According to any RV tech, the most frequent problems people have with their RV can be boiled down to three things. Anyone who owns an RV can save money by doing these simple little things themselves.
First of all, one of the biggest problems people have is their batteries going dead. The key to your RV’s electrical system is the batteries, so keep them maintained. Even maintenance free batteries need maintenance in spite if what the manufacture says. Here is what to do. Check the water in your batteries every three to four weeks. Water evaporates even inside the battery shell. Pull the caps on top of the battery off and refill the cells to about a half an inch below the top of the cell with plain tap water. Nothing will kill a cell in your battery faster than being low on water. This is such a simple thing, yet so many RV owners have the same problem. It can be avoided just by keeping the right water level in the batteries.
Secondly, inspect the roof on your Travel Trailer at least once every two to three months. Inspect the roof for dirt and the seals for cracks and make sure they are not rolled up on the edges. Inspect the seams on the roofing material for cracks or deterioration. Fill any cracks you find with a silicone sealant. You cannot hurt anything so be generous with the sealant. Check the seams on the edge of the roof and make sure there are no visible issues with cracking or seals rolling up. If so coat the area with sealant. Stop by your RV Dealer and pick up a tube of RV sealant if you do not want to use plain silicone.
Sunlight, heat and all weather conditions will deteriorate the materials that are in contact with the weather most often. When some complains of the roof on their RV leaking, 99% of the time it is because they failed to inspect their roof. You will save so many problem by doing this every so often. It will take less than an hour to do every three months.
The third thing to do that will save you time and headaches is to check your tires and bearings every three months as well. Most new Travel Trailers come with EZ Lube axles, or what they call “buddy bearings,” that allow you to lubricate your axles without pulling the wheels. Just plug a grease gun to grease insert in the center of the wheel and pump two or three times. If you still need help, ask a mechanic to help you out.
Check your tires for proper inflation and inspect to check for dry rot. Dry rot will affect every tire at some point and is indicated by hairline cracks in the sidewalls of the tire. If you see these cracks, replace the tires. It will save you lots of time and headaches and you will not get stranded by the side of the road with a flat tire.
The issues mentioned here are the things that cause the most service problems for RVers. By taking a little bit of time to properly service your RV yourself, you will save time and money, not to mention you will cut down on the problems you have at the campsite or on the road. Take the time to look at these things, and enjoy your RV for many years to come.