RV Maintenance Mid-Year Checkup: Only The Best for Your RV

Summer is fast approaching here in west Texas and it’s a great time for a mid-year RV maintenance checkup.  Stanley RV Park experienced one of the craziest winters on record but our spring has been kinder with mild temperatures.  Nevertheless, we know there will be hot days ahead.

Routine RV maintenance is a must for your home on wheels. When thinking about maintenance ask questions like: Are there parts that might need replacing? What are some things we have been meaning to upgrade? Here’s a quick and easy list to go through as you ensure your safety and pleasure with a good and functioning RV.

1. Check your engine and fluid levels

Cover the basics: tire pressure, batteries, brakes, anti-freeze, and oil.

Making sure you have the right tire pressure before every long drive is non-negotiable. If you haven’t been on the road recently, it is the perfect time to make sure your tires all have the correct pressure.  Due to the size and weight distribution of an RV, blowouts on the interstate can be dangerous. Having correctly inflated tires will help prevent uneven wear and tear, as well as extend the life of your tires.

When was the last time you changed your RV’s batteries? A battery lasts anywhere from three to five years. So if you have not changed your battery in the last few years, at minimum, it’s time to budget.

If you didn’t put fresh batteries in your smoke detectors with the time change, be sure to do it now. Smoke detectors save lives and prevent injury in homes whether they are brick and mortar or metal and tires. If you don’t remember the last time you changed batteries in your smoke detectors, pick up some batteries next time you are at the store. It’s a small investment for your health.

Before any trips in your RV be sure to check oil levels. RVs should change oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles or every 3 months. Some RV owners will park for extended periods of time. Other RV owners are constantly on the move. This means both mileage and length of time should be monitored by RV owners.

Brake maintenance is often one maintenance item above many people’s pay grades. If so, at least once a year it is a good idea to have your brakes checked by a licensed professional or a trusted resource.

2. Check Your Awning, Slide Outs, and Seals

Keeping your awning clean will ensure that your RV has no mold or mildew buildup. Cleaning your awning after every use will keep it from obtaining tears or nest buildup. A good way to make sure that your awning is functional is by checking for tears and repairing them. If you do this regularly as part of your RV maintenance schedule, you can prevent small tears from becoming large ones.

Lubricating slide-outs and seals to close properly and without too much trouble. When these parts are not cleaned often, it may cause problems sealing your RV.

3. RV Maintenance for Summer’s Heat

Before temps start regularly climbing into triple digits it is a great idea to prepare your RV for the summer months with these maintenance tips.

Service Your A/C Unit

No one wants to wake up in the middle of the night sweating to the sound of a grinding compressor or a burnt-out capacitor. Having your A/C unit serviced now can not only keep you cooler but save you money from unwanted repairs. Just as home A/C units are serviced in the fall and spring, RV maintenance plans should include A/C units being serviced at these same times.

Reduce Heat Loss and Transfer

Fall and Spring are great times to ensure your RV is well insulated. The process of keeping your RV cool in summer is very similar to the processes used to keep it warm in winter. The goal is to reduce heat loss and/or transfer. Check out this article for ideas about ways you can reduce heat transfer in your RV: Winter RV Living: How to Keep Your RV Warm In the Winter.

We hope that these mid-year maintenance tips help you in keeping your RV safe and functional and make your stay at our RV park in Midland TX a more pleasant one. Share your other great ideas on our Facebook page. For more about Stanley RV Park in Midland TX, visit our website.