It is a great idea to conduct regular visual inspections of
the suspension but any major repairs are best left to the
experts, unless you have relevant expertise.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Change blown 12V fuses by all means, and feel
free to run a new speaker cable or two if you are
confident to do so. But under no circumstances
should you interfere with the 240V system
unless you’re a licensed electrician.
Quick tip: while an electrician is working on
your van’s 240V system, why not ask them to
load-test the onboard battery for a good
indication of the life left in this essential piece
of equipment?
There’s little harm in attempting 12V faultfinding,
too, though unless you know what
you’re doing, especially when it comes to
using a multi-meter, it can be frustrating.
SEALING
Yes. But there is an important caveat here.
According to a caravan specialist I spoke to,
too many people attempt to reseal their
caravan without preparing the aluminium
properly first. The result: the new sealant
doesn’t take properly, eventually leading to
water ingress. From there, rot is inevitable.
UNDERCARRIAGE
The average DIYer can easily check their
van’s chassis for signs of rust and cracking,
etc., and likewise the springs. Unless you
have a relevant mechanical background,
leave major suspension alterations and
repairs to the experts.
CORNER STABILISERS
Go for it. There’s very little for you to
accidentally damage here. Simply check that
the bolts are tight and that the stabilisers
wind smoothly up and down.
WINDOW RUBBERS
Like the corner stabilisers, there’s little risk
here. If a window rubber needs to be replaced,
the average DIY can confidently do some
research and have a go themselves, knowing
that if it goes pear-shaped they can always
call in an expert.
Window rubbers can theoretically
be replaced by a confident DIYer.