The Caravan Repair Company at Burleigh Heads is known across Queensland and New South Wales as the place to go to restore a caravan or get it fixed. They tell us what tips we need to know if we want to hang on to our beloved caravan.
If you are somebody who has an adventurous spirit and a lust for travel, then it is probably very likely that you either are thinking about purchasing a caravan, or you already have one!
The great thing about the caravan market is that there are lots of older models on sale for very reasonable prices. You should feel confident in picking up a bargain with a few future little tweaks and improvements in mind.
Caravan restorations are the latest trend, and you can really bump up the value of your investment if you know the best things to change and upgrade.
To give you an insight, here are five of the best tips for modern caravan restorations.
REUPHOLSTER
An easy way to breathe some modern life back into an old caravan is to reupholster all of the main cushioned areas within the unit.
A lot of old caravans will have seen a lot of wear and tear in these areas, so giving them a fresh set of cushioning can make a world of difference right off the bat. Reupholstering is one of the best tips for caravan maintenance.
CHANGE CURTAINS
Again, old curtains must smell musty as well as looking very dated at this point. An easy way to spruce up the interior is to update them with a more modern pattern and material.
CHANGE THE LIGHTING
One of the best tips for caravan restoration is experiment with some cool and fun lighting ideas inside the caravan. Explore LED strip lights, which can be placed on pretty much any hard surface and produce some really modern looking results.
DECAL
Make an instant impact to the exterior of your caravan by installing a wrap or decal that features a fun design or colour. It’s a great way to stamp your own personality on an old vehicle!
ENHANCED SECURITY
One of the most crucial tips that you need to know is a lot of old caravans are very easy to break into, so do yourself a favour and upgrade the security features of your model along with all of the more aesthetic changes.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Modern caravans are complicated machines. Developments over recent years have turned many of them into homes from home, which is great for holiday making.
However, these developments mean there is a lot to go wrong, and plenty of items which wear out. Unlike static homes, caravans are motor vehicles which have to pass road safety standards.
This and the home comforts can be very demanding to keep on top of.
SAFETY FIRST
Before you hit the road in your caravan, you’ve got to be sure it’s safe to do so. Caravans tend to be heavily used at certain times of the year, then left standing for a few months. It can be easy to overlook essential vehicle checks and repairs, and just head off into the distance.
The trouble is, that distance might not be very far, if your vehicle lets you down. RV users can find their holidays cut short by being pulled over for a safety infringement.
Safety inspections should be carried out regularly, especially if your caravan’s been standing for any length of time. This should be done by qualified professionals, rather than just giving your vehicle the once-over. It’s easy to forget how many kilometres caravans and other RVs clock up over time.
A safety inspection lets you know that you’ll make it all the way there and all the way back.
The most common repairs carried out are covered by, and to comply with, your warranty. Manufacturers have strict rules about this, of course, and it’s a bad idea to fall foul of them.
Similarly, logbook servicing must be done regularly and correctly, to keep your caravan roadworthy.
ADDED EXTRAS
There are a lot of extras fitted to caravans these days, which is what makes them so enjoyable. Fixtures and fittings such as awnings, AC units, fridges and microwaves are almost taken for granted today when caravanning.
Finding out that one or more of these don’t work when you’re parked up is sure to spoil your holiday.
Other essential repairs include those for toilets and showers, not to mention water tanks. These kinds of jobs would be carried out by other trades in the home, but require specialist skills for caravans.
Important items like these need as much care and attention as your vehicle’s roadworthy components. ■
THE CARAVAN REPAIR COMPANY
Phone Number: 07 5593 7486
Website: thecaravanrepaircompany.com.au
Address: 10 Greg Chappell Drive, Burleigh Heads
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Editor for Silver Magazine Gold Coast
