RV Maintenance – Part 1 – Bernice's Tips

Regular maintenance of your RV is the best way to prevent mechanical problems while traveling. These tips will help you keep your RV ready to go whenever you want to get away. However, even a well-maintained vehicle can develop problems, so you need to be prepared and know what to do if that happens to you.

• Get copies of wiring diagrams from your RV manufacturer and chassis manufacturer. If an electrical problem occurs, service technicians can get you back on the road sooner because they will have the information they need about your RV. Courtesy of Henry Ross, Randallstown, MD
• Include lighter fluid among your cleaning supplies (some brands come in plastic squirt bottles). It’s a handy solvent for road oil, label gum, and grease spots. Courtesy of Mary-Lou and Herbert Pletcher, Taneytown, MD
• Make sure that you put lubricant on the hinges of your RV’s steps at least once a month. Courtesy of Shari Williams (SW), Adventureland RV Rentals, LLC, Wichita, KS
• Reseal the edges of rubber roofs at least once a year and wash rubber roofs at least four times a year to help maintain their life expectancy. Courtesy of SW
• Before you travel and at each evening stop, check all external lights as they will sometimes come loose during travel. Courtesy of SW
• On slideouts that require interior roof props for traveling on the road, tie a piece of brightly colored ribbon to a prop and drape it over the front of the slideout to use as a reminder to remove the props before operating the slideout switch. Courtesy of Curtis Greene. Service Manager, Endless Summer RV’s. Frederick, MD
• To clean bugs and insects off your RV with ease, add 1 to 2 teaspoons of baking soda (to adjust the pH—bugs and insects are acidic) to a 10-quart bucket of warm soapy water. Be sure to use a mild dishwashing liquid, not a harsh detergent that might damage the RV’s surface. Courtesy of Carroll and Joyce Dell, Littlestown, PA, and John Graybeal, Hampstead, MD

I’ll be back with more…

Bernice Beard