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Being thorough with pre-season maintenance just ensures smoother and hassle-free travels.
Words by Jessica Rider
It’s not uncommon to do a lot of RV maintenance after your trailer or motorhome been in storage all winter. With a quick online search, you can easily find a number of pre-season checklists that include inspecting the A/C unit, plumbing, appliances, as well as window and door seals.
These are all essential to check and repair if needed. As my husband and I operate a mobile RV repair business, we have seen a variety of problems with other vital components, which should also always be thoroughly looked over (and never neglected) at the start or even during any time of the season.
While you may have already crossed off many tasks on your pre-season maintenance list, here are four less obvious parts and components to inspect before a summer of road-tripping. You just may be glad that you did.
Understanding and Inspecting Trailer Axles
If you have never crawled under your RV to look at the axle(s), we strongly suggest that you do. It’s essential to first understand the basics including how many axles your RV has and how they function. More compact units will have a single-axle while larger trailers may be equipped with dual or triple axles.
RV manufacturers determine the number of axles based on the model’s weight and maximum load and carrying capacities. This information is typically listed inside one of the doors of your RV.
Jessica Rider
We have seen a lot of issues with leaf springs and there are several reasons why they can become damaged.
As an example, a large toy hauler is designed to accommodate secondary vehicles like four-wheelers, motorcycles, and dirt bikes in its rear cargo space, in addition to all of the other RV’s features and options. This added weight needs to be properly supported, which is why these types of trailers often have double or triple axles.
Two common types of RV axles include torsion and leaf springs. Many RVs are designed with the latter and the size is determined by the RV weight and rated carrying capacity. We have seen a lot of issues with leaf springs just in the last year and there are several reasons why they become damaged.
The most common cause is overloading. Hauling more than your RV is rated for creates a lot of stress and they will eventually wear or in some cases, break. Leaf springs are also known to corrode over time. Your axles are no different. Think about all those times you have hit a curb or jumped one towing your trailer. All of this adds stress to the trailer axles and suspension.
When they wear significantly and or even break while travelling, you will be stopped in your tracks or even worse, cause an accident. So, always inspect the axles and leaf springs for corrosion, cracks and rust. If they are looking worn, play it safe and have them replaced.
Chassis and Frames
The chassis and frame serve as the foundation of your RV. While it’s not all that common, they can get damaged or worn over time from routine travelling or driving on rougher roads or terrain. Again, look for any cracks, rust, and corrosion.
Hitches
When was the last time you inspected your hitch? If you own a fifth wheel, the hitch and its locking mechanism should be free of corrosion or damage. Also, make sure it’s secure in the truck bed either with the designated pins or locks.
Jessica Rider
Always go beyond ‘the call of duty.’ This may mean getting a very close look at vital parts and components.
If you own a travel trailer, make sure the hitch opens, slides and locks correctly. It should also move up and down smoothly by the hand crank or with an automatic system. Replace safety chains if they became rusted over the winter and we also recommend inspecting the welds on the tongue for cracks or other damage. You just might be surprised.
Remember to do the same for the hitch of the tow vehicle or cargo trailer. We recently had a customer who had a broken hitch for his compact car and he only noticed it since the towed vehicle was swaying to one side. Sway bars or other towing components should also be routinely checked. Replace if necessary.
RV Tire Bearings
Screeching sounds, unusual tire movement or wear, and vibration at certain speeds are just a few of the signs that the bearings need to be repacked. Some tire manufacturers suggest repacking the bearings every 16,000 km (10,000 mi) or even annually, whether you travel extensively or if the RV has been sitting for long periods (idle components wear down as well).
Replacing with specific RV grease ensures the bearings are protected against early wear, contaminant build-up, overheating and losing viscosity. In the event the bearings stop functioning altogether, the wheels could become very hot and you would require immediate roadside assistance. In the worst-case scenario, the wheel could come right off the axle.
If you’re not a handy DIY’er, have a professional RV technician repack them for you. This is the perfect time to have brakes inspected and/or serviced as well.
Regular maintenance is important and need to go beyond the basic ‘call of duty.’ It not only provides peace of mind but relaxed and eventful RV trips throughout the season.
Happy Camping!