We all know how enjoyable owning a motorhome is. The freedom it provides to get away whenever you want to a destination of your choosing is pretty unbeatable. However, errors can be part and parcel of being a newcomer to the world of touring and driving a motorhome – and you learn by experience. However, technical mistakes can occur to even the most experienced motorhome owners – and I, as the Editor of Practical Motorhome, hold my hands up to a few below.
That’s what’s prompted me and the rest of the Practical Motorhome expert team to compile a list of some of the technical errors that can commonly occur when you’re away in your ‘van – and they’re all the type of problem you’ll want to avoid. Don’t miss our guide to the 27 mistakes you’ll want to avoid when you’re on-site either.
1. Emptying your loo in the wrong place
We all know the importance of having the best motorhome toilet chemical for keeping your ‘van’s facilities in tip-top condition. It’s not always easy to find the chemical-disposal point on site, or perhaps you forgot to empty your cassette before you left to drive home – but it’s crucial to empty it out at a dedicated facility. Never empty a cassette anywhere else: it’s unhygienic, bad for the environment and really antisocial, too.
2. Overloading your hook-up
I was guilty of this one on a wonderful tour to Italy a few years ago – accidentally using the water heater on electric and a hairdryer at the same time tripped the hook-up bollard, which I couldn’t open to reset. The result was an embarrassing walk to reception… Always check the capabilities of your hook-up, to prevent overloading, both for safety reasons and to avoid that walk of shame.
3. Forgetting to drain your water system
Don’t forget to drain your motorhome water system thoroughly when going into the winter months, warns Diamond Dave. He says: “The impact of frost damage can range from split pipes, through damaged taps, all the way up to wrecked water heaters. For example, I recently had to replace a Truma Combi owing to frost damaging the water tank within, and at the thick end of two grand, that’s a very expensive replacement, preferably to be avoided.”
4. Not taking out insurance cover
It’s important to bear in mind that motorhome insurance is a legal requirement, and whichever policy you go for, you need to check that it covers everything you would expect it to. Many motorhomes are stolen annually, and while of course, nothing could ever replace your pride and joy, it makes sense to invest in an appropriate policy. Be sure to read all of the terms and conditions carefully before you decide to sign up for any policy – for example, you might find that you will need to fit certain locks to your vehicle to keep the insurance policy valid.
Don’t forget to make sure you have breakdown cover if you’re embarking on a European motorhome tour too!
5. Using a pressure washer on your vehicle’s bodywork
Opinion does vary on this one, but we’d recommend never using a pressure washer on your ‘van’s bodywork when you’re cleaning a motorhome, unless you can set it at a very low, gentle rate of flow. Water ingress is an expensive and tricky problem to fix, and pressure washers can make it a more likely occurrence if they damage the seals and force moisture inside the ’van.

6. Failing to stick to warranty schedules
This one might seem easy, but get it wrong and it could cost you big money. If you’ve got a new or pre-owned motorhome with a warranty, you’ll need to stick to servicing schedules, which could be tight – there isn’t always any leeway on when (or where) your services need to take place. Read the small print carefully and be sure to make all of the necessary servicing arrangements at the appropriate times.
7. Not using a weighbridge
Keeping your ‘van safe and legal on the road is crucial, and one of the best ways to do this is to visit a weighbridge, to check your motorhome weights and ensure it doesn’t weigh more than you think it does. When you visit, ensure that your ’van is loaded with all of the kit that you’d normally take with you on tour.
8. Using a heater in your awning
True, it gets chilly in an awning in the off-season. You might be tempted, but you shouldn’t use a heater in this space. It’s bad for the environment and could potentially be a fire risk, too – instead, we would suggest using a low-wattage heated blanket over your knees to keep yourself warm and comfortable!
9. Not resetting the Truma Anti-Frost
Truma’s device comes on if the outside temperature gets even close to freezing – even if you forgot to drain off the motorhome. So when you start touring again, make sure the blue button is pushed in, with the diamond-shaped valve in line with the piping, before you turn on your water pump. Otherwise, water you’ve added will gush out. This can lead to a swimming pool under your ’van – and irate site owners.
10. Forgetting your tyres after lay-up
Reviews editor Peter Baber has a warning about your ‘van’s tyres. He says: “Motorhome tyres aren’t magic. If you leave them stationary for long, with a very heavy weight (the vehicle) on top of them, they will start losing pressure. Leave them like that for a really long time and you could even find that they begin to get misshaped. So always remember to check the pressures and condition of your tyres as soon as possible once you start touring again.”

11. Doing too much DIY
Motorhome maintenance can be an important part of keeping your ‘van in tiptop condition. However, be careful about doing too much DIY on your ’van – it could put new owners off, and invalidate your warranty.
12. Not using the air release
This is one of those things that you might not know unless you carefully read the owner’s handbook, but when emptying your toilet cassette, always press the circular air-release button – if you don’t do this, unpleasant splashback could be the result…

13. Buying a ‘van that’s too big
A warning from Gentleman Jack if you’re buying a new motorhome. He says: “If you enjoy motorhoming and are considering purchasing a new-to-you ’van, don’t automatically buy the biggest you can afford/fit on your driveway. Instead, think about opting for the smallest that you are comfortable in… for easier exploring down country lanes, plus manageable parking at places of interest and campsites. Motorcaravans are getting larger – roads in rural French villages can’t do the same.”
14. Not making a note of your motorhome’s dimensions
Do you know exactly how long, wide and tall your motorhome is, in both metric and imperial? Every motorhomer should know – it can make the difference between sailing underneath a low bridge and losing your satellite dish! One handy tip is to keep a note on your dashboard of your ’van’s full dimensions, for easy reference while you’re out on the road.

15. Putting diesel in the water tank
Another one from Diamond Dave, who says: “When refuelling your vehicle, make sure you’re putting the fuel into the right tank. Many a motorhome owner has been caught out, often with a vehicle that’s new to them, by putting diesel into the fresh-water tank. This can be very expensive to fix, as the diesel can contaminate the plastic of the tank, meaning it has to be replaced.”
16. Letting the battery level get too low
Your leisure battery should be 12V or less, right? Nope – if your battery is reading 12V, it’s actually almost flat. Letting it get to that stage can cause it to malfunction or result in permanent damage. Keep it topped up, particularly when you’re not planning to use your motorhome for a while.

17. Getting stuck on a muddy pitch
This is one that many of us will relate to, but it doesn’t make it any less embarrassing when it inevitably happens… To avoid it, you need to think ahead. Ask the site owner if grass pitches are likely to become muddy, and if so, avoid them if you can. Choosing a sloping pitch can help with drainage and make it easier to roll away if you get stuck. Grip mats are useful to keep in your ’van, just in case. And if you do get stuck, tell the site warden – don’t keep trying to drive out.
18. Not checking your tyres
Your ’van’s tyres are (hopefully) the only contact between it and the road, so it’s crucial to keep an eye on their condition. There should be 1.6mm of tread remaining on the mid three-quarters of the tread, around the circumference of the whole tyre, and we’d recommend replacing them after five years.
19. Buying a motorhome with not enough seatbelts
You’re about to buy a motorhome, and the first thing you’re sure to check is that it has enough beds. But what about seatbelts? It’s crucial that you check there’s one for every passenger, both now and for those you might carry in future. We’d never recommend anyone travelling in the back without a three-point belt. Be safe, be secure: get everyone belted up when you hit the road.

20. Forgetting about your gas supply
Nick Harding has a word of advice for ‘van owners. He says: “At some point, you will run out of gas. There’s every likelihood that this will happen when you are midway through cooking a meal, or taking a shower (the water tank will also be empty at that point – be warned!). It will be pouring with rain. And most likely dark outside. Be prepared, is the only motto.”
21. Overloading your vehicle’s garage space
Motorhome garages have a maximum storage weight limit – you should always stick to it, for safety’s sake on the road.
22. Underestimating your overhang
If your ’van has a longer overhang, it’s easy to forget about it when manoeuvring. In particular, be careful when driving up onto ferry ramps – it’s very easy to allow the back end to hit the ground.
23. Not considering your weights
It’s tempting to throw everything you need into your ’van, but taking too much – or loading it in the wrong place – can make your vehicle unstable and unsafe on the road.
One thing many motorhomers will want access to when they’re on tour is WiFi, whether it’s for streaming shows or sending videos. If you’re after ways to improve your setup, check out our guide to connecting to the internet in a motorhome.
Lead image: Getty
Future Publishing Limited, the publisher of Practical Motorhome, provides the information in this article in good faith and makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Individuals carrying out the instructions do so at their own risk and must exercise their independent judgement in determining the appropriateness of the advice to their circumstances. Individuals should take appropriate safety precautions and be aware of the risk of electrocution when dealing with electrical products. To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither Future nor its employees or agents shall have any liability in connection with the use of this information. You should check that any van warranty will not be affected before proceeding with DIY projects.
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