Owning an RV is the best. A recreational vehicle is one of the best investments anyone can make. Especially if you’re a traveler you cut your travel expenses in half by having both your transportation and hotel costs as one. Here are 6 ways you can maintain your RV to make sure your investment lasts a long time. Before you go on a trip, it is advised to get professional rv services to prepare your vehicle for the long drive.
Inspect The Seams And Roof Seals
Ideally, every three months you should inspect the seams and seals of your RV in search of any gaps, openings, or places where the sealant has aged. Your RV is outside braving the elements day after day on your outings through all the seasons and you’ll want to make sure your RV’s exterior is sealed enough to protect the interior.
Check things like the roof, sides, edges, vents, skylights, windows, doors, end caps, compartments, and underside for any gaps and weaknesses. Open gaps and weak seams will mean water leaks inside, dirt or rodents.
Remember to use the appropriate sealant that is compatible with your RV’s material. Find out from your RV dealer or manufacturer if you don’t know which to use.
Check Tire Pressure And Tighten Lug Nuts
Before every trip, check your RV’s wheel lug nuts and tire pressure. Tighten all loose lug nuts and pump air into deflated tires according to the correct specifications. Driving with loose lug nuts is very dangerous and could mean losing a wheel while you’re on the road.
Then, underinflated tires will affect your control over your RV while driving because of the resistance and this will in turn affect gas mileage. Overinflated tires may also explode. Don’t wait for this to happen. This is why the experts at https://smartexploring.com/best-12-volt-air-compressor/ recommend having a portable air compressor on hand because you won’t always be in the range of a gas station to service your tires. You can choose between a lot of models of these, and you should get the one that fits your needs the best.
Change Your RV’s Oil
The fact is RV’s tend to sit a lot and not move for extended periods. This is because an RV is not a regular car that is constantly moving, it is also a house and houses don’t move a lot if at all. This is why you should have oil changes on your checklist and do it at regular intervals. You have to make sure that everything is still sufficiently lubricated.
What will happen if you don’t regularly change your RV’s oil? Your engine will suffer from excessive wear and tear which will eventually cause the engine to seize up. You don’t want to spend up to $10,000 fixing a damaged engine or buying a new one entirely. Engine servicing is definitely on the expensive side, so prevention is better than cure.
For RVs, most manufacturers suggest an oil change every 3,000 to 4,000 miles or every year. Verify for your specific vehicles by asking your dealer or checking the owner’s manual.
Keep Your Brakes In Good Condition
For your own sake, the sake of anyone also in the RV, and the sake of everyone else on the road maintaining your brakes should be a top priority. Make sure your wheel bearings are fine, properly secured with quality bearing nuts and regularly lubricated. Then check that your brakes have enough material left on them and are working correctly so that there’s still a good activation in the trailer. Depending on the type of RV you use, replacing damaged brakes can cost anywhere from $500 to $2,000.
Keep The Waste Water System In Good Condition
Keeping your RV’s wastewater system in good condition includes:
- Using chemicals that are designed for your specific system, depending on whether it’s gray water or black water system
- Flushing the system regularly with large amounts of fluid
- Using biodegradable RV toilet paper
- Emptying your RV’s holding tank so that it doesn’t backup
When your RV’s wastewater system is not in good condition the buildup will result in clogging, the system’s failure to operate, and valves seizing up. Get the right sewer connections to make maintaining the wastewater system easier.
Check Your Batteries
There’s nothing worse than a dead RV battery on an exciting camping trip. While some RV batteries have water levels but others are maintenance-free the goal is to keep the battery fully charged at all times. Check your battery before every trip and remember to take them out every winter season and store them in a warm place. Otherwise, the cold may cause them to freeze and break apart.
The batteries typically last between 3 to 5 years depending on the type. A deep-cycle battery (towable RVs) starts to lose efficiency after 3 years and a start-type battery (drivable RVs) starts to lose capacity after 5 years. Replace batteries according to their life expectancies.
Your RV can last a long time if you take care of it, thus allowing you to reap the benefits through travel and adventure.