RV & Motorhome Maintenance Tips
Category: Equipment and Solutions
To keep your RV or motorhome running smoothly, regular maintenance is essential. Good practices will help you save on repair and operation costs, provide reliable performance on your travels and maximize your resale value.
Here are some top RV and motorhome preventative maintenance tips.
1. Regularly Service the Vehicle
It’s crucial to service your RV or motorhome regularly according to manufacturer guidelines. Changing the oil and other fluids is an essential preventative measure to make sure your vehicle remains in peak condition. Whether you do it yourself or take your RV to a shop, make sure you follow manufacturer recommendations for what you should be using and how often critical components should be serviced.
2. Check the Brakes
Your brakes are one of the most crucial safety features for your RV. By staying on top of your brake maintenance, you will avoid accidents and costly repairs. When you inspect your brakes, make sure the wheel bearings are well-lubricated and that the brakes are not worn.
3. Replace the Filters
Changing your air, coolant, fuel and hydraulic filters is a crucial RV preventative maintenance step. Filters inevitably become dirty and clogged from use over time, which will cause your RV or motorhome to work harder and lead to excessive wear and tear. Replacing your filters with the seasons provides a good marker to keep everything running as smoothly as possible.
4. Inspect the Roof
Check your roof for leaks every 3-6 months. Leaks can occur through any open seams in your roof’s skylights, edges, air conditioning units or vents. When water gets into your roof, it will soak into the outer wood framework and then seep into the inner ceiling panels, which can cause extensive water damage and result in costly repairs.
To patch any leaks, try a sealant that is compatible with your roof’s materials.
5. Check the Tires
Before every trip you take in your RV or motorhome, make sure to check the tire pressure and tighten the wheels’ lug nuts. Proper tire pressure is essential to avoid issues, as overinflated tires can explode, while underinflated tires make the vehicle more difficult to control and create more resistance on the road, which lowers your gas mileage. Tire pressure also changes as temperatures increase and decrease, so if your vehicle hasn’t been used all winter, the tire pressure will have dropped significantly.
Lug nuts can also loosen during travel or in storage, and driving with loose lug nuts could result in losing a tire while on the road.
6. Keep the Wastewater System in Good Condition
When it comes to your RV’s wastewater system, it’s important to make sure you’re using the right volume of chemicals and that they are designed to work for your model. You’ll also want to flush the system on a regular basis to keep things as sanitary as possible.
If you don’t properly maintain your wastewater system, the waste will build up and cause clogs and operation failure.
When you need motorhome or RV maintenance in Omaha, or anywhere else in Nebraska or Pottawattamie County, Iowa, NMC Cat can help. Contact us today to schedule your RV’s preventative maintenance appointment.
