For those of us who live full time in our recreational vehicles, we may get caught up in the hustle and bustle and forget to maintain them. Usually we do not fix things until a major problem arises. I find that the best way to keep up with RV maintenance is to buy a notebook and devote it to documenting when maintenance is completed. Simply write date and description of what maintenance was performed. If you go through a professional, keep documentation and receipts, just in case their work does not hold up for the allotted time that it is supposed to.
The best way to handle RV maintenance is to complete them monthly, seasonally, and annually.
Monthly
- Be sure to run the generator at least 2 hours a month. Gas eventually goes bad so it needs to be ran through the generator. For those who store their RV, you can use a fuel stabilizer.
- If applicable, top off batteries with distilled water. This keeps the battery from overheating, by keep the cells from drying up.
- Keep your AC vents cleaned and free of debris.
- Check under the hood to make sure all fluids are an acceptable level and color. Check for leaks, lose clamps, and torn hoses. It is very important to get comfortable with the the stuff under the hood.
- Test your safety equipment. This includes ensuring that your carbon monoxide and smoke detector work. Also check your fire extinguishers to ensure the gauge indicates the correct pressure.
- Check under and around rig to make sure there are no ways for pests to enter.
- If your rig has slide outs, it is important to re-lubricate them to make sure they do not rust or corrode.
- Check seals and reseal any voids or cracks. This will ensure no pests or moisture get in.
Seasonal
- DEEP CLEAN and reorganize. I emphasize this for two reasons. First of all when I deep clean I tend to find a lot of things I have lost or forgot about. hahaaa. Also deep cleaning helps you avoid issues like attracting ants with food crumbs in corners. Overall deep cleaning and reorganizing helps you access what you have and what you may need.
- Inspect for damage overall. If you travel from place to place this will help you see anything you may have overlooked. If you keep it stored this helps you see any damage that could have occurred during the time it was stored.
- If applicable. wax your RV or have it professionally waxed. Weather and sun can play a toll on your exterior. If you do not require a wax, be sure to keep it washed to avoid build up. Keeping the exterior cleaned will also help expose any damage that could be covered up by dirt.
- Filter your water. There are many ways to do this and it will be covered in a later article. But ensure that water is filtered especially if it has been sitting in the tank for a few months or so.
- Weigh your RV. This is important to make sure there are no problem areas in the load. Equal distribution of weight is ideal and helps with the handling of your vessel.
- Examine tires. RV tires should be inspected for wear and tear, as well as checked for correct pressure.
- As always, check seals. These can not be checked enough! You do not want to deal with moisture seeping in over time. The roof should be checked every 2-3 months due to the fact that it is the most exposed to weather and the sun, and some animals.
- Treat your metals, especially those that rub together. Lubing your metals will keep them from rusting and working at peak efficiency.
Annual
- Have your heat and AC professionally tuned up once a year.
- Have brakes professionally serviced. But service them sooner if they do not seem to be working efficiently. For those who tow be sire to use the tow brakes as well. This will add less wear and tear on the vehicle being used to tow.
- inspect propane and propane tank. Have the tank inspected for leaks.
- Check on those “lifetime” seals.