We all own stuff – a house, cars, toys, tools, appliances, electronics, and a number of other things. None of them are designed to last forever, however they are designed to have a serviceable life span.
A recreational vehicle is no different whether it is a motor home, travel trailer, 5th wheel or pop-up.
While we would all like to buy a RV and never have to worry about maintaining it or ever repairing it, just like a car it requires regular maintenance and sometimes repair.
Basic RV Maintenance Is a Vital Investment
Maintenance of a travel trailer is not extensive nor expensive. Many RVers do all of their own maintenance because they like working on their own things and learning how to take care of them.
The first very basic maintenance item is tire pressure. We check the pressure before every trip. Trailer tires are designed to carry heavy loads and they require the correct pressure to do their job properly. And do not forget to check the spare – it needs to be ready to perform if ever needed.
Another maintenance item is greasing the wheel bearings. Many RVers do these because it has been made easy with EZ-lube bearings and YouTube videos. But you need a grease gun and willingness to get a bit dirty. If it is not something you are comfortable doing, schedule an appointment with a qualified RV dealer. Replacing every two years is adequate if you’re only putting 5000km ~ 7000km on your rig per year.
Winterize Your RV in Ottawa
Another standard maintenance item is winterizing. The manuals that come with the rig do a very good job of explaining how to winterize properly.
The most important item for those of us who store our RVs in Ottawa (such as at Travel-Mor!) is to get the water out of the plumbing system, including the water heater, and getting plumbing (not automotive) antifreeze into the system.
One fellow we know tried to do it from memory without consulting the manual’s checklists; he ended up forgetting to blow the water out of the system with the air compressor, which resulted in a split valve below the water heater (low point). It was an easy fix and now he is a big fan of SharkBite replacement valves.
And then you have to de-winterize in the spring by flushing the plumping anti-freeze out of the system. Again, check your manuals or have a reputable dealer (that’s us!) do the de-winterizing for you.
A Full Range of RV Repairs
As for repairs many folks will tackle just about anything on their RV or travel trailer, although RV electrical systems are a bit more challenging.
As RV owners we expect to have to do some repairs from time to time. As much as manufacturers try to build quality units, they are trying to keep prices affordable and the weight lite so people like us can afford to pull an RV. These rigs are made to travel and sometimes the terrain can be challenging.
There is one spot in a certain campground we visit that makes you double check your dental plan every time you drive over it, but with the amount of flooding we’ve had this past spring a few rough patches are to be expected. Needless to say, RVs get tossed around a bit so expect to have to tighten some screws, or push back in some weather stripping from time to time. The weather stripping around the doors would pop out in spots and we would push it back in, to have it pop out again. Finally, a little silicon fixed the problem for good.
Another repair we’ve seen was patching a small tear in the rubber roof in June of this year. The roof was not leaking, but inspecting the roof a couple of times a year lets you recognize the mark left probably by a branch made whilst positioning the unit in a camping site. Trees for great for shade when camping, but branches are something you need to be prepared to deal with. Luckily the roof repair kits are super easy to use.
Some other repairs/enhancements we’ve seen & experienced:
Replacing the handles on the facets in the bathroom sink and bathtub- Putting a backsplash behind the bathroom sink – can even look better than the bathroom sinks in a house!
- Putting a clear connector on the dump hose to see the flow coming out of the grey and black tanks
Replacing the handles on the facets in the bathroom sink and bathtubSome other basic things that many folks like to do for their RV are to wash the roof and the sides.
All RVs can develop faint black streaks down the sides. This is from decayed organic material staining the roof and the “black” running down the sides when it rains.
Wash the rubber roof with Murphy’s Oil Soap and a handled brush – it does a great job and you get to inspect the roof. Look for any cracks in the seals in the roof and re-seal them with Dicor self-leveling LAP sealant. You can also wash the aluminum sides of your rig with ordinary car wash soap, and use some Simple Green concentrate and a Magic Eraser on tough spots – those faint black streaks that show up from time to time and squashed bugs on the front.
And of course, wash the awning with awning cleaner purchased from an RV dealer. If you see a clean awning, you know the owner takes care of their rig. Seeing a used RV for sale with a dirty awning? Not good. It just seems like one of those “tells” of how an RV is treated by its owner and projects a sense of pride.
RV Repair Is Essential – We Can Help
All in all, the maintenance and repairs required over the years to RVs, campers or trailers doesn’t have to be time consuming or daunting. You’ll have a better chance of being able to enjoy your RV trips without serious issues on the road – even though you always carry a full tool box, of course. Proper RV maintenance give you peace of mind, knowing your rig is well taken care of when it is not on the road.
If you’re curious about RV repairs or have questions, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 613-822-1666! At Travel-Mor Trailer Sales in Ottawa, we love to talk about RVs and trailers.
Need repairs or maintenance on your RV? We’d be happy to help.
Contact us today to find out more.
