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Servicing

Going Away This Summer? Get Your Caravan Sorted Before You Set Off

Blue Sky Caravans, NCC Approved Engineer · July 2026 · 5 min read

Modern touring caravan on a sunny driveway in Somerset, packed and ready to head off on a summer trip

Summer's here, and the caravan is about to earn its keep with long drives to the coast, a fortnight away, and weekends chasing the good weather. Before you load up and point it down the motorway, it's worth making sure the van is genuinely ready for the miles.

1. Why get checked before you travel

If yours has been stood since last autumn, the driveway is the best place to find problems, not a services on the M5 or the first night of your trip. A service and any small fixes now save you a ruined getaway later.

A van that's been in storage all winter can hide faults you'd never spot parked up. Damp works its way in through tired seals. Leisure batteries quietly lose their charge. Fridges that ran perfectly last year decide not to fire up on gas. None of it looks like much on the driveway, but hundreds of miles from home, mid-trip, it's a different story.

A full habitation service catches these things before they cost you your holiday, and you get a written report at the end so you know exactly where the van stands before you travel.

"The driveway is the best place to find problems, not a services on the M5 or the first night of your trip."

2. Get anything niggling fixed before you go

If there's something you've been meaning to sort, whether it's a light that won't play, a damp patch you've been watching, a fridge that's been temperamental or a motor mover that's not quite right, deal with it before you set off rather than while you're away.

We diagnose and fix in the same visit wherever possible, so you're not chasing parts or waiting on a second trip once you're already on holiday. Gas systems, Alde heating, water, electrics, damp, window seals and motor movers. Fault found and fixed, in front of you.

Book before the diary fills up

Summer slots go fast · NCC Approved · from £225

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3. Your pre-trip checklist

Here's what we cover on a service, and what's worth a look before you travel:

Damp

Comprehensive testing on every panel. The most expensive problem to ignore, and the easiest to miss until it is serious.

Gas and appliances

Full tightness test plus the hob, heating, water heater and fridge. The fridge is the number-one "but it worked last year" failure, so do not assume.

Leisure battery and electrics

Winter is hard on batteries. We check 12v and 240v systems, charging and the hook-up, so nothing lets you down on site.

Water system

Pump, taps, water heater and a check for leaks. Worth flushing through after a winter standing.

Heating

Alde wet systems and blown-air alike. If your Alde fluid is due, far easier to sort now than mid-trip.

Tyres

Age, pressure and condition. Caravan tyres usually fail on age, not tread, and a blowout on a long tow is the last thing you want.

Safety equipment

Smoke and CO alarms working, fire extinguisher in date.

4. We come to you, wherever the van is

Everything above we carry out on-site. Driveway, storage yard or even your pitch, we're fully mobile across Somerset, Bristol and Bath, based in Burnham-on-Sea. No workshop fees, no towing your van halfway across the county before you've even started your holiday.

As an NCC Approved engineer, Gas Safe registered and an approved service partner for Dometic, Alde, Whale and Powrtouch, every job is done to the proper standard with genuine parts.

5. Already away and something's gone wrong?

If you're already out and hit a problem, we run same-day call-outs across Somerset, Bristol and Bath when availability allows. Give us a ring on 07766 706042 and we'll do our best to get to you.

That said, don't leave it to the week before you travel, as that's when the diary fills up fastest. Get the van checked and anything niggling fixed now, and set off knowing it's ready for the miles.

Frequently asked questions

How far in advance should I book a pre-summer service?
As soon as you know your travel dates. Summer is our busiest period and slots fill up quickly from May onwards. Booking 4–6 weeks ahead gives you the best choice of dates and enough time to fix anything found before you travel.
My caravan has been in storage all winter. What is most likely to need attention?
Damp ingress through tired seals, leisure battery condition and fridge operation are the three most common issues after winter storage. A full habitation service covers all of these as standard.
Can you service my caravan at a storage site or holiday park?
Yes. We work at driveways, storage yards and holiday parks across Somerset, Bristol and Bath. Just let us know the location when you book.
What if you find something that needs fixing on the day?
We carry common parts and consumables and will fix most issues in the same visit wherever possible, so you are not waiting on a second appointment. We will always discuss what we have found and give you a clear cost before starting any repair work.

Ready to get the van sorted before summer?

NCC Approved · Gas Safe Registered · 25+ years in the industry