May the FORCES be with you!
Before you hit the road for your camping trip, a few pre-journey checks will help safeguard your holiday, whether you’re staying local or travelling to a campsite far, far away…
Summer’s finally here, lockdown restrictions are lifting and it’s time to hit the road for your camping break – how good do those words sound? Holidays are more precious than ever this year and we don’t want anything to jeopardise them, so it’s important to carry out a number of basic checks to reduce your chances of a breakdown. The RAC’s handy FORCES checklist is a great place to start when it comes to helping safeguard your holiday:
F IS FOR FUEL
Ensure you have enough fuel for your journey. Don’t forget that motorhomes use more fuel in heavy traffic and start/stop conditions, which can often happen during the holiday season.
O IS FOR OIL
Check your oil level and top up if necessary. This will reduce the chances of overheating, which can cause engine damage and a potential breakdown.
R IS FOR RUBBER
Tyres can tell you a lot about how your motorhome is performing. If they aren’t wearing evenly, the tyre pressures may be wrong or there could be a fault with the
steering. Check all tyres have plenty of tread and are inflated to the correct pressure – this is vital to maintaining good grip in wet conditions. Also check the rubber on your wiper blades to ensure they’re working effectively.
C IS FOR COOLANT
Check the coolant level, which should be between the ‘min’ and ‘max’ lines indicated on the reservoir. If it’s not, there could be a problem and you should contact a garage.
E IS FOR ELECTRICS
Wipers help keep your windscreen clear of bugs and you’ll need your lights on during any heavy downpours and hours of darkness. The electrics also control your indicators and windows so do a quick check to ensure there are no problems.
S IS FOR SCREENWASH
Make sure your windscreen washer fluid is topped up – ideally using a good quality screenwash. This will help ensure good visibility and remove any bugs or bird muck you might accumulate during the journey.
These simple checks are a great starting point, but there’s always the chance that something unexpected might go wrong, which is where Arrival from the RAC comes in. Developed in partnership with The Camping and Caravanning Club, it’s the best breakdown cover in the UK* for motorhomes, and if anything goes wrong on your holiday journey it’ll help get you from breakdown to break away. That’s because Arrival offers breakdown cover specifically designed for motorhome owners, offering a range of benefits, over and above many standard packages (see panel below). Not only does Arrival have no restrictions on weight or size for motorhomes, but they also offer at home rescue as standard on all their products. So, whether you’re on your driveway, at the roadside or on your campsite – you’ll be covered. And, when you upgrade to Arrival Advanced or Ultimate, we'll take you to your campsite and back home again if your motorhome can't be repaired†. Martin Elliott from the RAC said: “Arrival is the best possible cover for motorhome users, because they helped to create it! “We always say RAC Arrival is ‘designed by fanatics and delivered by experts’ because it offers so many benefits over and above traditional breakdown cover, and that’s down to the input of experienced motorhomers and the skills and expertise of the RAC. “Getting away for a holiday is more important than ever this year, and Arrival will be there to ensure you’re covered for every eventuality. We’ll be there to save holidays across the UK one breakdown at a time.”