Top 10 Essential RV Maintenance Tips to Keep Your Vehicle Road-Ready

An RV can be a great way for your family to get away for an affordable cost. With everything already prepped inside, you can take off at a moment’s notice to enjoy a spur-of-the-moment weekend away. However, to ensure that your RV is always up to the challenge, there are various maintenance tips that you’ll want to employ.

Check Fluid Levels

Before you ever pull out of the driveway, you should check the fluid levels in your RV. These fluids include your radiator coolant, engine oil, brake fluid, windshield wiper fluid, and even freon levels. This will ensure that you never find yourself wasting time trying to find an auto parts store while on your journey.

Lubricate Jacks and Slides

It can seem like there’s nothing worse than getting to your camping spot to only have a failure with one of your jacks or experience one of your slides not coming out. Before you leave the house, you should take some time to lubricate all of your jacks as well as any slides that your camper has.

Test Fire Alarms

Your RV should be outfitted with fire alarms that will let you know if there are any hazardous conditions inside of your RV. You should make it a habit to test these alarms before every trip. Be sure to keep extra batteries on hand in the event that your batteries start to go low.

Annual Inspection

Most states are going to require that your RV undergo an annual inspection by a licensed mechanic. It’s a good idea to ensure that you schedule this inspection service at the same time every year.

Get Appliances Serviced

Modern-day RVs are outfitted with many different appliances for your comfort. This can include things like ovens, water heaters, AC units, furnaces, and refrigerators. It’s a good idea to have each appliance serviced at least once a year.

Rubber Roofing Treatment

If your RV relies on a rubberized roof to protect it from the elements, then you’re going to need to take extra precautions. Rubberized roofing must undergo professional treatment at least once a year to help protect it from sun damage.

Replace Filters

Your RV is going to have various filters. These include a fuel filter, coolant filter, and even an air filter. You want to ensure that you’re replacing these on a frequent basis as suggested in your owner’s manual to ensure optimal performance of your RV.

Perform Regular Oil Changes

On average, most RVs are going to need an oil change every 3,000 miles. You should double check your owner’s manual to see if the instructions vary for your specific model.

Inspect Your Roof

One maintenance task that you’ll want to do a couple times a year is to check the roof of your RV for any leaks. RVs tend to be very susceptible to leaking around their skylights and vents. With the help of a garden hose, you can have someone monitor the inside to see if any leakage occurs.

Check Tire Pressures

It’s important to remember that your RV’s tires are constantly sitting idle for the majority of the time. This extensive sitting can cause air pressure to leak out of the tires if small leaks are present. One of the best things you can do before leaving for your trip is to check their tire pressure to ensure they’re optimal.