Correct RV upkeep is a vital a part of holding your rig in tip-top form, whether or not it’s your full-time house or house away from house.
After all, step one in correctly sustaining your rig is to learn the guide for RV upkeep directions particular to your automobile. For basic upkeep, one of the best place to start out is on the prime.
Maintain studying for RV upkeep from prime to backside!
Roof
When contemplating RV upkeep on your roof, you first have to know what sort of roof you have got. There are six sorts of roofing materials used on RVs: aluminum, fiberglass, vinyl, TPO, EPDM, and SuperFlex (a kind of TPO). We’re going to cowl the three hottest.
In the event you don’t already know what sort of roof you have got, the simplest technique to determine this out is to go inside your RV and take away the trim ring of certainly one of your roof vents. There ought to be a portion of the roofing materials stapled inside your rig. Take away a staple and try the fabric.
You possible have an EPDM roof if one aspect is white and the opposite is black. In case your roofing materials is white on the highest and backside, you could have a TPO roof. Maintain studying for tactics to inform when you’ve got a SuperFlex roof.
An important factor to recollect when cleansing your RV’s roof is to make use of excessive warning! Cleansing your roof means it’ll get moist. A moist roof is a critical slip hazard. You’ll want to put on the correct footwear (your flip-flops in all probability aren’t it), and be tremendous cautious.
No matter your roof sort, step one to RV upkeep in your roof is to comb off any particles. Whilst you’re doing that, verify for any holes, gouges, unfastened sealant, or different upkeep points that have to be addressed earlier than including water to your roof.
When cleansing your roof, at all times begin on the entrance and transfer towards the ladder. Not solely is that this observe to remain protected, however you’ll need your roof to air dry. Image portray your self right into a nook. Hanging out in your RV rooftop and ready for it to dry could make for a really lengthy day.
TPO (Thermal Poly Olefin)
Now that you just’ve decided you have got a TPO roof, the steps for RV upkeep are straightforward. Seize a bottle of Camco Cleaner formulated particularly for TPO roofs and a scrubber brush.
Combine your cleaner in a bucket in accordance with the instructions on the package deal and begin scrubbing. In case you have badly stained locations, you should utilize a bit of little bit of full-strength Camco Cleaner to maintain these spots.
After washing, rinse totally all the best way down your rig. In the event you don’t do rinse job, you’ll be able to find yourself with black streaks, and no person desires that!
EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Terpolymer)
When contemplating RV upkeep in your EPDM roof, you’ll desire a cleaner like Thetford’s Premium Rubber Roof Cleaner. Thetford recommends utilizing a sponge mop and soft-bristled brush to use their product. Thetford additionally cautions that you need to use a rag to maintain any product from dripping down the aspect of your RV, as it’ll trigger white streaks.
SuperFlex
The SuperFlex roof is a kind of TPO roof manufactured by Alpha Techniques. SuperFlex roofs are available beige, gray, almond, or white. In case your roofing membrane is white on one aspect and has a shade on the opposite, chances are high you have got a SuperFlex roof. Understand that SuperFlex roofing materials wasn’t launched till 2014.
Alpha Techniques recommends merely utilizing Daybreak dish cleaning soap to wash their roofing materials.
Batteries and Shore Energy
The batteries in your RV function the 12-volt system, which is most of your lights and the water pump. Shore energy is the 120-volt system that runs your main home equipment and hooks as much as the facility pedestal on the campground.
Battery
For RV upkeep in your battery, verify to verify your batteries are safe, and the connections are tight, clear, and don’t have any corrosion. In the event you uncover white scaly corrosion round your battery terminals, it’s essential to clear and shield these connections. All the time bear in mind to disconnect the bottom first, and reconnect it final!
Noco makes a 2-step course of to wash your battery terminals. Step 1 is a cleaner spray, and Step 2 is a brush-on protectant.
Periodically verify the constructive and unfavourable cables to guarantee that they aren’t rubbing on something and that the plastic insulation is unbroken and never broken.
One other merchandise to maintain in your toolbag is an RV fuse assortment equipment. It’s higher to have additional fuses and never want them to don’t have any lights when you’re boondocking.
Shore Energy
Whereas there technically actually isn’t RV upkeep you are able to do on your electrical system, you’ll be able to hold a GFI tester in your toolbag to verify for any shorts within the system.
In the event you haven’t already invested in a surge protector, we’ve got a listing of our prime picks for one of the best surge protector on your RV.
Furnace and Air Conditioner
The best RV upkeep step on your furnace and AC items is to make sure the filters are clear (in case your RV has filters). Some filters could be rinsed and reused. Others you’ll have to interchange. This might be one other nice time to verify the guide for pointers particular to your RV.
Additionally, verify outdoors your RV the place the furnace exhaust vents. That is prime actual property for wasps to nest. Take away the panel to examine and clear that space periodically.
The sail swap is among the commonest gadgets to fail on an RV furnace. It could be a good suggestion to drag out the proprietor’s guide once more and order an additional sail swap to maintain in your RV upkeep equipment. Higher to have one readily available when your furnace goes out on the coldest night time of the yr.
Propane Tank
When performing RV upkeep in your propane tanks, first verify that your tanks are correctly licensed so that you just don’t have any points getting your tanks crammed.
Test your regulator to make sure it’s working correctly and the hoses should not cracked or dry-rotted. In the event you hear a leak or odor propane when hooking up your tank, shut the tank off and have it checked out by an expert instantly.
All the time verify that your tanks are correctly secured within the mounting brackets. And, in fact, verify that your tanks are full. A propane tank gauge degree indicator and leak detector is one other useful gizmo to have in your arsenal.
Regardless that a Professional Test Sensor isn’t technically part of RV upkeep, we needed to incorporate it on this put up to assist make your RV life a bit of simpler. Merely connect the monitor to the underside of your tank and obtain the app. You’ll get real-time updates in your propane ranges. No extra waking as much as a chilly house since you forgot to verify the propane ranges.
Slides and Awnings
Earlier than closing your slides, at all times verify that there aren’t any limbs or different particles on prime of the slide. A telescoping ladder will make fast work of this job, and it shops away simply.
Making certain that your slides truly slide out and in is crucial to RV upkeep. Utilizing RV Rubber Seal Conditioner will hold the rubber seals in your slides conditioned and lubricated.
Test your slide monitor for any filth or particles. A wire brush can be utilized to wash the tracks. Spraying your slides with Dry Lube will assist take away any particles left behind, and add a waxy coating to guard your slide tracks.
Guarantee your awnings are debris-free and closed earlier than taking off on your subsequent journey. One of the simplest ways to maintain your awnings in good condition is to shut them if there’s a likelihood of storms or excessive winds.
Home windows and Doorways
Water leaks…two phrases that may strike worry within the coronary heart of any RVer. Left unchecked, water leaks can result in injury to the construction of your RV, paneling pulled unfastened, and even mildew. Test the seals of your doorways and home windows to assist guarantee this doesn’t occur to your house.
You may as well use a small screwdriver to press evenly across the perimeter of your doorways and home windows to really feel for any mushy spots.
Whereas checking round your home windows, use compressed air to wash out the weep holes. In the event you’re unfamiliar with weep holes, they’re the small horizontal slits on the backside of your home windows that enable water to empty away. In the event that they get plugged, the water has nowhere to go however inside. Right here’s a tip, be sure to’re standing inside your RV and blow the air and particles outdoors, belief us!
Security Gear
Like in your sticks and bricks, a necessary a part of RV upkeep is checking the batteries in your smoke detector. Whereas checking the batteries, contemplate upgrading your detector to an Aegislink Wi-Fi smoke and carbon monoxide detector.
What’s distinctive about this detector is that it exhibits you what the degrees of CO are in your house. One other nice function is the photoelectric sensor, which gained’t go off each time you open the oven door. And since you’ll be able to management all the pieces from the app, you can also make it cease beeping proper out of your cellphone.
Lastly, verify your hearth extinguisher as a part of your RV upkeep for security tools. First Alert makes a hearth extinguisher particularly for RVs.
Black and Gray Tanks
Transferring on to the least favored however arguably most necessary a part of RV upkeep – your black and gray tanks. To take care of a wholesome and joyful life-style in your RV house, it’s important that the bathroom, sinks, and bathe work and drain correctly.
Fortunately, there are solely three steps to sustaining these tanks: empty, flush, and sanitize.
Beginning along with your black tank, empty the tank after which flush water by way of till you see clear water stream out of the elbow in your hose. Lastly, sanitize your tank by dropping a few Camco TST Max tablets down the bathroom and into the tank.
After the black tank is flushed, you’ll be able to transfer on to the gray tank. That would imply merely opening one other valve or transferring your hose to a different drain in your RV. That is one other time your RV guide will turn out to be useful.
Take a look at our picks for the highest 5 greatest RV sewer hoses to make this activity much less of a chore.
Wheels, Tires, and Brakes
We’ve moved from the highest of your RV to the underside. Final on the checklist of RV upkeep is to make sure that your wheels, tires, and brakes are able to hit the highway.
For security’s sake, have an expert verify your brakes.
So far as the wheels are involved, examine them for any cracks and to make sure they aren’t bent from unintentionally hitting a curb.
Test your tires for any indicators of dry rotting, cracks, punctures, or bubbles. Whilst you’re crawling round checking these things, be sure that your lug nuts are tight and torqued to the specs indicated in your guide. One final thing, verify that the tires are correctly inflated to the specs indicated on the sidewall.
Incessantly Requested Questions
What upkeep ought to I do inside my RV to maintain it in prime form?
Whereas a lot of the RV upkeep gadgets listed thus far have been outdoors your house, holding the within of your house clear is crucial to maintain your RV in tip-top form. Maintaining home equipment clear will assist them work extra effectively and ought to be a day by day a part of your RV upkeep.
Look ahead to indicators of leaks and condensation that may result in points with mildew, which is a battle most RVers have both fought or are at the moment combating. Open doorways underneath sinks and do a sniff take a look at for any musty smells. Really feel round for moist areas.
Test underneath and round mattresses. Mould likes to assemble there, and leaving it unchecked can result in catastrophe.
I inspected my RV and located mildew, now what?
Step one is to not panic! RMR Manufacturers has a whole equipment for eliminating and stopping mildew that many RVers swear by. You’ll want to placed on security tools earlier than tackling your mildew drawback.
Sadly, as a result of RVs are heated with propane, there can be condensation points as a result of propane offers off moisture when used. That’s simply the character of the beast. To assist forestall mildew, you’ll be able to run a moveable dehumidifier.
You may as well grasp an Eva Dry mini rechargeable dehumidifier in notably problematic areas, just like the bed room. Think about inserting a Den Dry pad between your mattress and the plywood. You may as well take away the plywood base and construct a slatted base on your mattress.
A Properly-Maintained RV Equals Completely satisfied Holidays!
You might need seen that we didn’t focus on mills or engines on this RV upkeep put up. It’s because there are such a lot of several types of engines and mills. Test your guide for data on performing upkeep particular to your RV.
Now that you just’ve carried out your RV upkeep, your house on wheels is able to hit the open highway. Go to our RV Tenting web page for sources about nice areas to go to and top-rated tenting merchandise that will help you get pleasure from your greatest RV trip.
