Annual servicing is essential for a touring caravan. If your van is pretty new, then a professional service is a requirement of the warranty, but it's very poor form to skimp on servicing once the warranty has expired. A professional workshop will generally get a van up on the ramp and give the whole thing a thorough going-over. Tyres, brakes and suspension are the most safety-critical items to worry about, but a full service will also verify whether gas and electrical appliances are fighting fit, as well as sniff out the dreaded damp before it turns your tourer into papier mâché.
If you are competent and have the facility to do the job at home, don't make the mistake of many caravanners who give their tourers little more than a cursory glance. If you have the caravan professionally serviced, it still makes good sense to keep an eye on its condition year around. Run through the following checks regularly to reduce the chance that you will encounter problems while on the road.

There's no excuse for not keeping your tyres properly inflated. Tyre pressures should be listed on your caravan chassis plate or in the handbook. A tyre pressure gauge costs only £1 from Tesco, so keep one in your glovebox and keep the tyres topped up. Also keep an eye out for obvious damage, such as splits, bulges and tears.

Window rubber can stick to the windows, particularly if they are windows that are rarely opened. To prevent this, a light coating of talcum powder on all the seals will prevent the window and rubber sticking tightly together. Vaseline is often used, too, although this is more aggressive than talc. As a result, there is concern about its long-term effect on plastic windows.

An annual service will cover greasing the tow gear. The grease points are dotted around the A-frame, with the most obvious on top. However, others are hidden here and there. Use a grease gun to push a few strokes of grease through the system periodically. Incidentally, if you have a stabiliser, keep grease well away from the end that clamps onto the towball; the stabiliser won't work if it's contaminated with grease. (Need help choosing a grease gun? Read our review of eight models)

Door and locker hinges can squeak, seize and wear if not kept lubricated. People use a variety of products, but WD-40 and light oils are not ideal because they may break down plastics. Thetford Seal Lubricant is designed for use on all these and will keep your toilet lipseal working effectively. Most caravan accessory shops sell it for around £4.

Shrinkage of rubber seals, plastic trim, gaping mastic and rusty screws are all tell-tale signs of body problems, so it's worth having a good look around your van on a regular basis. If you see something that worries you, effect a temporary repair with a suitable caravan sealant but book a trip to your workshop to get it looked at properly at the first opportunity.