EASY DIY RV Maintenance Steps!
Purchasing an RV is a major investment. Routine and scheduled maintenance of your RV will help it to last for a long time, providing you and your family with wonderful RVing experiences year after year! RV Maintenance doesn’t need to be overwhelming or intimidating. By learning about the different parts of your RV and having a regular schedule to complete tasks, you can stay on top of any problems that pop up (get it.. pop-up?) and keep them from becoming major problems.
I’ve owned RVs for over twenty years ranging from pop-ups, travel trailers, and now a motorhome. While some systems are similar across all of the different types of RV’s, there are also some differences. Click HERE to learn about the basics of RVing and living an RV life. In this post, I will review the different systems of RV’s, tell you what you should look for when completing routine RV maintenance, and also provide a link to a schedule that you can print off to help you monitor the work that needs to be done on your RV.
Why Does RV Maintenance Matter?
Let me tell you a story. Our second RV, a pop-up that we used for our then family of four, was hauled all over the country as our “portable hotel room.” If there was a family reunion, we brought the camper, we wanted to go to a basketball tournament or a horse show out of town? Yep, we brought our camper! We even spent two weeks living in the pop-up at DisneyWorld (on another note – don’t ever plan to stay in Florida in a pop-up camper in the month of August unless you have air conditioning – you’re welcome!)
Florida is where we had our problem. A huge storm came through and damaged a few campers in the campground, ours being one of them. When we arrived “home” that night there was a note from the maintenance department saying that they had taken pictures for us for insurance purposes and that we should contact them in the morning for assistance. It turned out that our awning was ripped from the side of the camper and my inside/outside cooktop stove had some minor damage to it, but it still worked. My husband removed the small remaining portion of the awning and put all of the pieces along the road where the note told us that Disney would be happy to get rid of it for us. Disney was fantastic! We called them the next day and they wanted to make sure there was no further damage to our camper, they even called months later to again make sure everything was OK. At that time, it was OK. But as the months and years passed, a slow leak started to appear in the roof. It wasn’t always there, so we ignored it. BIG. MISTAKE! That slow leak continued and continued until the roof, which looked fine from the outside, was rotted on the inside and we had to say goodbye to our camper. We did have it checked over several times, but the RV shops could never find a leak?
The moral of the story is an old life lesson, “take care of small problems before they turn into big ones.” We finally bought a new camper, but to this day that pop-up is the one that holds some of our best camping memories. SO many great experiences happened in THAT camper! After purchasing our next camper, we took preventative maintenance a lot more seriously. Small problems can become big ones quickly and the bigger they are, the more expensive they typically can be!
Want another ridiculous example of poor RV Maintenance on my account? Read all about my Black Friday Black Tank Poopsicle Thaw. Yep… I’m not perfect!
RV Systems
In order to understand the components of your RV and how they work, I’ll describe the different systems that are operating in most RVs.
Water Systems
This includes the pipes that run from the fresh water tank or from a city water source to all of the faucets or toilets in an RV. At the start of a camping season it’s especially important to perform RV maintenance on all of the pipelines by checking them to make sure that no leaks have developed since winterizing. Keep an eye on problems and get them resolved as quickly as possible. As we learned, water is an RV’s worst enemy!
Propane
You may have external tanks that are replaced or internal tanks that are refilled. Propane is necessary for many different RV functions, especially if you are not plugging into electricity or shore power. Propane runs the refrigerator, the water heater, the stove/oven and the furnace. Some RVs also have propane generators, so you WILL be using this system at some point. Make sure that the connections are secure and that you are not smelling gas leaks.
Electrical System
Power to an RV comes in the forms of 12volt, 120volt or solar. Batteries run the 12 volt system. This way, different RV features can be run off of a charged battery. Similarly, solar power can be stored and converted into power without needing electricity. The 12 volt system will run your lights, water pump, smoke and CO2 detectors, some refrigerators, and that is about it. When using your camper in this way, it is often referred to as “boondocking” or “dry camping.”
The 120volt system is used when you are plugged into an electrical source. With this, you can use all appliances, outlets, the A/C and any other televisions or electronic devices. As my family moved from one type of camper to the another we moved up in electrical systems. Our first pop-up didn’t even have electrical hookups OR a battery! Our second and third campers were 20amp campers and our fourth camper, a hybrid travel trailer, was really an upgrade because it added appliances like a microwave, and A/C with it’s 30amp electrical system. This was when we started to feel like we were “glamping” compared to our camping in the past! My current RV also has a 30amp electrical system. Finally there is 50amp power which is for rigs that typically have two A/C units or other electrical loads requiring the increased power.
Plumbing & Tanks
The plumbing includes obvious things like the toilet, sinks and showers, and it also includes the grey water tank, which collects water drained from the sinks and the shower, the black tank which holds the sewage from the toilet, and the fresh tank which you can fill and use when you do not have access to a constant water hookup. This system also includes the water heater and all pipes connecting the tanks to the sinks and toilet and the pipes draining to the tanks.
Appliances
The one appliance that all RVs have in common is a fire extinguisher. After that, different types of RVs have different built in appliances. Many RVs have a furnace, although our very first pop-up did not! When we got a pop-up with a refrigerator and a furnace we thought that we were living it up! Now, we have a built in refrigerator/freezer, a microwave, a television with a DVD player, a stove and oven, and an air conditioner! As we moved up into larger RVs, it seemed that we added new features and appliances. We learned how to maintain them as we went!
Jacks/Supports
To keep your RV stabilized while you are parked and using it as your home away from hoe, there are support jacks under some or all of the four corners of the unit. Some units also come with leveling systems. If an RV doesn’t have a leveling system, one can often be installed.
Wand’rly Magazine had a thorough description of the different RV systems
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RV Preventative Checks
What to Check For On the Outside
Roof
It’s easiest to start at the top or your RV and work your way down the exterior sides. Make sure that your roof is able to bear the weight of a person standing on top before climbing up. Once on the roof, it’s a good time to do a roof cleaning and apply roof protectant. This should be done twice a year unless you live in an area where your roof needs more cleaning.
While on the roof, check the caulk on the seams along the sides and also on the front and back of the RV. Then check the caulk around all of the vents, the A/C unit, the antenna, and any other items on the roof. Make sure that the caulk is smooth and does not have any cracks. Be sure to address any cracks right away to prevent water from seeping in and damaging the roof!
Awning
Always try to store the awning when it is dry to avoid moisture sitting in the rolled up awning which can cause mold or mildew. When it is open, check for tears or holes and inspect the hardware parts to make sure that the pieces are in good working order. Also, ensure that the mounting system to the RV is secure.
Tip: Winds over 20mph can cause damage, so if your awning does not automatically retract in windy conditions, be proactive and close the awning before stormy weather approaches! I learned this one the hard way after years of camping. A storm was approaching, but I thought that everything would be fine. A few minutes later I had to run outside in a downpour with terrible winds and try to close my awning while the wind pushed against it! Luckily, I got it closed and there was no damage done!
If you suspect rain, it is a good idea to lower one end of the awning so that the water can easily run off. If the awning is level and even, water can pool on the awning, stretching it out and causing permanent damage.
Slideouts
Each time you close your slide, you want to quickly check to make sure that that roof of the slide is free of twigs, pinecones, or other objects that could have fallen on top of it while it was open.
Protect your seals with a rubber seal protectant. It’s quick and easy to apply and will keep your seals in good working order. The gear system, whether it’s a cable, hydraulic, or any other system, should be lubricated with a dry-lube product to protect it and keep the slide out system working well. Check the product labels for suggestions on how often to perform this RV maintenance.
Sealants
You have already checked the sealants on the roof. The sealant around each item should be firm and free of cracks. Any cracks or loose areas or gaps will let water in which causes damage. These will need to be resealed. Also check the seams on the front, back and side walls to see that the seals there are free from cracks and gaps.
Similarly, you will need to check around all sides of the RV for the sealants around windows, doors, wall seams, and around other exterior features. Keeping your seals in good condition will prevent unseen water damage that can build up over time without you knowing it and cause major problems.
What to Check For On the Inside
Batteries
Regular checks to make sure that the water levels on your RV batteries are above the plates and that the battery acid is in good shape will hep your batteries charge fully and last a long time.
You can use a hydrometer to check each cell of a classic deep cycle marine/RV battery to ensure they are charging properly. While checking this, also check the water levels in each cell to make sure they are above the plates in each cell. Only use distilled water when topping off a lead acid battery.
If you live in an area of the country where winter temperatures get below freezing, you will want to remove the battery, fully charge it and store it in your home in the basement during the winter to prolong the life of your battery.
Plumbing
Plumbing problems can often go undetected, and like any leak, cause major problems before you are even aware that there is a problem. Checking all plumbing lines for leaks at the start of the season and periodically during the season will keep you on top of any problems. Visually inspect the lines and plumbing joints. After running water through a line, run your hand along areas that are hard to see to make sure that they are dry.
Appliances
Refrigerators, water heaters, stoves, furnaces, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers need to be checked on a regular basis. For a refrigerator, at the start of the season check the chimney and propane ignition box to make sure that it is free of debris and the propane ingnitor will work properly. A can of air or air compressor can be used to blow out any debris. The compressed air can also be used to clean out the burner tube and the burner chamber of a water heater to keep that in good working order. Replace batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and check your fire extinguisher to make sure that it is still in good working order. For the furnace, blow out the burner assembly and check the connection on the control board to see if there is any dirt or debris that has accumulated and needs to be removed. Finally, make sure all connections are secure.
Finally, make sure that all appliance compartments are clean. Use an all purpose cleaner and wipe out all compartments to keep them in good working order. Remove stove covers and keep the tops of stove free of debris for the gas stove to work effectively.
Generator
If your RV has a generator, you have no doubt enjoyed the benefits of using it to power different appliances when you are not connected to shore power. I particularly enjoy the convenience of a generator when stopping to prepare a meal on the road! It’s important to do routine maintenance on the generator to keep it in good working order so that it’s ready to go when you need it the most! First, make sure that you run it for a short period of time each month while running an appliance. Running the air conditioner for 30 to 45 minutes each month will keep it ready to go.
Check the oil regularly and change the oil every 100 to 150 running hours or at least once a year. Finally, check the air filter to see if it needs to be cleaned or replaced.
Here is a video that goes over the basics of RV Maintenance.
Resources for RV Maintenance
As this website grows and I perform more routine maintenance tasks, I will share my experiences here and also develop some tools to share that you can use to monitor and record your own maintenance tasks.
Closing
I hope that this post provided you with the information you needed to feel more comfortable performing some routine RV maintenance tasks on your own! I explained the different systems of an RV and gave some basic information on how to check and perform basic tasks to keep your RV in good working order. An RV is a major investment, and to get the most from that investment it is important to stay on top of things and correct problems as quickly as possible.
These tasks don’t have to take a lot of time, and will allow you and your family many hours of enjoyment when at the campground, wherever that may be! Happy RVing!
