Did you know that 70% of issues RV Techs see can be prevented with routine maintenance?

Taking the time to do routine maintenance can save you time and money in the long run. By regularly doing maintenance, you will know your RV better, and know when something isn’t right. And while things breaking on your RV is pretty much inevitable, you can minimize the severity and frequency of this happening. You’ll be more in control of your travel plans rather than emergencies affecting your travels. I offer RV maintenance services in Virginia and southern Maryland, including RV tank cleaning, AC cleaning, and more.

The main categories of maintenance are:

• Roof and Awnings
• Slide-Outs
• Tires and Running Gear
• Tanks
• Appliances: Air Conditioner, Water Heater, Furnace, Refrigerator
• Electrical System: Batteries, Wires, Generator
• Motorhomes: Engine

Suggested Maintenance Intervals

There is no one schedule to follow for maintenance, as usage varies between weekend warriors vs full timers and everyone in between. Other factors such as climate, storage, and even the type of RV and it’s components matter as well. For that reason, you’ll have to adjust your own maintenance schedule to be appropriate for your RV and your use of it. Overall, there are things that should be done monthly, seasonally, annually, before every trip, and when moving in or out of storage for the winter. You should also refer to your owner’s manual, as it will give you information specific to your RV.

Before every trip, and/or monthly, you should check your tires; tire pressure and visual inspection of tire tread depth and wear. Tire pressure monitoring systems are great to have, but don’t solely rely on them for tire pressure. Manually check them at least once a year or before a longer trip. It’s also important to know that unlike car tires that are often replaced by tread wear, RV tires regardless of the rating, size, and tread wear, are recommended to be replaced every 3-5 years. Look at the DOT date code, which is stamped on every tire, to know when your tire was made. It will look like “DOT 1224”, with the first two numbers marking the week of the year (week 12 out of 52 weeks in my example) and second two numbers marking the year (2024). You should also test all your safety items in the RV; your LP detector, CO detector, smoke detector, fire extinguisher, emergency exit window. 3rd item- check your batteries. If you don’t have a battery voltage monitor, you can get a cheap multimeter and check the charge plugged in to shore power and unplugged. Clean off any debris on the terminals and if you have a lead acid battery, check the water levels. If you have a generator, you should be running it monthly.

When you pull your RV out of storage/winterization, you should always check the roof, specifically the seals along the entire roof and especially at the corners. Cleaning the roof and applying the appropriate sealant where needed will go a long way towards protecting your RV from water intrusion (in case you needed a reminder, caulking BEFORE cleaning!). Note: a good rule of thumb is if your RV has a mounted ladder it is safe to walk on the roof, and if it doesn’t have a mounted ladder, you should be checking your roof from a stepladder on the side. Clean off your AC coils while you’re up on the roof to improve performance. This is also a great time to:

• Check your tires and and running gear- make sure there’s no uneven tread wear or tire bulges, the axle camber (the slight upward bend in your axle), brakes (you’ll see wires on the inside of your wheel assembly for electric brakes), and leaf springs. You’re looking to make sure nothing is broken or cracked, no loose bolts, etc. Check your lug nuts with a torque wrench adjusted to manufacturer specifications.
• Take the cover off your electrical panel and verify that all wires are tight and there are no burn marks (please unplug from shore power and disconnect battery if you don’t have the proper tools to check).
• Do a comprehensive check throughout the RV for any leaks, signs of rodent activity, mold, etc. Have a flashlight handy so you can look inside cabinets, underneath the RV, and in all corners. Extend your awning and check it, clean if necessary.
• Change any engine filters and oil (generators included).

Storing your RV and/or Winterizing tasks: This is another great time to do items from the list above that didn’t get done. You can also use this time to clean the exterior of the RV and apply any manufacturer wax or covering, flush your tanks and water heater, defrost and clean the refrigerator, and apply slide out seal lubrication.

When to outsource RV Maintenance

If any of the above tasks sound daunting or like they are written in a foreign language, call a mobile tech to help. Personally, At Ease RV provides the following RV maintenance services in eastern VA and southern MD:

• Get rid of unwanted smells, clogs, and reduce sensor reading faults with black and gray tank cleanings using a hydro-jetter
• Improve air conditioner efficiency by cleaning and straightening the coils and checking the compressor and capacitor
• Keeping your RV occupants safe by performing pre-trip inspections or safety evaluations where I check the tires and running gear, detectors, and operating lights
• Get an “inside” look at your engine by taking fluid samples of oil, coolant, transmission fluid, etc.
• Any of the maintenance task mentioned in the article

You should also have your wheel bearings checked and repacked yearly. This is a more specialized service that should be handled by a trusted auto mechanic. Some RV technicians will provide this service, but some do not (myself included).

As always, At Ease RV Inspections & Services is here to help you with your new (or new to you) RV!