How to stay on top of your van maintenance

Keeping your van in good condition is the key to its long-term performance. Your commercial van goes through a lot on a given day and because your busy carrying out work, it can become neglected. Neglecting regular maintenance on your van could result in a hefty fee from a garage or it could even result in an accident. It’s vital to ensure that you put a plan in place to keep your van running smoothly. At insuremyvan.ie we reached out to Commercial Vehicle Repairs to provide some expert van maintenance tips. We know how crucial it is to keep your van running smoothly so check out these pointers below:

1.Invest in appropriate van insurance.

Before we get down to the nitty gritty on how you can ensure the smooth running of your van, we want to stress the importance of having the appropriate insurance. Sometimes despite all of our regular maintenance scheduling, our vans suffer a fault or a breakdown. Under these circumstances it’s pivotal to have van insurance. At insuremyvan.ie we can provide you with fantastic cover and at a great price to guarantee that you are always protected on the road.

2.Check your tyre condition.

Your tyres are your van’s primary contact with the surface of the road so naturally, they can often take a beating. It is extremely important to regularly check your tyres if your van is constantly on the road. Tyre malfunction can cause serious accidents so this is a step that shouldn’t be ignored. When you’re carrying out a tyre inspection on your van there are a number of things to consider such as overall condition, tyre thread depth and tyre pressure.

3.Tyre thread depth:

Vans are subject to the same tyre laws as cars in Ireland so they must have a minimum tyre thread depth of 1.6mm across all three centre quarters of the tyre’s circumference. A good tyre thread depth is pivotal for ensuring vehicle safety. Vans are particularly vulnerable when it comes to tyre thread depth because they carry heavy loads on the road. The extra weight often present in vans also increases the braking distance necessary, this highlights the importance for a good tyre thread depth even further.

4.Tyre pressure:

Checking the tyre thread depth on your vehicle is very important but so too is checking your van’s tyre pressure. It is essential for the maintenance of your van that you keep your tyres inflated. When a tyre is underinflated, excess heat builds up within the tyre and this greatly increases the likelihood of rapid deflation and then a collision.

5.Regular servicing.

When we spoke to Ian at Commercial Vehicle Repairs, he stated that one of the most common pitfalls he sees with van maintenance is failing to adhere to regular servicing. When you don’t get your van serviced regularly, you leave yourself open to large financial costs and increased downtime. Commercial Vehicle Repairs recommend servicing your vehicle at least once a year depending on mileage. If you have a van that is on the road for long periods and covering a lot of ground then it’s vital to get it serviced. Consider the amount of mileage you are doing in your van. If you haven’t had it serviced in a year then it’s time to go and do it.

6.Don’t ignore the warning signs.

When your van has suffered a malfunction or an issue, lights will appear on your dashboard. Taking action when you see an orange or red warning light is vital. Ian at Commercial Vehicle Repairs, stresses that when you see an orange light, you should take your van to your mechanic and have it seen to at the earliest convenience. When you see a red light however, you should stop driving as soon as it is safe to do so and look further into the problem.

Ideally, you should call your mechanic and ask for advice. The lights on your dashboard are there for a reason, to alert you to a danger concerning your van. Ignoring these warning signs could not only burn a serious hole in your pocket down the line, but it could increase the risk of an accident with your van.

Bonus tip: Mind your windscreen.

The integrity of your van’s windscreen should be monitored on a regular basis to ensure no chips or scratches to the glass will hinder your visibility on the road. Poor visibility can reap havoc on your driving and could increase your risk of a collision. Take the time to carry out checks to your windscreen and also ensure that you keep it clean. Remember not to leave any small cracks on your windscreen unattended as this could result in greater damage being caused.

At insuremyvan.ie we know how much a commercial van can mean to your business. Our expert brokers will do all that they can to ensure you get great van insurance cover and at a great price too. Reach out to us today.