RVing Tips to keep your RV in tip top shape!
An RV requires more maintenance than your average vehicle. After all, it’s also a kitchen, office, bedroom and for many a home. Here are some tips to help protect your investment.
Cover Your Roof
RV roofs are especially susceptible to sun and environmental damage. Unfortunately, we often forget about our roofs because we don’t get up there regularly, which can lead to thousands of dollars in repairs. The best thing you can do to prevent this is store your RV under a steel RV carport or traditional RV cover. If you’re a full-timer, you will want to climb up and clean the roof regularly.
Run Your Generator
Letting your generator sit too long unused could mean replacing it before its time. Gasoline has a shelf life of about 30 days before it starts to break down and corrupt the inside of your generator. It’s recommended that your run your generator once every month at 50% to keep everything flowing smoothly.
Open Your Vents
When your RV is not being used during the summer months, the inside coach can get up to 130 degrees depending on your location. That type of intense heat will cause even the toughest materials to break down and fail over time. Open your vents to let the air in. (But remember to keep the outside vents closed to keep the rain out!)
Lubricate Your Slide-Out Rails
Lubricate your slide-out rails a couple of time a year to stop rust and corrosion. You can find a can lubricate spray specifically designed for this project for under $20. A much cheaper solution than replacing your slide outs down the road.
Prevent leaky seals
To prevent leaky seals, use sealing products made specifically for your RV, as home repair materials do not have the necessary properties to properly protect your RV from weather conditions.
Maintain appliances
The fridge, stove, water and heat systems endure a lot of vibration that can result in gas or water leaks. An annual inspection is a must to prevent large bills in the future.
Exterior Frame
Keep it clean at all times. Apply a little auto wax to all surfaces to keep paint, fiberglass, chrome and decals looking news. Be sure to use proper treatment products, especially on RVs with rubber roofs.
When Storing your RV
Always park on solid, dry ground when storing. It’s also a good idea to leave a gap in your tarp. When covering the unit with a plastic tarp make sure to leave an air gap between the roof and tarp for air circulation. Without this, condensation might cause more damage than rain and snow.
