Late winter and early spring are the perfect times to take care of the RV maintenance chores. Before you know it, weather conditions will be perfect for the first trip of the season. Don’t get caught off guard. Use this time to pamper your RV and get it road-ready for spring.
Here are 10 spring RV maintenance items to tackle now:
Do a Deep Cleaning of the Interior and Exterior
Spring cleaning isn’t just for your home. After being closed up for a few months and, possibly, enduring some winter storms, your RV is ready for thorough cleaning inside and out. Pull everything out of your cabinets and exterior storage, so you can wipe down the surfaces. Check carefully for signs of pests. Wash and wax your exterior.
As the first shoots of spring arise, it’s time to prep the RV. Photo: Kerri Cox.
Get Your Wheels and Tires Ready to Roll
Your tires have likely lost some pressure over the winter months. Properly inflate them and check the lug nuts and tread. If you haven’t had your wheel bearings packed in over a year, it may be time to tackle that task, whether you do it yourself or have a professional take care of it.
Check Your Battery
Whether you’ve removed your battery for the winter or not, a thorough battery inspection is important before your first trip. A voltmeter or hydrometer can be used to check the battery charge. If it is below 80 percent, charge it. Next, this is also a good time to check the water and electrolyte levels. This is another task your local service center can handle if you don’t have thorough knowledge.
Photo: Getty Images
Take Care of the Engine
Always “check under the hood” of the vehicle you’ll be driving, whether it’s a tow vehicle or motorhome. Get an oil change and do a basic inspection of other driving components and all fluid levels.
Dewinterize and Sanitize Your Plumbing System
Once you have confidence temperatures will primarily be above freezing, you can dewinterize. If you use antifreeze, you should run fresh water through the system until the water runs clear. Follow your manufacturer’s instructions for sanitizing the freshwater tank, and then allow that sanitizing solution to flow through your pipes. Check under your rig and beneath sinks to inspect for any possible leaks that may have cropped up over the winter.
Are you ready for spring? Photo: Kerri Cox
Inspect Your Seals
Do a thorough visual inspection of your door and window seals to check for cracks. If you do find cracks or holes in your caulking, you may use appropriate materials to make repairs. If you can get on the roof, check around the air conditioner, skylights, and other obtrusions. Finally, step inside your rig, run your hands along the walls and ceilings to check for any soft spots, which could be a sign of leaking. If you are not comfortable on your roof or are unfamiliar with the caulking process, add this to your service center tasks.
Slideouts should be inspected each spring. Photo: Getty Iamages
Operate All Appliances
It’s terrible to get out on a trip and discover your fridge, water heater, or some other appliance isn’t working. Before you head out for your first spring trip, give each a test run. If you had the water heater bypassed while winterizing, make sure to reopen the valve to allow water to fill the heater before turning it on. If your fridge has developed mold over the winter, mix one-fourth cup of bleach and one gallon of water to create a cleaning solution.
Handle Your Slide Maintenance
If your rig has slides, they occasionally need to be inspected, cleaned, and lubricated. The slide seals are the parts that protect the interior from the exterior. Check for cracks and apply a dry lubricant or whatever your manufacturer recommends. Next, if you have hydraulic slide mechanisms, you should visually inspect these and check the fluid levels.
Repack Your Rig
If you pulled a lot of items out for the winter, now is the time to restock. If you plan on camping again soon, you may even begin to load your toiletries and pantry items. Use your packing list to take stock of products that may need to be refilled (such as paper towels, plastic wrap, toilet paper, and septic maintenance items).
Shakedown cruise. Photo: Getty Images
Plan a Shakedown Trip Close to Home
If your camping season travels will involve lengthy cross-country trips, it’s a good idea to take a seasonal shakedown trip close to home. This will allow you to tow/drive your rig and operate all its systems before you hit the open road.
If you’ve found some technical issues with your RV, take it to a service center for some spring maintenance. Of course, if you’d rather skip all these steps and get started in an RV, check out the Good Sam RV rentals site to reserve your RV today.
Once you mark these 10 spring RV maintenance items off your to-do list, your rig should be road weather ready for the trips ahead! Happy travels!
