Putting Your Campervan Away for Winter? Don't Forget What's Underneath

Nick was already looking for a VW Split Screen when he spotted one in a car giveaway competition.

The entry cost him £2 and he won!

That rather fortunate £2 has since become The Big Green Snail a rebuilt and customised Split Screen transformed into the large campervan Nick wanted.

And while the initial purchase might have cost less than lunch, there's now considerably more invested in keeping it on the road. Winter storage doesn't stop corrosion. For many campervan owners, winter means a change of pace.

After a summer of weekends away, campsites and road trips, the van might spend weeks or months parked up. It's tempting to think that because it isn't being driven, nothing much is happening.

Unfortunately, parking a camper doesn't automatically make everything underneath clean and dry.

Road grime, mud and contamination from the year's travels may still be present. If the van has been driven on salted roads potentially even during the previous winter — traces can remain in areas that haven't been thoroughly cleaned.

Add moisture and long periods sitting still, and you've got good reason to include the underside in your winter preparation.

Clean before you protect

The first job is getting underneath and cleaning properly.

Removing accumulated dirt doesn't just prepare the surface for protection. It also lets you see what you've actually got.

Look around seams, suspension components, mounting points and areas where dirt tends to collect. If corrosion has started or something else needs attention, finding it while you're deliberately preparing the camper for winter is considerably better than discovering it just before your first trip next year.

Protecting The Big Green Snail

Once everything is clean, dry and inspected, Nick can protect the underside with Lanoguard. Lanoguard helps form a barrier against moisture and road salt and remains flexible rather than drying into a hard coating. It also goes on clear.

That's particularly useful on an older camper because you're protecting the metal without hiding its condition. You can continue inspecting it and top up the protection where necessary.

Protect this year's investment for next year's adventures

Whether your camper cost £2 or considerably more, chances are you've invested money, time and plenty of memories into it.

Winterising isn't about scaring yourself into thinking it'll dissolve the moment October arrives. It's simply sensible preventative maintenance.

Clean it. Inspect it. Protect it. Then keep an eye on it.

Because when the weather improves, you want to be packing the camper for the next trip not lying underneath it fixing corrosion.