RV Maintenance 101: Tips to Help Keep your RV in Perfect Working Order
An RV is a big investment, so at Winnebago, we definitely recommend maintaining your home on wheels to the best of your abillity in order to make sure you get as many amazing years as possible in your home on wheels. Not only will a bit of basic maintenance extend the lifespan of your RV but it’s also likely to save you from a lot of expensive trips to the mechanic, not to mention the call out fees for roadside assistance. Read our top tips for RV maintenance below and use them to inform your own RV maintenance checklist:
Maintain your Brakes
Make sure you check your brakes every 6 months (or every 15,000 kms) to ensure that the lining isn’t wearing thin. It’s also important that you keep your break bearings well lubricated, particularly in summer when high levels of humidity can cause your wheel bearings to rust. If you haven’t used your RV for a while, don’t be fooled into thinking that another coat of lubrication for your wheel bearings isn’t necessary because it’s likely worn off by now and you could end up doing a lot of damage when you hit the road.
Have a Protective Coat Applied
Having a layer of robust protection applied to your RV by a professional will protect both the exterior and the interior. This extra level of protection will help to extend the life of your RV and will leave it looking pristine for years to come, not to mention increasing the resale value when compared with an unprotected vehicle. At Winnebago, we recommend having RV Gard applied to your RV.
Consistently Inspect any Seals and Joins
At Winnebago, all of our campervans and motorhomes are built using composite construction which makes the chances of any leaks occurring extremely slim. However, if your RV isn’t built using composite construction or if it is and it becomes damaged, you might find yourself with a leak on your hands. As part of your RV maintenance routine, complete a thorough inspection of all seals in your roof and any joins in your RV every 3 months. This means that if you do end up with a leak in your RV, you’ll catch it before it becomes a major problem that’s expensive to resolve. What’s more, at Winnebago, all of our motorhomes and campervans come with a 5-year structural guarantee.
Regular Servicing
Make sure you service your RV regularly and try to use a preferred service centre that’s been recommended by your chassis manufacturer. These are the mechanics who will be familiar with your home on wheels and know exactly what is required to keep it in perfect working order. Like cars, your RV needs to be serviced regularly, but unlike cars, RVs can tend to sit in the one place for long periods of time or alternatively, they might be covering a vast number of kilometres in a relatively short period of time. With this in mind, it’s even more crucial that you maintain a regular servicing routine. If you own a Winnebago, contact our Aftersales team to find out more about servicing and keeping your RV in warranty.
Check your Tyre Pressure
This is a simple but important item on your RV maintenance checklist. If you don’t already know how to, learn how to check the tyre pressure of your RV and also how to tighten the lug nuts when necessary. Make sure your tyres are inflated to the correct specifications which are outlined in the manual and if you find that they’re underinflated, head to a petrol station with a pump that you can use to add air. This will help prevent bust tyres and the cost of a replacement.
Clean Any Slide Outs or Awnings
It’s very important that you clean any awnings or slide outs on your RV regularly. This will prevent the build-up of dirt, debris and mould, all of which could really impact the functionality of these areas. With your slide out, it’s crucial that you keep the slider mechanisms well oiled to ensure that minimal wear and tear takes place. It’s also a good idea to regularly lubricate any hinges or pulley mechanisms on your awning to keep it in good working order.
Optimise your Waste Water System
When it comes to your sewerage system in your RV, you should always make sure you’re using chemicals that are designed for your specific system. You also need to make sure that you have the correct amount of fluid required to start the system after flushing and remember to flush your toilet on a regular basis to ensure it remains in working order. Failure to maintain your waste water system can result in a clogging, seized valves or complete failure of the system so in this case, prevention is much easier and cheaper than the cure. If you own a Winnebago RV, make sure you chat to our Aftersales team to find out which products are best suited for your home on wheels.
For all of our latest RV tips and travel recommendations at Winnebago, make sure you follow us on Facebook and keep an eye on our blog. If you have a question about maintaining your Winnebago RV or are interested in buying a Winnebago motorhome or campervan, get in touch with one of our friendly team members today who will be more than happy to have a chat with you.