Owning an RV — whether it's a weekend travel trailer or a million-dollar diesel pusher — is a major investment. Like any high-end machine, it rewards consistent maintenance and punishes neglect. The good news: most catastrophic RV failures are preventable with a simple seasonal routine.
Start with the roof. It is the single most overlooked part of any coach and the source of the vast majority of expensive repairs. Walk the roof (or have a tech walk it for you) every 90 days. Check every sealant bead around vents, antennas, AC shrouds, refrigerator vents, and skylights. Look for cracking, lifting, chalking, or discoloration. A $30 tube of self-leveling lap sealant applied today can prevent a $15,000 floor and wall rebuild next year.
Move to the chassis. Check tire pressure cold, every trip — including the spare. RV tires age out long before they wear out, so check the DOT date code; anything over five to seven years should be evaluated for replacement regardless of tread depth. Inspect brakes, wheel bearings, and suspension components. On motorized coaches, check engine oil, coolant, transmission fluid, and the generator's own oil and filters.
Inside the coach, test every system. Run the AC and furnace through a full cycle. Light every burner on the stove. Fire the water heater on both electric and propane. Extend and retract every slide-out fully, listening for grinding or hesitation. Cycle the leveling jacks. Test the inverter, converter, and shore power transfer switch. A 20-minute systems check catches problems while they're cheap.
Don't forget the plumbing. Sanitize the fresh water tank twice a year with a diluted bleach solution. Inspect every accessible water line for chafing or seepage. Check the water heater anode rod if your unit has one — a $15 rod protects a $1,200 tank. Lubricate slide-out seals, door seals, and window seals with a proper rubber conditioner to prevent dry rot.
Document everything. Keep a simple logbook with dates, mileage, hours, and what was inspected or replaced. This pays off in two ways: you catch trends before they become failures, and resale value goes up significantly when a buyer sees a documented service history.
If anything looks unfamiliar, sounds wrong, or smells off, don't guess — call us. Our mobile technicians can perform a full multi-point inspection at your home, storage lot, or campground. We bring the shop to you.