Common caravan problems
Check the switch, the fuse, the battery and the gas valve first.
This covers fridges, batteries, 240V power, water pumps, hot water, gas, brakes, hatches and movers.
Each section ends where the maker or a state regulator says to call a professional.
Published . 12 min read • Technical Guide
Start with the makers' own first checks: a switch, a fuse, a flat battery, a closed gas valve or a van that is not level.
Gas work and 240V wiring work are for a licensed gas fitter or electrician.
- Owner checks - switches, fuses, battery charge, gas valves, level, air in the lines
- Licensed work - gas fittings and the regulator, 240V wiring
- Brakes and bearings - a workshop job, on your axle maker's schedule
Every check below is an instruction from a maker's manual or a state safety regulator, and each section lists where it comes from. Your own van's handbook comes first where it says something different.
Fridge: 3-way and 12V compressor
What people notice
- The fridge will not run off the car while towing.
- It will not run on gas, or will not run on 240V.
- It runs but does not get cold enough.
- It shows an error code and beeps.
Check first
- Park the van level, especially before you start a 3-way fridge. Jayco says its compressor fridges operate up to 30 degrees out of level.
- A 3-way fridge runs on 12V only while the car's engine is running, through the car's plug. It does not run from the van battery.
- While towing, set the fridge to Auto or 12V. Check the car plug makes good contact and the fridge fuse in the car is intact.
- On gas, check the gas is selected and the cylinder is full and turned on.
- Give it time. Jayco's FAQ says Auto mode takes about 15 minutes to change from 12V to gas. Some fridges also hold off gas for 15 minutes after the car stops.
- After a cylinder change, air in the line can stop it lighting. Switch the fridge off and on again, a few times if needed.
- Above about 1,000 metres, gas lighting can be unreliable. Switch to another power source.
- On 240V, check other appliances have power and the fridge's own plug is in and switched on.
- Keep the outside vent grilles clear. In hot weather, park in shade. Dometic suggests taking the vent grilles off in the heat.
- Check the door closes and the seals are not damaged. Defrost the fridge if the freezer plate has iced up.
- Do not overfill it or put warm food in. Recheck the temperature after 4 to 5 hours.
- A 12V compressor fridge switches itself off when the battery runs low, and restarts once the battery is charged.
- For an error code on a compressor fridge, Dometic's manual says to hold the on/off button for 2 seconds to reset it.
Stop and call a professional
- Dometic's manual says only qualified technicians may work on a fridge's gas and electrical parts.
- Never try to repair the gas system or the flue yourself, Thetford's manual says.
- A sharp smell from the cooling system: switch the fridge off, air the van and contact the fridge maker.
- Thetford recommends a qualified person inspects the gas system every year.
More on this: Caravan fridges compared: 3-way and compressor.
Sources: Jayco owner FAQ; Jayco owner's handbook; Dometic RUA absorption fridge manual; Dometic RCD10.5 compressor fridge manual; Dometic RM 2350 product page; Thetford N4000 fridge manual.
12V battery, charging and solar
What people notice
- No 12V power anywhere in the van.
- Everything on 12V switches off when the battery runs low. The battery management system cuts the power to protect the battery.
- The solar puts in less than you expected.
- A rotten-egg smell near the battery.
Check first
- Check the battery isolation switch. A van can have one at the control panel, one at the battery management system and one at the battery.
- Check the battery monitor. On some units a battery button or a storage switch turns every load off.
- If the battery is low, plug the van into mains power to charge it.
- Check the battery terminals are tight and clean, and the in-line battery fuse has not blown.
- Wash the solar panels with warm soapy water, and only when the panels are cool.
- Park away from trees and buildings. BMPRO's manual says shade on part of a panel can cut its output by up to 80%.
- Expect less solar in winter and on cloudy days. Charging also slows as the battery nears full, and that is normal.
- On mains power, check the battery charger's own power switch is on.
- Check and charge the battery before each trip. Turn the isolation switch off when the van is stored.
Stop and call a professional
- Jayco's handbook sends 12V faults to a qualified, licensed auto electrician.
- A rotten-egg smell means the battery is being overcharged, Jayco's handbook says. Stop charging at once and call the dealer or a repair agent.
- Jayco's electrical guide says not to charge the van battery with a separate charger, because it risks permanent damage or fire.
More on this: Caravan battery types compared, How much solar a caravan needs, Caravan power calculator, Portable power stations.
Sources: Jayco owner FAQ; Jayco owner's handbook; Jayco electrical guide; BMPRO BatteryPlus35-II manual; Victron SmartSolar troubleshooting; Projecta battery management manual.
240V power and the safety switch tripping
What people notice
- No 240V power in the van.
- The safety switch or circuit breaker keeps tripping.
- Some power points stop working when the inverter is on. Some points run only from mains power.
- The light on the surge protector has gone out.
Check first
- Check the lead is plugged in and switched on at the site. Then check the site's circuit breaker and the van's own breaker.
- Try a different lead, in case yours is faulty.
- If the power keeps tripping, unplug every appliance from every power point, then reset the breaker.
- Use one continuous 15 amp lead, fully uncoiled and no longer than 10 metres. Use one lead per inlet and no double adaptors.
- Replace a worn or damaged lead.
- If the site's outlet has no safety switch, plug into a portable outlet that has one built in.
- Press the Test button on each safety switch as often as its maker says, or every three months, whichever comes first.
Stop and call a professional
- A safety switch that will not stay on after a reset, or does not trip when tested, needs a licensed electrician.
- If unplugging everything does not stop the tripping, have the van inspected by a service agent or dealer.
- Jayco's handbook says the 240V lead should be inspected at least once a year by a licensed electrician.
- Any change to the van's 240V wiring needs a licensed electrical contractor.
- If the surge protector's light is out, Jayco's handbook says it has probably taken a large surge and needs replacing.
More on this: Powering a caravan at a free camp.
Sources: Jayco owner FAQ; Jayco owner's handbook; Jayco electrical guide; WA Building and Energy: camping safely with gas and electricity; WA Building and Energy: RCD safety switches.
Water pump and tanks
What people notice
- The pump runs but no water comes out, or it splutters.
- The pump turns itself on and off with every tap shut.
- The pump will not start, or will not stop.
- Low flow at the tap.
Check first
- Check there is water in the tank.
- Clean the strainer, the small filter on the pump's inlet.
- Bleed the air out. Open each tap in turn until the water runs steady.
- Check the hoses are not kinked or squashed, and the joints are not sucking in air.
- Check the pump's fuse or breaker and the main pump switch.
- If the motor is hot, let it cool. Its thermal breaker resets itself.
- If the pump runs with every tap shut, look for a dripping tap, a leak or a leaking toilet valve.
- Sanitise the tank before and after storage, the way your van's handbook says. Shurflo's manual uses 1ml of bleach for each litre of tank.
- After adding it, open every tap until you smell chlorine. Wait 4 hours, then drain and flush the tank.
Stop and call a professional
- Leave the pump's pressure adjustment alone. Shurflo says only a professional technician should set it.
More on this: Payload calculator (water weighs 1kg a litre).
Sources: Shurflo 4008 pump manual.
Hot water system
What people notice
- It will not light after a gas cylinder change.
- The water is too cold, or no hot water reaches the tap.
- It stops after about 20 minutes. Some heaters lock out to save gas.
- Soot around the outside vent.
- An error code on the panel.
Check first
- Check the gas is turned on and the cylinder is not empty.
- After a cylinder change, light a cooktop burner first to clear air from the line. Then try the heater a few times.
- Before the first use each season, turn the water on and open each tap until the air is out.
- Open the hot tap fully. Suburban's manual says its ST instant heater needs about 2.6 litres a minute of flow before it lights.
- On a Suburban ST, reset a lockout by turning the control panel off and on again.
- Check the temperature setting, the panel's power light and the 12V supply.
- Make sure an open door is not blocking the outside vent.
- On a tank heater, a relief valve that drips a little can be normal, Suburban says.
Stop and call a professional
- Soot at the vent: shut the heater down at once and call a qualified service person.
- Never try to repair the gas valve.
- If any part of the heater has been under water, call a qualified technician straight away.
More on this: Caravan hot water systems: types, anodes, valves and 240V checks.
Sources: Suburban ST water heater manual; Suburban ST-60A Australian troubleshooting guide; Suburban FAQ; Camec instant gas water heater manual; Jayco owner's handbook.
Gas cylinders and the regulator
If you smell gas
- Put out every flame.
- Keep people away from the van.
- Do not touch electrical switches.
- Turn the gas off at the cylinder valve.
- Open the doors and vents.
- Stay out until the smell clears.
- Have a licensed gas fitter check the system before you use the gas again.
These steps are from Jayco's handbook, and WA's gas guide for caravans gives the same advice.
What people notice
- No gas to any appliance.
- A smell of gas.
- The cooker is slow to light, or an appliance clicks, hisses or thumps.
- A stove flame that burns orange.
- A cylinder past its test date.
Check first
- Check the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders are full and their valves are open. Check each appliance's own gas valve too.
- Close the appliance taps before you open the cylinder valve.
- Turn the cylinder valve by hand only.
- Close the cylinder valve when travelling, when refuelling and when nothing is in use.
- Check the test date stamped near the cylinder's neck. Energy Safe Victoria says to use only cylinders tested within the last 10 years.
- Refill the cylinder with LPG at a cylinder refill point. Jayco's handbook says never to use autogas.
- Keep vents and flues clear. Never use an outdoor gas heater or barbecue inside the van.
Stop and call a professional
- Leave the regulator alone. Jayco's handbook advises against resetting it yourself. WA Building and Energy lists replacing it, or the pigtail hose (the short hose from the cylinder), as licensed work.
- An orange flame needs a qualified technician to inspect it.
- An appliance that starts working differently needs a licensed gas fitter. WA Building and Energy recommends a gas service at least once a year.
Sources: Jayco owner FAQ; Jayco owner's handbook; Energy Safe Victoria: gas and LPG safety outdoors; Elgas: gas cylinder safety; WA Building and Energy: camping safely with gas and electricity; WA Building and Energy: gas appliances in caravans; Thetford N4000 fridge manual.
Brakes and wheel bearings
What people notice
- No brakes, weak brakes, brakes that come and go, or brakes that lock.
- The brakes grab or feel harsh.
- The brake controller in the car shows no trailer.
Check first
- Test the van's brakes at low speed every time you hitch up.
- Clean the trailer plug and the car's socket. REDARC's manual says most faults are something simple, like a dirty socket.
- Set the brake controller's gain (its braking strength) low and work up. REDARC suggests starting below level 5. If the van's brakes lock, turn the gain down, Dexter's manual says.
- The van's brakes should come on slightly before the car's, AL-KO says.
- Reset the brake controller the way its manual describes.
- Check the handbrake is fully off before you drive. AL-KO says a handbrake left on can overheat the brakes and hubs.
- Look over the brake wires between the chassis and each wheel for damage.
How often brakes and bearings are serviced
AL-KO's electric brake manual asks for a first brake clean and adjustment between 300 and 1,000 kilometres. After that, the brakes and wheel bearings are serviced every 10,000 kilometres or 12 months.
AL-KO's chassis handbook moves off-road vans to every 6 months or 5,000 kilometres. Vans stored for long periods go on the same shorter schedule.
Other axle makers set their own intervals, so follow the schedule in your van's handbook.
Stop and call a professional
- AL-KO lists wheel bearing work and brake adjustment as workshop jobs.
- Do not tow while the brake controller shows a fault code.
- REDARC suggests a qualified technician checks the trailer brake system before each holiday season.
More on this: Brake controllers explained.
Sources: AL-KO electric brake manual; AL-KO chassis service handbook; AL-KO caravan safety page; REDARC Tow-Pro Elite manual; Dexter axle service manual.
Roof hatches, windows and leaks
What people notice
- The roof hatch will not close all the way.
- The flyscreen or blind sticks.
- Stains, cuts or dimples on an inside wall or the ceiling.
Check first
- Clean the hatch and clear any leaves or twigs between the glass and the frame.
- Clean the side guides of a blind that sticks.
- Rub a little talcum powder on the rubber seals now and then.
- Clean acrylic windows with a microfibre cloth only. Do not use abrasives, sharp tools or bleach.
- Check every hatch is closed and locked before you drive. Close them if it rains.
- Check the outside seals around windows and hatches regularly. Camec's servicing guide says stains, cuts or dimples inside can be signs of a leak.
Stop and call a professional
- Dometic's hatch manual says to see a specialist workshop about any fault these checks do not fix.
Sources: Dometic Mini Heki roof hatch manual; Dometic S4 window manual; Camec caravan servicing guide.
Caravan movers, stabiliser legs and the jockey wheel
What people notice
- The mover does not respond to the remote.
- A warning light on the remote.
- The rollers will not pull back off the tyres.
- The rollers slip, or the van stops and starts on a slope.
Check first
- Put fresh batteries in the remote.
- Charge the van battery. Truma says battery power drops a lot in the cold.
- Check the fuse in the mover's battery cable. Clean and tighten the battery terminals.
- Release the handbrake before you use the mover.
- Check the tyre pressures against the van's handbook.
- With the mover off, check the gap between the rollers and the tyres. Truma and Purple Line both give 2cm.
- Once a year, spray the mover's moving parts with silicone spray. Keep it off the rollers and the tyres.
- Stabiliser legs are not jacks. AL-KO says never use them to take any of the van's weight.
- Grease the stabiliser legs and the jockey wheel's thread regularly.
Stop and call a professional
- Rollers that will not reach the tyres, or errors that keep coming back: contact the mover's maker or your dealer.
- Purple Line recommends a mover service once a year.
Sources: Truma mover problems guide; Truma mover tips; Purple Line mover manual; AL-KO caravan safety page; AL-KO chassis service handbook.
Work that needs a licensed gas fitter or electrician
In every state and territory, gas work on a caravan must be done by a licensed gas fitter. 240V wiring work must be done by a licensed electrician.
That covers fitting, moving or repairing a gas appliance, replacing the regulator or its pigtail hose, and any change to the 240V wiring. A certificate of compliance is issued after the work.
12V wiring is extra-low voltage. Jayco's handbook recommends a qualified, licensed auto electrician for 12V faults.
Queensland and Tasmania rules
Queensland. If you sell or give away a registered caravan with gas, you must give the new owner a gas compliance certificate. It must be issued no more than 3 months before they take the van. A sale to a dealer is outside the rule. What each state says about gas certificates. Petroleum and Gas (Safety) Regulation 2018, section 116.
Tasmania. Tasmania's consumer affairs office says caravans registered there must display an Electrical Compliance Certificate sticker. Using electricity safely in caravans.
Official sources on caravan gas work, by state and territory:
Is it a warranty or recall issue?
A fault on a newer van may be covered by the maker's warranty, the appliance maker's own warranty or a recall. Check before you book a repair, because the warranty booklet may say who can do the work.
Common questions
Can I work on my caravan's gas system myself?
Owners can check the cylinders, open and close the valves and keep the vents clear. Fitting, repairing or changing any part of the gas system, the regulator included, is licensed gas fitting work in every state and territory.
Do I need an electrician for a 12V problem?
Jayco's handbook recommends a qualified, licensed auto electrician for 12V faults. 12V wiring is extra-low voltage, and the state electrician licensing rules in this guide cover 240V work.
How often should caravan brakes and wheel bearings be serviced?
AL-KO asks for a first brake adjustment between 300 and 1,000 kilometres, then brakes and bearings every 10,000 kilometres or 12 months. Off-road vans and vans stored for long periods go every 6 months or 5,000 kilometres. Follow your own axle maker's schedule.
Do I need a gas certificate to sell my caravan in Queensland?
Yes, for a private sale of a registered caravan with gas. The seller must give the buyer a gas compliance certificate issued no more than 3 months before the buyer takes the van. A sale to a dealer is outside this rule.
This is general information drawn from makers' manuals and state safety regulators, read on 30 October 2026. It is not advice about your van. Your van's handbook and the appliance maker's manual come first.