The winter has really set in by now, and perhaps only the hardiest are likely to venture out and about with their caravan in tow. If you are like most of us, though, you’ll be looking for ways of keeping your caravan safely tucked up for the winter (as well as typically meeting the terms and conditions of your tourer insurance cover which may require you to fulfil certain obligations in order to minimise any risk).
Here are some of the essentials …
Storage
Probably the single most important consideration will be exactly where you choose to store your caravan – if you choose a Caravan Storage Site Owners’ Association (CaSSOA) approved storage facility, not only may you have peace of mind that your caravan is securely stored, but you may also attract discounts on your insurance premiums (up to 20% with Cover4Caravans).
Further reading:
Guide to Caravan Storage and Security
Caravan Storage and Insurance Video;
Security
- once you’ve found a safe location where you can store your caravan, you are still responsible for maintaining all reasonable security precautions;
- as our blog about Caravan security makes clear, deterring theft boils down to essentially three main components – immobilisers, alarms, and locks;
Weathering the winter storms
- even though you can rest easy that your caravan is over-wintering in the safety of a CaSSOA-approved site, it may still remain outside and exposed to the elements;
- so you do need to ensure your caravan is weather-proof – our blog Storm proofing your caravan; protecting against wind and rain explains this in more detail;
- the very way in which any caravan is built makes it more than usually vulnerable to wind, rain, and stormy weather – naturally, it is no match for bricks and water, but there are still ways in which you can help your trailer weather even the worst storms;
- it’s important, for example, to retract or completely remove any awning;
- make sure your trailer remains wind and watertight by carefully checking the seals around all the windows and doors – taking care not to block any of the ventilation openings, guarding against damage from frost or ice, and checking whether your insurance cover requires the water system to be drained down.
Your caravan insurance
Before the final onset of winter, it might also be helpful to check your caravan insurance policy for any exclusions or conditions you need to meet to show that it has been properly maintained in readiness for the harsher weather ahead. If you are unsure as to what your obligations are under the terms of the policy, speak to your insurance provider.
These are some of the basic steps you might want to take to winterise your caravan so that it remains ready to hit the road as soon as the spring weather allows.
From choosing safe storage to preparing for the worst that winter’s weather might bring to reviewing all that your caravan insurance has to offer, this is the time of year to show that extra care and attention that will see your caravan through until the coming new season.