SteelMaster Buildings
Whether you’re taking your RV out of storage or using it regularly, proper maintenance needs to be done.
Words by Mark Polk/Kampgrounds of America
Nothing can hinder a vacation faster than a broken RV system or a mechanical breakdown at the side of the road. Hindsight is always 20/20, and ensuring a trouble-free getaway begins with a thorough inspection in the spring with continued inspections throughout the season.
There are always lots of checks that need to be performed on an RV for safe and worry-free camping trips. Some systems or components need to be looked at only once in the spring, while others need consistent care. Here are a series of important inspections to practice for successful, relaxed getaways.
Evelyn Giggles
Battery terminals must be corrosion-free and reconnected properly.
Reconnect and Routinely Inspect RV Batteries
Always start your inspections with the batteries since they are removed (or should be) for winter storage. Your batteries’ condition in the spring is always dependent on how well they were stored over the winter, but they also lose a percentage of current through internal leakage. In fact, it’s not uncommon for batteries to discharge up to 10 percent a month over the winter.
If you checked and recharged the battery(s) periodically while in storage, they should be good to go. If they weren’t, the first step is to charge them. Additionally, water should only be added to the lead-acid battery(s) after they are charged unless the water level is already below the plates. The plates also need to be covered at all times and after the battery is fully charged, check and add distilled water as needed.
When installing the battery, always make sure the terminals are corrosion-free and the wiring is reconnected properly. This is very easy to do, but it’s the simple tasks that are often overlooked and cause the most problems. The battery should also be inspected throughout the season.
Winnebago Industires
All plumbing needs to be commonly checked for leaks.
Check Your RV’s Water System
After sitting in storage, the water system needs to be de-winterized, checked for leaks, and sanitized. If your unit was winterized using non-toxic RV antifreeze you need to run fresh water through the entire system until all traces of the antifreeze are removed.
Hopefully, no antifreeze was added to the freshwater holding tank. If it was, the first step is to drain any remnants. To do this, add potable water to the tank, turn the water pump on, and then open all of the water faucets. When the water consistently runs clear through the system turn the pump off, close the faucets, and take the water heater out of the by-pass mode (if applicable). In the event your water heater wasn’t bypassed before storage, the antifreeze needs to be drained from the water heater tank. Replace any water filter cartridges you removed for storage.
Sanitizing the Water System and Running the Water Pump
Every spring you need to sanitize the water system and if you use your RV a lot, this should be done a few times during the season.
To do this, start by making sure all of the drains are closed and drain plugs are installed. Take a quarter-cup of household bleach for every 15 gallons of water that your freshwater tank holds. Mix the bleach with water into a one-gallon container, and pour the solution into the freshwater tank fill. Now, fill the freshwater holding tank with potable water, turn the water pump on and run water through all hot and cold faucets until you smell the bleach.
Close the faucets and let the bleach sit for twelve hours. Afterward, drain the water and re-fill the tank with potable water. Turn the water pump back on, open all faucets, and run the water until you no longer smell bleach. It may be necessary to repeat this process until clean water runs through the system.
Winnebago Industires
Open the fridge doors and allow it to return to room temperature before testing.
Address Any Leaks in Your RV’s Plumbing
Leaks are not a good thing anywhere, and RV’s are no exception. So, it’s pertinent to check the plumbing in the spring and keep a watchful eye during the season. This is one process that makes it easy to check for leaks in the plumbing. With water in the freshwater holding tank, turn the water pump on and pressurize the water system until the pump shuts off. If the water pump cycles back on, even for a short period, there’s a leak somewhere. Locate the leak to repair it or take your RV to a dealer with a service facility to get it fixed.
Propane Gas System and Appliances
If the liquid propane (LP) cylinders or tanks have any LP remaining, open the gas supply and check the operation of all propane gas-fired appliances in your unit. Also, make sure the water heater tank is full of water before testing it. If any of your propane appliances are not operating properly, have them inspected by an authorized RV dealer.
Insects are attracted to the odorant added to LP and they are known to build nests that can hinder an appliance’s operation. The gas system should have a leak-test and gas operating pressure-test annually.
If all of your gas appliances are working properly using propane, test them for proper electrical operation. Make sure you have an adequate electrical source (30-50 amps) before testing a microwave or a roof AC unit. After you checked the refrigerator in the gas mode, turn it off, and with the doors open, allow sufficient time for it to return to room temperature before checking it in electric mode.
Mary Jo Humphreys
If your tires look worn or cracked, check for damage, and check wear bars to see if you have sufficient tread depth for a safe RV experience. Habitually monitor the tire pressure, and when necessary replace them.
Test the Tires
Just like a battery loses a percentage of its charge in storage, tires lose a percentage of air pressure. In fact, they can lose two to three PSI per month when in storage. Tire pressure should routinely be checked with a quality tire pressure gauge. Don’t forget the spare.
Failing to maintain correct tire pressure based on the load can result in fast tread wear, uneven wear, poor handling, and excessive heat build-up, which can lead to tire failure. Most manufacturers have load and inflation tables on their websites and they should be adhered to.
Fluids, Lights and Gauges
For motorhomes and tow vehicles, the power train should always be inspected in the spring and of course, during the season. Start by checking that all the fluid levels are topped up for the transmission, power steering, and brakes and add new fluids to the engine coolant, engine oil, and windshield washer if required. In the event you’re unsure of the proper levels (as there are some stipulations), consult your vehicle owner’s manual. If some levels are unusually low, try to determine the cause and fix the problem.
Start the engine to make sure the gauges at the driver’s dash are functioning as they should be and look to see if all lights are operating properly. It’s a great idea to even have the engine serviced to address any concerns or just to have peace of mind.
Winnebago
If seams and seals at entry points are damaged, address the problem immediately.
Don’t Overlook Equipment Oil Levels
For motorhomes, checking the oil is all part of routine engine maintenance, but it should also be monitored in your generator or for other equipment. Be sure to service the generator according to specified intervals found in the owner’s manual.
Look over your generator’s exhaust system for any damage before starting it and never run it with a damaged exhaust system. If you didn’t run the generator during storage, start and run it for about two hours with at least a half-rated load (your owner’s manual will indicate the load ratings). If you didn’t use a fuel stabilizer during storage and the generator won’t start or continues to surge after starting, have it professionally serviced.
Check All Seams & Sealants
All sealants and seams should be checked before and after storage, and also at least twice a year depending on conditions. You’ll want to look over the roof, body, and window seams – or sealing around any other openings – for cracking and leaks. Promptly reseal if there’s any damage.
Before you apply any type of sealant, consult your RV owner’s manual (or your RV dealer) to ensure the sealant(s) are compatible with the different types of materials you need to re-seal.
Togo RV on Unsplash
A properly maintained RV reduces roadside failures.
Safety Components
Re-install any dry-cell batteries or fuses that were removed for storage. If these were not removed, replace them. Test the operation of the carbon monoxide detector, propane gas leak detector, and smoke alarm. All fire extinguishers should be up to date and ready to use.
If you have dry powder fire extinguishers, shake and tap them on the bottom to release any settled powder. Review how to properly use a fire extinguisher in the event you need it. Also, make sure everyone understands the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning and what to do if you or family members are exposed to it.
Conclusion
These are just some of the most important checks to ensure your RV is reliable for travelling and use. Other components, too, like trailer hitches, hitch balls, even steps, latches, and any other commonly used part on your RV should be inspected and replaced if damaged or if they are showing signs of wear. As inspections and routine maintenance become habitual, you’ll soon be able to customize your own task list according to the style of trailer or motorhome that you enjoy.