The cost of maintaining a converted vehicle

Introduction

You bought your motorhome, van, or converted van and you’re wondering how much maintenance will cost you each year? It’s an essential question, as the purchase price is just the tip of the iceberg. Between mechanics, tires, technical inspections, insurance, and all the little daily maintenance tasks, the maintenance cost of a converted vehicle can quickly add up if you’re not careful.

After several years of full-time motorhome living, we have a pretty clear vision of what it actually costs. In this article, we give you all the prices, item by item, so you can anticipate your motorhome maintenance budget without any unpleasant surprises. We also share our struggles (and there have been some) and our tips to reduce the bill by 20 to 30%.

Our video on motorhome maintenance

Before diving into the numbers, we’ve prepared a video that summarizes the main expense items and our on-the-ground advice. If you prefer the video format, it’s right here:

Summary of motorhome maintenance costs

To give you a quick overview, here is our interactive summary table with all the expense items. You can use it as a checklist to plan your annual budget:

We now detail each item one by one, with updated prices and our feedback.

What are the technical maintenance costs of a motorhome?

Technical maintenance represents the largest expense item: between €1,500 and €3,000 per year depending on the age and condition of your vehicle. It’s a bit like taking care of a house on wheels, you see? You’ll have to dig into your wallet, of course, but it’s the price to pay to keep your little gem in perfect working order.

Mechanical maintenance

Let’s start with the heart of the beast: the engine and its little mechanical friends. You should budget between €200 and €600 per year for an annual service. It’s like for your car, but in XXL version. And don’t forget the famous timing belt! It’s every 120,000 km or 5 years, and it will cost you around €400 to €600. The same goes for the clutch, by the way.

Here is the list of parts you should pay particular attention to during servicing:

• The filters (oil, air, fuel): to be changed regularly to preserve your engine
• The brake pads: crucial for your safety, especially with the weight of your motorhome
• The shock absorbers: they take a hit with all your adventures!
• The starter battery: not to be confused with the auxiliary batteries which are the batteries of your motorhome.
• The belt (not just the timing belt): they drive quite a few things in your engine
• The fluid levels: oil, coolant, brake fluid… they are all important
• The clutch

And if you’re not a mechanical whiz, don’t hesitate to entrust your vehicle to a pro. It might cost you a bit more, but it will save you a lot of trouble on the road.

Cost of a motorhome oil change

The oil change is the most frequent maintenance task you’ll perform on your motorhome. The price varies greatly depending on the engine type and the type of oil used:

If you’re handy, you can do the oil change yourself and save on labor (around €60 to €90 per hour in a garage). The cost of parts alone is around €50 to €80 for the oil and filter.

Tire maintenance

Another important item, especially on a house on wheels, as you might have guessed, is the tires. You need specific tires for motorhomes, the famous “Camper” (or CP), especially if you drive year-round. Budget between €120 and €220 per tire, totaling €480 to €880 for the four. And this needs to be changed every 50,000 km on average.

Remember: good tires guarantee good contact with the road. And with the weight of your motorhome, believe me, you don’t want to skimp on this!

Technical inspection

Ah, the technical inspection! This unavoidable appointment often makes people cringe. For your motorhome, it’s every 2 years starting from the 4th year, then every year from the 10th year. Budget around €85 each time, plus €20 for a re-inspection. It’s a bit more expensive than a regular car, but hey, your motorhome is a bit more complex too!

Maintenance of electrical installations

Electricity in a motorhome is a bit the nerve of the war. Your batteries are sacred! Here are the two main options:

And what about solar panels? Well, once installed, they don’t require much maintenance. A little wipe down now and then to remove dust, and you’re good to go!

Maintenance of the gas and Truma heating system

If your motorhome runs on gas, there’s no joking around, safety is at stake. So unless you remove the gas from your motorhome, you’ll need to have your installation checked every 5 years (4 years in the Basque Country, they’re more cautious there!). It will cost you between €50 and €100 each time.

The Truma heating system (or equivalent) is a central element of your comfort, especially if you travel off-season. Its annual maintenance includes cleaning the burner, checking the combustion chamber, and inspecting the exhaust chimney. Budget to expect: €80 to €150 per year for professional maintenance.

The day our brakes broke in the middle of a Road Trip

This mishap shows the importance of having a precautionary savings for unforeseen events. We recommend keeping at least €2,000 to €3,000 aside for urgent repairs. If you want to know how to react in such situations, read our article on what to do in case of a breakdown on a road trip.

Maintenance and revision of Fiat Ducato

The Fiat Ducato is by far the most common mechanical base for motorhomes in Europe. If your vehicle is built on this platform (Hymer, Bürstner, Pilote, Challenger, Chausson…), here’s what you need to know specifically.

Fiat Ducato maintenance schedule

Annual revision cost

The annual revision of a Fiat Ducato in motorhome version costs between €250 and €500. The price difference is explained by the type of garage:

Timing belt and clutch

These are the two most expensive items on a Ducato. The timing belt (with replacement of the tensioner pulley and water pump, while we’re at it) costs between €400 and €600. The clutch, depending on your driving style and the weight of your vehicle, can last between 100,000 and 200,000 km. Its replacement costs between €600 and €1,000.

What are the other maintenance costs to consider?

Did you think you were done with the expenses? Not so fast! It’s not just the technical side that you’ll need to check annually, but also the maintenance of your living “cell.” Individually, it’s not much, but in total it represents between €200 and €350 per year (excluding insurance).

Cleaning and maintenance of water tanks

Let’s start with the water tanks. It’s a bit the bloodstream of your motorhome, so you might as well take care of it! You’ll need to clean them regularly to avoid bad odors and bacteria. Budget around €30 to €50 per year for specific products. (And believe me, you don’t want to skimp on this, unless you dream of turning your motorhome into a traveling cheese factory!)

Maintenance of chemical toilets

Now let’s talk about a touchy subject: chemical toilets. It’s not glamorous, but it’s necessary! You’ll need to invest in special products to maintain them properly. Budget around €50 per year for that. And don’t forget to empty them regularly, okay? Nobody wants a mutiny on board because of questionable odors!

Specific maintenance products

Your motorhome will require a whole range of specific maintenance products. Between the roof cleaner, the joint cleaner, the floor product… you’ll become a pro in the “motorhome maintenance” aisle! Budget €70 to €100 per year for these products.

A little friendly advice: opt for biodegradable products whenever possible. Nature will thank you, and your camper karma will too!

Waterproofing check

This is a bit of a nightmare for motorhome owners, but it’s super important. A leak, even minor, can cause considerable damage in the long run. This check will cost you between €120 and €150 per year.

Motorhome insurance: how much does it cost?

Insurance is an important item that we sometimes forget to include in the overall maintenance budget. Rates vary greatly depending on the profile and the vehicle:

For more details on coverage options when living on the road, check out our guide on insurance in vanlife.

Know your annual budget in a motorhome

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about maintenance costs

Conclusion