Before you know it, the travel season will be here. With that news, you’re celebrating! But before you get on the road, we want to make sure that you and your RV are fully prepared for the trips ahead, and that means completing spring maintenance.
We know you don’t want to spend more time than necessary getting ready to travel; you want to get right to the fun stuff! We promise, these tips don’t take long and will actually save you time in the long run by preventing emergency stops and repairs.
Check Those Tires
The last thing you want for your trip is a bald tire. Before you get going, check that all of your RV’s tires still have an adequate amount of tread. Beyond that, they should have sufficient pressure, too. Tire pressure depends on the load weight of your RV, so know your unique ideal PSI.
Examine the Battery and Electrical
You want your battery to be fully charged. Check its charge with a multimeter, as many people drain their RV’s battery so it lies dormant through the winter months. Even if you don’t drain your battery, it may have lost a percentage of its charge while it was in storage, so charge it up again to make sure everything works properly.
Clean the Plumbing Equipment/Water System
You never want anything less than quality hoses for your water and sewage systems. Make sure they’re free of leaks and jams before you get the season started. Cleaning them is wise to ensure water is flowing freely and without obstruction. If you’re about to start a long trip, we advise sanitizing the system with a bleach solution.
If you winterized your water system using non-toxic RV antifreeze, it’s time to run fresh water through your system until all traces of that antifreeze are gone.
Inspect Seals and Seams
In an RV, water is your best friend and your worst enemy. Of course, you need it to live, but it can also do sizable damage. Two of the most common places to find water damage are on your seals and seams. If water finds its way into even the tiniest crack, it causes not-so-tiny problems. That little crack may turn into major leaks in your roof, windows, doors, and plumbing system that will only worsen over time.
Replace window seals when you see cracks and check out your RV’s air conditioner to make sure it’s working properly. Clean the inside filter and the coils to enjoy efficient energy on a long-term basis. Don’t forget to run your AC at least once before hitting the road to make sure it’s all set.
Look at Your Fluids Under the Hood
The fluids you need to examine include:
- Transmission fluid
- Oil
- Antifreeze
- Windshield washer fluid
- Brake fluid
- Hydraulic fluid
Make sure these are all at appropriate levels and, of course, remember to fill up your gas tank!
Safety First
Safety should take the front seat in your RV. To ensure a safe trip, reinstall all the dry cell batteries and/or fuses that you uninstalled for storage, test your carbon monoxide detector, make sure your fire extinguishers are charged (or shake and tap them if you use dry powder extinguishers), and make sure your entire crew understands the parameters of how to be safe in the RV.
Ready to Roll?
Now that we’ve got the maintenance list checked off and out of the way, it’s time to hit the road! If you need some assistance on getting your RV up and running for the new season, RV Dynasty offers top-notch RV service for all of your maintenance needs. We’ll get you back on the road, in great shape, in no time.
Schedule an appointment online or give us a call at (765) 689-8815 to make sure you’re prepared for the upcoming spring season!
