Episode 12 - RV Maintenance 101

Keeping up with regular maintenance is critical to our safety as well as the longevity of our rigs.  It also helps prevent spoiling an otherwise great trip by not having to deal with breakdowns and other maintenance related problems.

In this episode I will discuss some basic maintenenace point to help us keep rolling along as we travel with a purpose.

To learn more about Sojourners or to request help from us, please visit our website at: https://sojourning.org. You can also find information on the web page about how to become a Sojourner.

Remember, we glorify God in all things as we travel with a purppose.

Transcript

Hello fellow Sojourners.  I’m your host Dave Laton and welcome to Travel With A Purpose, a podcast designed to keep sojourners and friends informed, entertained, and inspired.

 In this episode, I want to review some common maintenance tips for our RVs.  Now I won’t cover an exhaustive list.  And most of these tips apply to travel trailers or 5th Wheel rigs.  Some are applicable to all rigs.  But Motor homes have their own unique systems and different maintenance requirements.

 While recently doing some shopping (not ready to buy) but looking into what it would take to replace our RV I came across an interesting statistic that said the average life expectancy for a travel trailer is 10 years.  Of course, that was an average number meaning some lasted longer than others.  Well, that got me to really thinking because our rig is 15 years old.  Our rig is well past the time of life.  And yes, there are signs of aging for our rig, but it is still going strong.  

I began researching what it takes to help, not necessarily guarantee, a longer than average life for an RV.  So I wanted to share some of the ideas I found and some I’ve learned.

By the way, the consensus is that fiberglass RVs last longer than aluminum ones.  (I apologize to Airstream owners…you are the exception).  But fiberglass RVs seem to be more durable and stand up to weather conditions better.  I leave it up to you as to which type you like.  We have a fiberglass 5th wheel, and I still must maintain it.

If you’ve priced new or newer RVs you know that the price range is almost, if not as much as a traditional home.  When I look at current prices for an RV, I run back home to my rig and hug while reciting my favorite mantra, paid for!

This information is valuable to us as Sojourners because we use our rigs more often than other folks.  Some of you are full-timers, or as Danny and Lynn Swain stated, “Most-timers”.   

It is very important element to help your rig last longer is to keep up proper maintenance over all the systems of the RV.  Don’t wait a long time to fix something, even something small because it will only get worse as you travel over the rough roads we find everywhere.

Prevention is a lot less expensive than repairing after the fact.  Perhaps the most famous quote by Ben Franklin is true on RV maintenance, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

It takes effort, time, and of course money to properly maintain your rig.  But it can help it last many more years if we take care of our investment.  

Before we get into specific RV maintenance suggestions, I’d also like to suggest you keep a maintenance log.  There are several good logs available on the internet that are free to download.  Or you can develop one that is specific to your rig.  A maintenance log helps you remember what you’ve checked on, when, and the results.  Also, when you get ready to sell or trade your rig, you can show how you’ve maintained it and what has been replaced.  This adds value to your rig.

Let’s now talk about the importance of cleaning your rig.  I’ve learned that as I clean my rig, I see things that I might not have noticed by just doing a general walk around.  Don’t let dirt and such from the road build up on the rig.  The front of your rig especially needs care since it gets hit by everything, especially bugs.  Cleaning your rig certainly includes cleaning the inside.  Inside cleaning is a whole different podcast episode for the future.  And one more thing, don’t forget to check the underside of your rig.  We pick up a lot of dirt, grease, oil, and even possible debris from the road.  And while you’re under your rig, take a few minutes to look at your system wiring to see if anything has come loose or broken.

Back to cleaning…Most RVs are made of either aluminum or fiberglass.  There may even be some that are a combination.  Regardless of the type or outer materials, we still need to maintain the outside of the RV as well as the inside and systems.  Think about your skin.  It has to be maintained.  So too does the skin of your RV.  I use a product called, Simple Green as a general cleaning agent.  It is mild and effective.  But sometimes we need a specialized product to remove items like bugs, tar, or other things that don’t clean off as well.  I once read a suggestion that after cleaning the front of the rig to wipe it down with WD-40.  The author said it helps keep bugs, tar, and such items from sticking to the front.  I tried it but couldn’t tell a significant difference.  You might try it and give us some feedback on it.  

When I wash my rig, I start with the roof.  The roof is one of the most critical areas of your rig.  If the roof fails, it will let in water that can severely damage your rig.  Always look out for a build up of leaves, twigs, or other items.  This can be a problem if you park around trees.  But remember that the sun takes a toll on the roof. 

I clean the roof with a non-detergent or bleach soap and a soft brush. Avoid any products that might contain an oil based additive.  These can break down the roof fabric.  Again, I use Simply Green for this.  

I clean a section of the roof at a time and then rinse it off.  After finishing washing the entire roof, I give it one more thorough rinse.  After it dries, I do a close inspection of all seals around the sides and various vents and air conditioner.  I also look for sealing materials that might have become chalky or less pliable.  If I spot something that looks like possible wear or tear, I immediately replace the sealant or repair it

Whatever type of sealant you use on your roof, make certain it is compatible to the material you have on the roof.  I’m a big fan of Eterna bond for repairs but there are many good products available.  I keep a roll of Eterna bond and polybutylene tape with me when I travel.

Moving on to the skin of the RV, one of the most common items that wear out first are the weather seals.  These are the ones that seal around doors and windows.  They are designed to keep water and air out of the RV.  Water is one of our worst enemies, so it is vital to keep all seals treated.  There are many commercial products designed to extend the life of seals by keeping them clean, flexible, and protected from dry rot and mildew.  A lot of cleaners and treatments are silicone based to help keep seals flexible.

It is a good idea to treat seals every six months or so, if not more often.  It is not a bad idea to keep a supply of treatment on hand in case you notice a need.  That way you can treat it immediately.

Don’t forget your slide-out seals.  This includes the seal around the slide-out box that seals to the body of the RV and the edge seal that joins to the box when the slide-out is closed.

Next, I want to talk about maintaining everyone’s favorite RV system, the holding tanks.  These tanks hold three types of water that matter to us. These kinds of water are fresh drinking water, washing water, and blackwater.  Most of us don’t use the fresh drinking water system since we usually stay where we have access to water from an external source.  But the water system we drink from drains into either the grey water or black water systems.  (In case someone doesn’t know, grey water is what comes out of the shower and sinks.  Black water is from the sewage system.  Some systems combine these together, but most have separate tanks and are treated separately.)

It seems simple, but you need to make sure that you are maintaining your system every time you dump the grey and blackwater tanks. After completing the dumping process, take time to rinse the pipes.  This also helps keep the unpleasant odors down.  Also put some water back into the black water tank so you can add treatment.  

While were looking at the outside of the rig, don’t forget to maintain the awning and awning supports.  Don’t, and I am speaking from experience, don’t leave your awning out all the time.  It is a great collector of rainwater that can quickly become heavier than the awning supports can hold.  Also the awning is an amazing sail in even a moderate wind.  It can quickly rig or tear away from the RV resulting in a lot of money and time to replace.

 It is a good idea to not leave your rig with the awning out or leave it out over night.  

There are also many commercial products designed specifically to wash the vinyl awnings and treat it afterwards.  I like to use Simple Green as a cleaner and let it dry thoroughly before rolling it back up. 

Let’s drop down now to the tires.  Tires are critically important to our safety.  First, know the codes on your tires so you know the age of manufacturing.  I won’t go into detail here on how to read the code.  You can search on YouTube or the internet and learn how to do this.  Or ask a tire technician.

Most RV tire manufactures and technicians will tell you to not go more than 5 years on a set of tires.  Even though you might not see cracks or other issues, the tires begin to break down and could result in a catastrophic failure that can damage the rig and tow vehicle.  

If parking your rig for a longer period, consider covering the tires. Some folks even recommend removing the tires if you are storing your rig for a long period.  But most Sojourners use their rigs often enough that this is not practical but covering them is a good idea.  This helps prevent UV damage.

Always check your tire pressure before you begin the trip.  And don’t forget to check the spare tire.  It is a good idea to check pressure each morning before starting the trip.  A lot of folks also carry a tire heat indicator to see if there is a problem with one of the tires over-heating due to a problem with the wheel or axle. I have a tire pressure and heat monitor that I use to help with this.

Also, don’t forget to check the lug nuts to make sure they are properly tightened.  I keep a torque wrench and lug nut wrench in my rig to make certain they are equally tight.  If one lug nut loosens up, it can cause others to loosen up due to vibration and uneven pressure.  I’ve seen pictures of rigs after a tire falls off.  It is not pretty.

As well as maintenance on tires, don’t forget wheel bearings and brakes.  Check these as often as you feel is necessary, but it is common to at least check them annually.  If you’ve traveled in a sandy area frequently, you might check the bearings to ensure they are still lubricated.  If you travel in the city or mountains or hilly areas that require frequent baking, then you’ll need to check the brakes more frequently.

I check my battery for my rig about every other month.  I disconnect the cables, check the water levels, and check use a voltmeter to check the power.  Typically, batteries need to be replaced every three to five years.  This varies due to the type of battery and how well they are maintained.

Some rigs have various types of filters.  I have filters for my air conditioner and furnace.  These should be checked, cleaned and if necessary, replaced at least monthly.  We do this in our traditional home, so should we in our RV.

The electrical system of an RV is a complex system that some may not know how to repair.  But there are some things we can do with very little electrical knowledge.  Don’t try repairs on an electrical system unless you are confident and have basic electrical skills.  I want to put in a shoutout here for Scott Westfahl.  Scott has produced an excellent guide to basic electrical items.  You can also attend his training class during workshop.    

We know that our rigs take a lot of abuse on the road.  Because of this, electrical connections can also work loose.  It is a good idea to every now and then look to see if any screws connecting the face plates have worked loose.  

Look for frayed electrical cords, including your shore power cords.  Check circuit breakers to see if they are functioning properly. Look for signs of corrosion or scorch marks from sparks.   Inspect fuses to make certain they are seated securely.  It is best to not touch circuit breakers or fuses if power it on the rig.  

If you smell a hot plastic smell in or around your rig, it might be that there is a short and the plastic insulation is overheating.  Immediately disconnect the power until you find where it is coming from. Make repairs or replace the cord before repowering the rig.

Keep your batteries fresh in your fire and smoke alarms.  Also don’t forget your carbon monoxide and propane leak alarms.  Keep these maintained, cleaned, and not obstructed.  Note also that these alarms do have an expiration date when they should be replaced.

The last item I want to discuss is our propane system for an RV.  Be aware that propane tanks must be recertified every five years or so.  There is a date of when the tank was manufactured stamped on the tank, usually on the collar at the top.  When you take a tank in to be refilled, they are supposed to check the date.  If it is out of date, you can often have the technician recertify the tank.  Like many other RV maintenance items, paying attention to this can save your life.  

Check the propane lines as well.  Look for loose connections and dry rot.  Replace all components that show any unusual wear.

If you smell propane stop using the system, shut off the gas flow, and find the leak.  You can use a spray bottle with a soapy solution to spray on connections.  If there is a leak, it will bubble up.  You usually have to replace hoses or connections.  But it may be that the connection has worked loose and can be tightened.   

Sojourners like to be problem solvers.  We learn a lot as we maintain our rigs but not everyone that owns an RV is an expert on how everything works.  If you run into an issue that you don’t know how to handle, don’t be embarrassed or afraid to ask someone that does know about it.  

There are many YouTube videos that teach a lot about RV maintenance.  If you have a question, take a few minutes, and look at these.  It might save you a lot of money, or even your life.

We friends, that wraps us this episode.  

And as I said, this is not an exhaustive list. But I did want to offer some suggestions that I’ve learned and have heard from others.  And, let’s be safe out there!

 If you have a topic to suggest for this podcast, or you are interested in being a guest on our podcast or know someone we should have as a guest, please email me at:  sojournersevangelize@gmail.com.  Also, please follow our podcast to keep updated when new episodes are published. 

I’m your host Dave Laton and remember to glorify God as together we, “Travel With A Purpose”!