Cold weather causes problems for vehicles, including caravans and motorhomes, and roads alike. It is predicted to continue to be cold in the U.K. for some time yet, especially in the north of the country. Cold weather wreaks havoc with the condition of our roads. Water runs into gaps in the road surfaces, when it freezes it expands creating and worsening potholes.  The affects of the winter weather will be with us for some time after the weather has changed so please check your vehicle over for any signs of seasonal wear and tear.  If you spot any problems you will save yourself money and make the roads safer for everyone.

1. Regularly check your windscreen for chips and cracks.  If they are not dealt with they could worsen whilst you are driving and cause serious visibility problems. Some chips can be sorted without a whole new windscreen being fitted, saving you time and money as well as increasing safety. Approximately 2 million people fail their MOT each year because of problems with the windscreen.
2. Check your tyres.  Kwikfit estimate that 1/10 drivers head out onto icy roads with illegal tyre depth.  If you are unsure take your vehicles to a garage and ask their opinion.  In many snow bound countries there are laws insisting on the use of winter tyres, in the U.K. that is not law but it is advisable if you are going to be using your vehicles in difficult conditions.
3. Salt and grits spread onto the roads to prevent ice forming may make driving safer but have a detrimental affect on the health of your car.  Check for rust on the bodywork and under the car, the earlier you find it the easier it is to sort out.
4. Inspect your windscreen wipers for wear. If they break because of ice on the glass, or if they are just ineffective it could cause you major problems when driving.  It is recommended by manufacturers that windscreen wipers are changed once a year.
5. Watch out for pot holes and be sure to avoid them at all times.  Going into potholes can cause all sorts of problems for your car.  The most common problem caused by potholes is axle and suspension damage. It is estimated that the cost to British motorists is £2.8 billion every year.

Spring is almost upon us, so fingers crossed for some lovely weather soon.  But it is worth carrying out these simple checks on your car, caravan or motohome to ensure that every journey you make in your is as safe as it could possible be.

Travelling in a car in adverse conditions can be dangerous if you are not well prepared. Water, ice and snow on the roads all increase stopping distances dramatically. Visibility is likely to be reduced because of shorter days, fog, mist and precipitation. If your car breaks down or you have an accident you need to be prepared to wait in the cold or to have the necessary equipment to sort it out. In order to minimise danger it is a good idea to take precautions before you travel. Every vehicle, even off road vehicles, will be affected by bad road conditions, so pay extra attention at all points of your journey.

Preparing Your Vehicle for Winter

• Get your car serviced so that it is in the best condition to deal with the adverse conditions.

• Check and, if necessary, replace the anti freeze in the radiator.

• Consider getting winter tyres put on your vehicles if you live in a remote or badly affected area. Always ensure that your tyres have at least 3mm of tread depth and that they are properly inflated according to the manufacturers instructions.

• Check that your windscreen wiper blades are working well, replace them if they are not, this will help to ensure that you have the maximum visibility at all times.

Driving in Winter Conditions

If conditions are bad it is best to not drive. Always check weather reports before making a long trip. Use route planners and local radio traffic updates to get the latest information on the roads that you wish to travel.

Flooding & Strong Winds

The risk of flooding in certain areas is high this year. The Met office have issued severe weather warnings for much of the country, it is never advisable to drive in flooded conditions but if you have to then you should follow these basic guidelines:

1. Avoid driving through surface water; your engine may flood, or you may aquaplane which could cause you to loose control of your vehicle.

2. The deepest water is likely to be nearest the curb, if possible drive near to the centre of the road.

3. If you have to drive through surface water, stay in first gear and continually move to avoid stalling.

4. Always test your breaks immediately after driving through water, if they work fine then you can increase your speed.

5. High winds will particularly affect highsided vehicles including caravans and motor homes, slow down and remember to be extra cautious when approaching open areas such as bridges.

Snow and Ice

1. Decrease speed

2. Stopping distances are increased so leave a large amount of distance between yourself and the car in front.  Take more time to slow down to navigate corners and bends in the road.

3. Do not break hard. Breaking gently will help to minimise skidding, if the wheels lock when braking, ease off the brake.

4. Have your lights on all of the time

5. Keep your windscreen, lights, windows and mirrors clean for maximum visability.

Winter Supplies for Your Vehicle

Prepare yourself for difficult conditions by having these essentials in your vehicle at all times and especially if you are taking a long journey.

• First Aid Kit

• Blankets and warm clothing

• Non perishable and high energy food eg nuts, dried fruit and sweets

• Water

• De-icer and ice scraper

• Maps of the area

• Torch and spare batteries

• Mobile phone

• Spare tyre, wheel wrench and jack

• Shovel, if snow is expected

• Towing ropes

• Tool Kit

• Jump leads

If you are well equipped you will find that you are able to deal with most situations easily and safely. The most important thing to remember is to be cautious and vigilant.  This is especially necessary if you are towing a caravan as it will be far more challenging to drive safely in difficult conditions, make sure that you plan your journey very well and take plenty of provisions.

Your tyres are your point of contact with the road. Acceleration, braking, cornering and steering are all dependant on the quality of your tyres and their suitability to your vehicle. It is essential to regularly check your tyres and to get advice before you even consider changing the type of tyres that you are using. In some countries it is illegal to use tyres that differ from the tyres that the vehicle would have been fitted with. The correct types of tyre for your vehicles will be listed in the vehicles’ handbooks. Always consult a professional if you have any concerns about your tyres.

Getting the Right Tyre Pressure

• Your tyres need to be the correct pressure, this varies from vehicle to vehicle.

• Tyres that are over or under inflated will wear at a much faster rate and their performance will not be at the required standard.

• Always check your tyre pressure when the tyres are cold. The heat gained during movement causes tyre pressure to rise. If you adjust the pressure using hot tyres as your starting point you will have under inflated tyres.

• It is recommended to inflate the rear tyres of the towing vehicle to the suggested ‘fully laden’ pressure, as they will bear a lot of the weight of the caravan.

Wear and Age

• Check that the your tyres have enough tread. The legal minimum tread pattern depth in the U.K. is 1.6mm through the central 75% of the tread width and around the circumference.

• Do not use tyres that are over seven years old, even if they have not been used. Tyres deteriorate over time and tyres over this age should not be trusted.

• It is recommended to change tyres that are over five years old, if not before.

• If you do not use your caravan frequently you should always check the tyres before any journey. Look for signs of deterioration and wear. Tyres that are left static will deteriorate more quickly than if they are used regularly.

• If you are not going to use your caravan for some time it is advisable to take the weight off the tyres to preserve them. You should shield them from the sun.

• Older caravans may be fitted with tyres that are no longer available, for example cross ply tyres. If your caravan is fitted with these tyres you should consult a specialist about the best way to upgrade your tyres.

• Always keep a spare tyre inflated to the right pressure in both the caravan and the towing vehicle.

The most important thing to remember is that your tyres need to be checked regularly on both the caravan and the towing vehicle. Towing a caravan puts a significant amount of extra pressure onto the tyres of the towing vehicle so it is best to always be diligent.  Having good quality tyres that are in a good condition will help you to have an easier journey and towing will be safer.