New Zealand's freedom camping culture means thousands of campervans, motorhomes, and converted vans hit the road from Labour Weekend through Easter. Tourists rent from Jucy, Britz, and Maui. Locals pull their own motorhomes out of winter storage. And every one of them needs to be road-ready.

Campervans are uniquely profitable for workshops because they combine vehicle maintenance with specialised systems — the "house" part: gas systems, water pumps, fridges, leisure batteries, solar panels. Most regular workshops avoid this work. The ones that embrace it charge premium prices because the alternative is a specialist motorhome dealer who charges even more.

The Pre-Summer Campervan Checklist

  • Engine service: Oil, filters, coolant check. Standard vehicle service. $150–$300.
  • Brake inspection: Campervans are heavy when loaded — brakes work harder. $100–$300.
  • Tyre check: Many campervans sit all winter on the same tyres. Check for flat spots, cracking, age (tyres over 6 years old should be replaced regardless of tread). $50–$200 per tyre.
  • Suspension check: Loaded campervans stress suspension. Check shocks, springs, leaf springs (on larger motorhomes). $100–$400.
  • WoF: Required before hitting the road. $50–$70.
  • Leisure battery test: The second battery that runs lights, fridge, and water pump. Often dead after winter storage. $50–$200 replacement.
  • Gas certificate: LPG systems need a current gas certificate for self-containment. Not your job, but you can coordinate with a gas fitter. Referral opportunity.
  • Water system flush: Standing water grows bacteria. Flush and sanitise the freshwater system. $50–$100.

Total pre-summer campervan service: $700–$2,000. Premium work for premium vehicles.

The Rental Fleet Opportunity

Campervan rental companies (Jucy, Britz, Mighty, Apollo) have fleets of 100–500+ vehicles based in Auckland and Christchurch. They need pre-season preparation for every vehicle and ongoing maintenance during the rental season.

One rental fleet contract: 50 vehicles × $500 pre-season service = $25,000. Plus ongoing repairs during peak season: another $10,000–$20,000. A single fleet customer is worth $35,000–$45,000/year.

The Self-Containment Inspection Market

To freedom camp in NZ, vehicles need self-containment certification. This requires a toilet, freshwater, wastewater, and handwashing — all in working order. Mechanics who understand self-containment requirements can offer inspection and remediation services.

Track every campervan with Mekavo. Record vehicle type, self-containment certification date, WoF date, and last service. Send pre-summer reminders in September. Free for Kiwi workshops.

The campervans are coming out of winter storage. Is your workshop ready for them?