this system presumes you are on a site with suitable “evacuating” connections.

In terms of which to select, a lot depends upon how you think you’re going to use your motorhome. If you’re planning to stay on big, established, and well-equipped sites then all three might be fine. If you’re planning to get off the beaten track and use smaller sites, then one of the first two options might be more suitable.

Is a shower going to work properly?

Yes, but you will need to be realistic – particularly in the smaller motorhomes.

Water is heavy and takes up a lot of space. As such, the supply is limited, and you’ll want to use it sparingly while on the road. That means that those long, high-pressure showers you take at home are unlikely to be matched by the shower experience in most motorhomes.

Having said that, most people find them perfectly adequate.

We hope these motorhome Faqs have proved useful!