Every year we see the same thing. Someone books a trip up north, packs the motorhome, hooks up the caravan, then ends up stuck on the side of the highway outside Geraldton with steam pouring out from under the bonnet.
Usually it started weeks earlier.
Old coolant. Worn brakes. A battery on its way out. A warning light that got ignored because the vehicle still “felt okay”.
A proper motorhome service in Mandurah gives you a chance to catch those problems before they ruin a trip. Especially if your vehicle spends most of the year parked up, then suddenly gets asked to drive 3000 kilometres in WA heat.
At Clayton’s Auto Centre, we service motorhomes, campervans, Sprinters and long wheelbase vans using a 6 tonne hoist built for larger vehicles. Not every workshop can fit them inside properly, let alone lift them safely.
Why Motorhomes Break Down Before Trips
Motorhomes live a different life to normal cars.
A family SUV might get driven every day. A motorhome might sit parked for three months, then head straight up the coast towing extra weight in 35 degree weather.
That’s when small problems show up fast.
We regularly see:
Cracked coolant hoses
Flat or swollen batteries
Brake pads worn nearly to metal
Tyres that look fine until you see the sidewalls cracking
Air conditioning systems that haven’t been run properly in months
A lot of owners assume low kilometres means low wear. That’s not always true with larger vehicles.
Large Vehicles Need The Right Workshop
Before anything else, the workshop itself matters.
A lot of car shops in Mandurah can service standard vehicles all day long, but motorhomes are different. Height matters. Weight matters. Access underneath matters.
That’s why Clayton’s Auto Centre installed a 6 metre, 6 tonne hoist specifically for:
Motorhomes
Campervans
Sprinter vans
Transit vans
Long wheelbase commercial vehicles
Trying to inspect a large vehicle without the proper setup usually means shortcuts. You can’t properly inspect suspension, cooling systems, steering components or underbody leaks if the vehicle barely fits inside the workshop.
You can learn more about our large vehicle servicing capabilities here.
Cooling Systems Cop A Hiding In WA
Overheating is probably the biggest trip killer we see.
Usually it happens heading north. Fully loaded vehicle. Hot day. Air con running flat out. Then the temperature gauge starts climbing on a long hill.
By the time the driver notices properly, coolant has already pushed out the overflow bottle.
Before a long trip, we check:
Coolant condition
Radiator leaks
Hoses and clamps
Thermostat operation
Cooling fans
Water pumps
Pressure loss
If coolant looks brown or rusty, that’s normally a sign the system hasn’t been maintained properly.
We’ve seen neglected cooling systems turn into cracked radiators, blown hoses and cooked head gaskets. Those repairs get expensive very quickly.
If your cooling system hasn’t been serviced in years, our flushing system services can help remove old contaminated coolant and buildup before bigger problems start.
Tyres Age Out Before They Wear Out
This catches people off guard all the time.
A motorhome can still have decent tread while the tyres themselves are no longer safe. Sun exposure and sitting parked for long periods dries the rubber out.
We check for:
Sidewall cracking
Uneven wear
Bulges
Tyre age
Pressure issues
And always check the spare tyre too.
A few months ago we had a customer heading north with a spare tyre manufactured in 2009. The thread looked perfect. Rubber was as hard as plastic.
For extra tyre safety information before travelling, the WA Government also provides advice on road safety and maintenance.
Brakes Work Harder On Heavy Vehicles
A loaded motorhome puts a huge amount of stress on braking systems.
Especially around hills, caravan parks, traffic lights and stop start driving through towns.
If the brakes feel soft, noisy, shaky or slow to stop, get them checked before the trip, not halfway through it.
During a service we inspect:
Brake pads
Rotors
Brake fluid
Calipers
Brake hoses
Handbrake operation
We often find uneven brake wear on heavier vans because of the extra load they carry year round.
If you’re unsure what the difference is between worn pads and damaged rotors, read our guide on brake pads vs rotors.
Auto Electrical Problems Are Common Before Trips
Half the last minute breakdown calls we hear about are electrical.
Flat starter batteries. Trailer plugs not working. Fridges cutting out. Reverse cameras failing. Charging systems not keeping up.
That’s usually when people start searching for car shops in Mandurah two days before they leave.
At Clayton’s Auto Centre, we diagnose:
Battery drain issues
Alternator faults
Charging problems
Lighting faults
Trailer wiring issues
Electrical warning lights
A battery can still start the engine in the workshop and completely fail once you’re parked overnight at a caravan park with accessories running.
Don’t Ignore Warning Lights Before You Leave
This one costs people money every single year.
Someone sees an engine light come on a week before a trip. The vehicle still drives okay, so they leave it alone.
Then halfway through the holiday the vehicle drops into limp mode.
European vehicles are especially bad for this because generic scan tools often miss manufacturer specific faults. We regularly see Mercedes, Land Rover and Audi vehicles that have already been checked somewhere else without a proper answer.
That’s why these faults get missed so often at general workshops.
Clayton has spent more than 25 years working on European vehicles and diagnostics, including Land Rover, Mercedes and Audi platforms that many general workshops avoid once faults become more complicated.
If your warning light has appeared recently, read our article on what causes an engine light to come on.
Air Conditioning Problems Never Happen At A Good Time
Air conditioning always seems to fail when the weather hits its hottest.
Weak airflow, warm air, strange smells or noisy compressors are all signs something needs attention before you travel.
Motorhomes and campervans put extra load on air conditioning systems because of the cabin size and long driving hours.
We check:
Refrigerant levels
Leaks
Compressors
Cabin filters
Electrical faults
Fan operation
Sorting it out in Greenfields is a lot easier than trying to find parts in a small coastal town halfway through a trip.
Book Your Motorhome Service Before You Head Off
The best time to get your motorhome checked is a couple of weeks before you leave, not the afternoon before the trip.
That gives you time to repair anything properly if problems show up during the inspection.
At Clayton’s Auto Centre, we service motorhomes, campervans, RVs, Sprinters and large vans, including diagnostics, brakes, cooling systems, auto electrical work and air conditioning repairs.
If you’ve got a trip coming up, contact the team through our Mandurah workshop contact page and book the vehicle early so it’s ready for the road ahead.