If you’re a car owner, the basics have already been drilled in.
Check your oil, follow your service schedule, and make sure your tires are properly inflated. If your dad didn’t tell you, you eventually learned it on your own, (perhaps the hard way).
Your RV is the same way; if you want it to last, you have to treat it well…and treat it to a service visit now and then as recommended in your owner’s manual. Neglect is all too often the cause of costly (and preventable) damage. The basics haven’t changed much.
Routine maintenance should include the following on a regular basis:
Engine oil level
Engine coolant
Transmission fluid
Power steering fluid
Brake fluid
Battery water level/corrosion
Air filter condition
Air pressure in your tires
Make it a routine to check these items frequently and every time before you leave on a trip. Needless to say, fluids and filters should be changed regularly. Be sure to reference you owner’s manual or your RV dealer for recommended maintenance schedules. It’s also a good idea to check your electrical and plumbing systems before you venture out.
A word of advice:
if you don’t have valve extenders, consider getting them.
You’d be surprised how often you’ll be inclined to check your air pressure when your valves are easier to access. Remember, improper tire pressure can affect gas mileage, overall handling, uneven wear on your tires, and the safety of your RV. The extenders are well worth the investment.
And finally, just as you keep a toolbox handy in your house, you’ll want to keep one handy in your home on wheels. You never know when you’ll need to tighten up a screw, or oil a bothersome squeak. Check out our recommended tool list for some handy items to carry with you.
Last but not least, if you didn’t listen to your dad, listen to your grandmother: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Contact Matt or Ron in service or call 408-365-1991 |
