Simply purchase the RV and go tenting, that was the plan proper? Effectively there’s a LOT of RV Upkeep that you have to be doing yearly that you simply have been by no means instructed about.
Failure to maintain up with these annual RV Upkeep duties goes to result in large restore payments. Go forward and ask me how I do know…
Right this moment I’m passing on all the pieces I’ve realized the arduous manner this summer season, so that you don’t must.
RV Roof Upkeep
There’s a motive that is the very first thing on the checklist. Your RV Roof is your first line of protection in opposition to mom natures wrath, and essentially the most underneath maintained.
Give it some thought. Ice, sleet, snow, rain, tree branches, hail, and to not point out the brutal summer season solar.
At a minimal, you ought to be checking it each season for potential leaks. I like to recommend at the very least month-to-month in the course of the summer season season, and for the fewest complications, after EVERY journey.
A really small gap or tear in your roofing materials, lap sealant, or joint tapes can result in EXTREMELY expensive restore payments.
This small tear within the seam tape on our slide ended up resulting in an complete renovation on our RV that we weren’t planning on.
Fortunately, I used to be in a position to determine a method to take away our slide room ourselves in our driveway, which saved us nearly $5,000 in restore payments.
My Recommendation is verify the next checklist of issues in your RV Roof as steadily as potential, to keep away from catastrophic injury.
1- Whole roof for holes or tears, together with the slide rooms.
2- ALL seam tape seals for peeling, pulling or tearing. Substitute with a Excessive High quality Tape.
3- All caulking (lap sealant) round all fixtures which can be screwed to the roof, or cross by way of it like tank vents.
4- WASH your roof with a high quality Rubber Roof Wash! I do know it doesn’t sound like a NEED to do factor, however it’s. In case you let the funk construct up, that black funk is definitely a fungus that’s rising in your roof materials and can eat away at it.
RV Slide Issues
The second most uncared for that now we have observed from 3 years on the highway, is your RV Slide Rooms.
We’ve all had that at some point the place it moved bizarre, or made that bizarre noise that made our butt pucker.
Then what did we do? Ran it again in a second or two, tried once more, and it wiggled its manner out, so we mentioned phew, and cracked a beer.
Did any of us each return and determine why it did that?
A correctly sq., degree, and easy rolling slide room can once more prevent some huge cash, with a couple of minutes effort.
If in case you have a slide cable that has a whole lot of slack, or one nook that strikes manner earlier than or manner after the remainder of it, you have to alter your RV Slide Cables.
That is one thing all of us can do, and now we have a youtube video to point out you ways.
When you are at it, verify your whole slide room seals for tears. Additionally, lubricate your slide rollers underneath your slide room. And don’t overlook to interchange any slide cables which can be beginning to fray, BEFORE they break
RV Upkeep: Seam Caulking
Simply because you possibly can see it, doesn’t imply it’s nonetheless good.
In case you CAN’T see it, simply assume it isn’t even there within the first place!
This stuff are cranked out as quick as potential, and caulking isn’t fast. Many occasions a small quantity of putty is all that’s between mom nature and an entire lot of water inside your RV.
You NEED to verify each uncovered seam to make sure there isn’t a manner for water to get in. Run your fingernail over the seam. If it catches, it must be caulked.
Use a prime quality, 100% silicone caulk.
Go over each single seam, and be beneficiant with it. You possibly can all the time wipe off any extra, however you possibly can positively use too little when making an attempt to seal out water.
RV Upkeep: Trailer Brakes
In case your RV has trailer brakes, odds are you haven’t given them a second thought.
Similar to the brakes in your automobile or truck, they put on out and should be changed.
Whereas checking your RV Trailer brakes, you also needs to be checking your wheel bearings.
Not checking these two issues can flip a enjoyable household weekend getaway, into the worst journey you’ve ever taken. For an in depth have a look at tips on how to verify your breaks, bearings, and correctly grease them, try this youtube video.
All of these items ought to be completed at the very least yearly. Failing to take action, at a minimal, goes to result in costly restore payments.
