Campervans allow you to traverse across the country in true comfort. Often, those adventures take you long distances and across rigorous roads. Over time, this can lead to wear and tear on your campervan.

But taking good care of your campervan can help to protect its lifespan and prevent frustrating breakdowns from occurring. Today, we’ll take a look at the best ways you can care for your campervan inside and out.

Under the Hood Maintenance

A lot of the ongoing maintenance that your campervan will need is related to the van’s mechanics. This “under the hood” maintenance will help to ensure that you stay safe on the road and will lead to fewer costly breakdowns.

Check the Brakes

Your brakes are one of the most important safety features on your adventure van. As such, it is important to schedule frequent brake inspections. This becomes particularly important if you plan to use your van to travel up and down steep mountain passes.

So how and when should you service your brakes?

• If you park your campervan for most of the year, take your van in to have the brakes inspected before your first annual trip.
• If you use your campervan throughout the year, pay attention to signs that your brakes are beginning to wear down. This includes squeaking brakes, brake fade(less friction), shuddering, and uneven braking.
• When in doubt, take your van in for a quick break checkup to ensure that the brake pads, rotors, and other components don’t need to be replaced. With brakes, it is always better to be safe than sorry.

Inspect Your Tires

Before you hit the road, make sure to inspect the tread on your tires. Look for dry rot on the sidewalls and any cracking. Also, take note if your tires are beginning to slowly leak over time.

Tires need to be replaced at regular intervals. Talk to your mechanic about the mileage your tires are good for and schedule replacement ahead of any flats or blowouts.

In addition to tire replacement, you should periodically rotate your tires to ensure they wear evenly.

Schedule Routine Oil Changes

Every 3,000 to 5,000 miles your campervan’s oil will need to be changed. The exact mileage will depend on your campervan make, model, and year, as well as the oil that was used. For example, synthetic oils can last longer between changes than conventional oil, and newer campervans are often designed to require fewer oil changes. Consult with your owner’s manual to determine the mileage between changes for your van.

If your campervan has been left sitting, you may still need to change the oil before you reach the recommended mileage, due to the deterioration of the van’s oil over time.

A quick oil change will help keep your engine lubricated and your engine run smoother.

Pay Attention to Vehicle Specific Maintenance Intervals

Depending on what kind of campervan you own, it’s very important to schedule other routine maintenance at designated intervals. Use your owner's manual as your guide to ongoing maintenance.

Other maintenance tasks might include:

• Brake fluid flush
• Transmission flush
• Changing the front and rear differential fluid on four-wheel-drive vans
• Tune-up, including filter and spark plug replacements
• Replacing windshield wipers and air cabin filters

Keeping Up the Interior

In addition to the mechanics of your campervan, you should also ensure that you are taking good care of the interior as well. This can help reduce wear and tear.

Here are a few checklists to consider, especially if you’re traveling for several weeks or several trips close together. Each of the following checklists can help you stay on top of interior care.

Daily Cleaning Checklist

• Sweep floors
• Wipe down the kitchen countertop and stove
• Declutter by putting away loose clothes and items around the van
• Wash any dishes and wipe away any food residue from the sink

Weekly Cleaning Checklist

• Pull out the bedding and allow it to air out
• Wipe down shelves
• Deep clean the sink and stove
• Mop the floors
• Wipe down the cab of the van

Monthly Cleaning List

• Empty cabinets and closets
• Clean out the interior of all storage space
• Reorganize your storage
• Wash all bedding and throw blankets
• Deep clean the cab of the van, vacuuming floorboards, and wiping down leather seats with leather conditioning wipes

Cleaning the Exterior

In addition to keeping your van mechanically sound and caring for the vehicle’s interior, it is important to keep the outside of your van clean as well. Over time, dirt and debris can damage your campervan’s paint, leading to premature wear.

Once every month, or after a particularly dirty drive, take your campervan to a car wash to clean the exterior. Make sure that you choose a car wash that can accommodate the height of your van.

Find Your Next Adventure with Antero Adventure Vans

An adventure van can provide you with years of reliable service when kept in working order. Find your next adventure with an Antero Adventure Van. Our vans are designed to offer long-term reliability and pleasure.

Both our Pikes Peak and Longs Peak adventure vans are off-grid capable, with durable designs and luxury interiors. These vans are packed full of amenities, while still retaining an easily maneuverable body size. Travel in comfort and enjoy the open road with our RVIA certified builds. We look forward to helping you find your next adventure.