Make sure to maintain regular RV tune-up services and RV maintenance checks. At El Toro RV maintenance company, we can answer your how to keep RV maintained questions.
Here are 10 safety and maintenance tips to protect your RV investment and travel:
Safety Tip #1 — Inspect Roof Seams And Seals
Every 3 months inspect your RV's roof for leaks. Water leaks occur through open seams along your RV roof's edges, vents, skylights, or air conditioning units.
Water can soak into your roof's outer wood framework, and then seeps through the inner ceiling. This causes excessive amounts of water damage.
- At El Toro RV maintenance, we recommend several sealants you can use to patch up your RV's roof leak. The best is a sealant compatible with the material of your RV's roof. An RV roof's materials can range from Fiberglass, Metal, EPDM (Rubber), TPO, and ALFA.
Safety Tip #2 — Check Tire Pressure And Tighten Your Wheel Lug Nuts
Ensure the safest travel — driving with loose lug nuts is dangerous and could lead to losing a wheel on the road. Before every one of your RV trips tighten your wheel lug nuts and measure tire pressure to ensure your safety on the road. RV tune-up services are essential.
Check, and check again, your RV's wheel lug nuts. Make sure nothing was loosened during previous trips or while in storage.
- Did you know? Tire pressure changes as temperature increases and decreases. If your how to maintain an RV has been stationary all winter — your tire pressure will have significantly dropped, creating an unsafe and fuel-inefficient ride. Find a trusty RV maintenance service center.
Equally important is to check your RV's tire pressure, prioritize this RV maintenance service! Overinflated tires can explode and cause accidents and damage your RV. Underinflated tires are also dangerous — creating control problems and generating more resistance on the road, which affects your gas mileage. It's essential to find a reliable RV maintenance service center.
Safety Tip #3 — Check Your Batteries
Avoid a dead battery at all costs — let this RV regular maintenance checklist be your guide. Batteries tend to last 3-5 years. After 3 years, a deep-cycle battery (towable RVs) starts to lose capacity. After 5 years, a start-type battery (drivable RVs) starts to lose capacity.
Hire a knowledgeable how to keep RV maintained tech — some RV batteries have water levels, and some are maintenance-free. The goal is to keep your RV's battery fully charged at all times.
Safety Tip #4 — Keep Waste Water System In Good Condition
Your RV's wastewater system maintenance ensures you're using the right chemicals designed to work specifically with your RV maintenance system — whether gray water or black water systems.
Make sure that you flush the system regularly. Your technician should use adequate amounts of fluid to start your RV regular maintenance checklist for your RV system, after flushing.
It is necessary to maintain your RV's water system. If ignored or done improperly, you'll get excessive amounts of build-up. This can cause clogging of the system, failure of the operation, and valves seizing.
Safety Tip #5 — Keep Your Brakes Maintained
Keep your RV's brakes maintained. Ensure your passengers and your safety. Maintain the wheel bearings — keep them lubricated throughout the summer.
Replacements usually include a repacking of wheel bearings and replacing the seals. Always make sure your brakes have enough material left on them. Brake replacements can run anywhere from $300-$500.
Safety Tip #6 — Clean And Treat Your Slide Outs And Seals
Clean your slide-outs regularly — ensure you don't have dirt build up in and around the seals.
If ignored, problems sealing your RV can occur. Properly cleaning your RV's slide-outs includes lubricating the slider mechanisms to make sure that they run in and out with the least amount of wear and tear on the motors.
We recommend lubricating your winder seals — the rubber can be kept fresh and pliable, creating good sealage. This allows smooth movement of the windows. If your windows start to catch — they might begin to tear. A replacement might be needed soon.
Safety Tip #7 — Change Your Oil
RVs remain stationary — it's important to do oil changes seasonally. It's recommended every 3,000-4,000 miles to change your oil — the best time being springtime.
- If ignored, your RV maintenance will excessively wear and tear on its engine. This results in expensive service needs or even a purchase of a new engine.
Safety Tip #8 — Replace Air, Fuel, Coolant, And Hydraulic Filters
Avoid excessive wear and tear to your RV's engine. Similar to changing your RV's oils — you need to change the air, fuel, coolant, and hydraulic filters in your RV tune-up services on a seasonal basis.
- At El Toro, we recommend inspections of the air filter, fuel filter, coolant, and hydraulic filters at every oil change.
Safety Tip #9 — Keep Your Awning Maintained
Keep your RV's awning clean to avoid mildew and mold build-up. Inspecting it regularly, you can catch and repair any possible tears early on before they grow larger. Also, cleaning your awning helps avoid nests, build-up, tears, or items getting stuck.
Depending on the material, a repair could cost up to $600. What's more, replacing the awning itself is around $1,300-$1,400.
Safety Tip #10 — Check Your Electrical Connection
Maintaining your RV's electrical connection is vitally important for safety. This how your RV is towed, how your RV's brake lights function when hitting the brake pedal, and your tow-vehicle charges the RV maintenance battery. Check your how your RV regular maintenance checklist!
Your electrical connection makes sure your how to maintain an RV has proper brake activation, a fully charged battery, and makes sure all your lighting is working. An RV's electrical connection provides safety measures when driving on the road night or day — double-check with your RV maintenance company near me.
About El Toro RV Service
At El Toro RV, we offer services that are dependable, friendly, and convenient. Our experienced team will ensure that you’re back on the road in your RV as soon as possible. Experience a stress-free how to keep RV maintained service that gets you into a state of relaxation, looking forward to your next trip. Call us today – (949) 830-1996!