The Christmas season is one of the most magical times of the year. It involves twinkling lights, the anticipation of visiting family and friends and making the most of our time off. But there are plenty of people across the country who rely on their campervans and leisure vehicles to make their way across the United Kingdom to see their loved ones.
While vans are often associated with tradespeople, nothing stops the average Joe from purchasing a van of their own to travel the globe in. With this in mind, and with more people travelling at this time of year than at any other time, it’s important that your van is safe when travelling over the busy winter period. From checking fluid levels and tyre treads to some safe driving tips, here’s how to make your van safe for festive getaways this Christmas.
Carry out a winter check-up & undergo van servicing
The cold weather can wreak havoc on your van. If you’re planning on going on a winter road trip this Christmas, whether it’s for one hour or ten, there are some basic winter vehicle checks you need to do. This ensures that your van is safe to drive throughout the duration of your journey. Some of the things you should be checking are as follows:
- Vehicle fluids – this includes windscreen washer fluid, coolant, engine oil and more
- Tyres – check the tread on your tyres in good time before you travel. The legal limit is 1.6mm, but you ideally need more than that. Have the tyres replaced if their tread depth is questionable
- Battery – cold weather can weaken the van battery. Check its charge and replace it if necessary
- Windscreen wipers – both your front and rear windscreen wipers need to be working to clear rain, ice, frost and snow
- Lights – from headlights to fog lights, your lights need to work properly
- Heating and climate control systems – not only do you want to ensure comfort throughout your road trip, but you also need to make sure that the demisting function works to enable constant visibility. It helps to prevent the fogging up of windscreens, therefore maintaining good visibility all around
If you don’t know how to carry out these checks on your van, you can book the vehicle into our facility here at VanServ for servicing and health checks. We’ll be able to carry out the necessary inspections and repairs needed to ensure the safety of your vehicle throughout the duration of your Christmas road trip and far beyond that.
Our team of skilled technicians can replace tyres, top up fluids and carry out even the most complex of tasks to make your vehicle roadworthy. If you’re going on a Christmas road trip in your leisure van this festive season, then book it in with VanServ for a complete health check and van servicing to give you absolute peace of mind during your Christmas break.
Bring an emergency kit with you
In the unlikely event that your campervan breaks down during your festive road trip, you need to make sure that you’re as comfortable and as prepared as possible. Part of making sure you’re packed for every eventuality is to constantly carry an emergency kit. But what should this emergency kit include, and why do you need one?
An emergency kit does exactly what it says on the tin – it’s for use during an emergency. It should include everything that you might need should you break down in the middle of nowhere. From hand warmers and blankets to phone chargers and AA maps, here’s what’s typically included in an emergency kit:
- A first aid kit
- Basic tools, like pliers, screwdrivers, socket set and more
- Blankets (enough for all of your travellers)
- Gloves
- Hand warmers
- Torch
- Extra batteries
- Jumper cables
- Ice scraper
- Small shovel
- A power bank for mobile phone charging
- Bottled water
- Snacks
- An up-to-date road atlas
Make sure your van is cosy & comfortable throughout your trip
Long drives and road trips can be tricky to navigate at the best of times, let alone when it’s Christmas, and the roads are busy and the weather is cold. With the threat of frost, snow and ice over the winter period very much looming, it’s important that you’re making your van as cosy and as comfortable as possible throughout the duration of your trip. With this in mind, there are some things you’ll need to do to prepare accordingly, such as:
- Van heaters – your climate control needs to be working accordingly in order to ensure absolute comfort while on your travels. Not only does this ensure a heated and comfortable cabin, but it also keeps visibility high and prevents windscreen fogging
- Bringing a separate heater or electric blanket – if you’re planning on spending some time in your camper van during your Christmas road trip, then it’s best to bring a separate electric heater or blanket with you. This will keep you nice and toasty even when the engine is switched off
- Adding some festive touches – nothing says Christmas like some festive decorations. Hang tinsel, garlands and maybe even bring a small tree with you for good measure. Enjoy Christmas in your home away from home
Plan ahead
Something you can do to make sure you’re safe during your travels is to plan your trip from start to finish. With dark afternoons and gloomy early mornings, it’s never been more important to be as prepared as possible during your winter road trip. Plan out different routes in case one is gridlocked and always keep an up-to-date road atlas in your vehicle for good measure, even if you’re relying on a sat nav to take you to your destination.
Drive safe & sensibly
Christmas brings with it gloomy winter weather. This can range from heavy snow and a build-up of ice to a gentle frost and a spot of rain. But when we have adverse weather conditions, it’s imperative that you’re driving in accordance with them. Take everything slow, especially corners and tight bends. Avoid driving at night as it can be difficult to spot hazards in time, and don’t go above speed limits under any circumstances. To summarise, here’s how you can drive safely and sensibly during your winter road trip this Christmas:
- Drive slowly
- Take bends and corners safely
- Avoid driving at night
- Always follow the speed limits
Check your insurance & breakdown cover
Something many people forget to check when it comes to driving during a winter road trip is their insurance. Make sure that your van is fully insured and that the policy covers everything associated with a road trip. If you’re planning on bringing your van abroad, then you must also make sure you have the right insurance in place to cover you. In addition, check your breakdown cover, whether you’re travelling abroad or around Britain.
At VanServ, our team of experienced and highly skilled technicians is committed to keeping your van in top condition. We carry out thorough health checks and expert repairs on all types of vans – no matter the make, model, or age. Whether you need help with air conditioning, key cutting, servicing, remapping, or anything in between, our friendly and knowledgeable team is always happy to assist. Get in touch with us today to find out how we can help keep your van running smoothly.