All About RV Maintenance 101

Leaping into the RV lifestyle is great, but you must become responsible and carefully perform RV maintenance promptly. Lack of maintenance can affect you in the long run. You need to be careful to have a safe and sound road trip. If you need RV to bring you and your family countless hours of joy and beautiful experiences, make sure you also focus on RV maintenance.

Importance of RV Maintenance

RV maintenance determines the value of your vehicle. A well-maintained, even low-end model is always a valuable asset. On the other side, even if you have an extravagant RV model but lack maintenance. It will be considered worse than low-end models.

The RV service and maintenance can often make or break a deal. Keeping your RV in tip-top condition and all the performed maintenance documented will fetch you potential buyers.

RV Maintenance Tips

RV is like your mini home. You will have a kitchen, a bathroom, furnaces, some appliances, bedrooms, and a living room. As in the bathroom, like your home, you will have a water pumping system. It will have two tanks for sewage management.

Unlike the roof of your house, you need to inspect the roof of your RV daily for any leakage. As for electricity, RV has two electric systems bridged with an inverter. The 12-volt electric system comes in handy while boondocking.

1- House on wheels

Your RV is your mini house on wheels. But these wheels also need your care. When you find a spot to park, check your tires and wheels. If your tires are in good condition, your trip will be safe and sound.

Manual, hydraulic, or electric leveling is required when you arrive at your destination. These leveling systems need attentive maintenance. Also, if your RV has a slide-out feature for beds, they need to be checked on regular bases.

2- Maintenance of RV generator

It is an essential part of your RV crammed in one of the nooks. It does not take up much of your storage space. The generator needs proper maintenance with fuels, oils, and filters. It might be minor, but it requires great care. It will keep your RV always on the go. The engine and generators are the powerhouses of your RV. Make their maintenance your priority.

3- Keeping track of your RV

An RV lifestyle gives you the freedom to hit the road, enjoy campfires, discover new places, explore nature and connect with it. Maintenance is a small price to pay when receiving a priceless wonderful experience. You can keep track of your RV with online tools. They will guide you on the maintenance of every single part.

Conclusion

Thus, maintenance is crucial for a good RV lifestyle. TNT RV Repair services can provide you with professional help on this. We will ensure your RV is in tip-top condition and ready for the journey. They assist anywhere in Las Angeles and Southern Nevada.

A Detailed Seasonal RV Maintenance Checklist

A full-time RV lifestyle will give you freedom and a wonderful life experience. Going on adventures in your RV is attractive, but keeping your RV in tip-top condition is very important. Make sure you perform RV maintenance at regular intervals and document it. It will enhance the value of your RV. Also, good maintenance ensures the reliability of the vehicle. Your maintenance should be divided into regular one and seasonal maintenance. Regular maintenance is easy, but keeping an eye on the seasonal RV maintenance checklist is also pivotal.

RV Maintenance Checklist

Here are some essential points you should keep in your seasonal RV maintenance checklist:

1- Check your RV’s exterior

Different road items and bird droppings can damage your RV’s exterior. So, wash your vehicle with water and dry it with a clean cloth. Then wax your RV’s exterior. It will prevent sun damage and keep your exterior safe and shiny.

A good exterior maintains the value of your RV. It also gives an excellent impression to your buyers if you plan to sell it.

2- Inspect for any damage

Keep an eye out for any damaged areas. Walk into your RV and inspect it. Check the exterior and interior thoroughly. Look out for any cracks or rusty surfaces that might need your attention.

Any soft or bubbly area indicates water damage. Check your pipelines and fix any problems you come across. Some rusty surfaces might need proper maintenance.

3- Grease the metal surfaces

All the door hinges, slide-outs, extensions, and other movable parts need proper lubrication. Grease these high-wear metal areas and protect them from rust and breakages.

Lubrication is essential in your seasonal RV maintenance. It smoothes the surfaces and reduces friction which comes very handy in the long term.

4- Check your water filters

The water filters have a life of around 2 to 3 months. But these filters can last longer if you use your RV occasionally. So depending on your usage, you need to adjust it in your schedule.

If you are a full-time RVer, you would need to exchange them often on your adventurous trip.

5- Clean your RV thoroughly

Cleaning and detailing your RV is essential. Different substances that gain entry into your RV interior can cause you problems.

Make sure you deep clean your interior and eliminate any harmful substances that might cause harm in the long run. Seasonal deep cleaning of your RV will keep it in tip-top condition.

6- Weigh your motorhome

Weighing your motorhome with your stuff loaded. It will help you understand the weight distribution in your vehicle. The Gross Combination Weight Rating will give you the total weight of all your things in RV. Make sure you stay within the limits of it and distribute the weight evenly.

Final Words

The seasonal checklist of your RV maintenance must contain these points. TNT RV Repairs provide you with their expertise in RV maintenance. You can contact us for a thorough inspection and repair of your RV. We will come to you and provide you with highly professional services anywhere in Las Angeles and Southern Nevada.

The 3 Types of RV Water Systems

RV plumbing is what makes this motorhome on wheels really function like a home. While traveling it allows you to be equipped with running water, a hot shower, and a toilet. Many people think of this convenience as an after thought, but how does RV plumbing work? Having a basic understanding of your RV plumbing system is important. In this article we will explain the three different types of water systems on your RV and why they are important.

Potable Water vs. Wastewater System

The first important fact to understand is that your recreational vehicle has three holding tanks. Each one has a specific and essential purpose, and it’s critical never to mix or misuse any of these holding tanks.

  1. Fresh Water Holding Tank

The fresh water holding tank provides you with running water. This water is for cooking, cleaning dishes, showering, or flushing your toilet. As you can imagine, you need to have a sizable supply of running water in your motorhome. That is why this tank will typically hold 20–100 gallons of fresh water. This is a big difference, so make sure you are realistic in what size tank you will need.

Most RVs will have two different fresh water inlet connections. This secondary inlet is for a pressurized city water source connection. If you’re camping at a campground that has water hook ups, they will usually provide hoses and connections for your fresh water holding tank.

Pro Tip: Camp site water is not always desirable. Consider buying a water filter. These small devices can eliminate sediment, microorganisms & bad odor from the water.

  1. Gray Water Holding Tank

Gray water is wastewater that does not contain toilet sewage. This will be the drainage from your sink, appliances, and shower. Although gray water is not as contaminated or dangerous as black water, it should still be disposed of safely. Both gray water and black water should be discharged into the municipal sewer system, but under certain circumstances your grey water can be disposed of outdoors.

If you do dispose of your grey water outside then you need to follow a few safety protocols. To start, you must be a safe distance away from surface water, such as lakes, rivers, and streams and on porous ground that can absorb it. Make sure all of your soaps and detergents are environmentally safe, so it will not do any damage.

3. Black Water Holding Tank

Your toilet is the only interior fixture that drains into the black water storage tank which is also called the septic tank. This separate tank requires more thorough cleaning, and can only be disposed of in the sewer system.

Pro Tip: Consider purchasing a macerator pump to make disposal of your black waste easier.

Conclusion

While you should leave plumbing to the pros, it is a good idea to understand plumbing basics when you’re out on the road. TNT RV can help you with all of your plumbing and maintenance needs. Contact us to make sure your motorhome is road ready before your next adventure.