Taking care of your RV throughout the year is essential for making sure it is in good working order when you need to use it or take it for a road trip. Routine RV maintenance is something you should try to accomplish at the start of each season or in some cases, before or after each use. RV maintenance will assure that small issues are fixed before they become a costly problem.
Interior
Taking care of the interior of your camper or motor home is a good way to provide routine RV maintenance. As a preventative measure you should always look for condensation build up throughout the camper or motor home. Condensation can form easily in a camper because it is often closed up when not in use as the temperatures change constantly outside. Routine RV maintenance will help spot these issues before they are a problem.
Frequently opening windows and vents will help assure that air flows adequately throughout the RV. When using the RV, make sure to ventilate properly when showering or creating any type of steam or exhaust inside. Part of your RV maintenance routine should be to look for signs of mold or wet surfaces.
Check to see if cushions or mattress smell musty or moldy. Allow to air dry immediately to prevent mold and mildew growth.
As part of routine RV maintenance, replace any broken pieces to the sink, bathroom area as well as handles and pulls. This will prevent drawers and doors from getting stuck and breaking.
Exterior
Inspecting the exterior condition of your camper or motor home each fall and spring is important for long-term RV maintenance. Roof inspections should be done every three months to catch new leaks or damages in the roofs surface. Other things that may be attached to the roof such as venting systems or antennas should also be checked for loose or broken parts.
Treat the roof annually with a UV protectant. Make sure that the roof is sealed properly and there are no gaps or holes. As part of your RV maintenance, check for bubbles. A small amount of bubbling may not be a sign of trouble but simply the roof breathing. Large bubbles or breaks could signify too much moisture is building up.
Check around the windows to make sure they are sealed properly. Make sure there are no popping nails and that metal trim is secure and in place.
Examining the cover for your camper is an important part of RV maintenance. The cover should be free of holes and tears. Faded and weathered covers should be replaced as soon as possible.
Wash and wax the exterior of your camper. This type of RV maintenance will help improve the luster of your RV and also help with repelling water or snow.
Brakes
Making sure the brakes are in good shape before you head out on a trip is both safety and RV maintenance. Brakes should not squeak or grind. They can be adjusted at around 3,000 miles and should be done by a licensed mechanic or someone certified in RV brakes. The mechanic should also check for wear and any damage to the axels and wheel bearings. Make sure your break control is set up properly before each trip.
Waste and Water
Keeping your waste and water hoses working properly will prevent overflow and clogs. This is important for RV maintenance. For waste water, be sure to routinely use a drain valve lubricant to keep the flow moving. Make sure the dump valve cap is working properly; otherwise waste could slip out unexpectedly.
For your fresh water, proper RV maintenance should include installing a water filter to your water tank. This will help with hard water build up and can prevent unwanted debris and bacteria from reaching your tap and faucets.
Flush the water heater once a year to remove sentiment and improve water flow. Keeping up with this type of RV maintenance will also help lengthen the life of your water heater.
Battery
Having a battery that efficiently powers your coach or RV is very important in RV maintenance and reliability. Here are a few tips for battery RV maintenance:
• Replace deep-cycle batteries every 5 years
• Top off the plates with water in the batteries once a month when in use
• Keep batteries charged when the RV is not in use
• Remove the battery during cold winter months
Following these RV maintenance tips will help reduce the amount of damage that could occur should a small problem go unnoticed. The goal is to have a reliable RV that can bring you years of use and enjoyment.