If you own an RV, you know that it is not just a vehicle. It can be your mobile home, office, safe room, kitchen, reader’s nook, or hostel. Using your recreational vehicle and its amenities regularly means that you are going to replace or service some RV parts. It is part of owning an RV, as, over time, things wear out. You need to be prepared for unnecessary malfunctions, breakages, and part failures.
Common RV Parts That May Need Replacing
Electric Generators. Even when you do not use your RV, you should run it every now and then to keep the generator functioning properly. Also, when you put the RV in storage during off-season, make sure the tank is close and dry. Throughout the year, use the right oil and gas combination. RV generators typically use integrated carburetors that only need replacement, and not cleaning or repairing. To keep it clean, you need to fire up your generator regularly to blow out the accumulation of carbon from the carburetor.
Plumbing. It is essential to insulate the pipes in your RV against the drastic changes in cold and heat, particularly if you actively use the vehicle. Cleaning up the damage during colder months can be quite challenging, and burst pipes are a costly affair. What you can do is use thermal pipe insulation to wrap your pipes. Makes sure you have pipe repair kits ready in case of a bursting pipe or frozen pipe.
Holding tanks and parts. Your RV holding tank carries washing water, drinking water, and blackwater. The washing and drinking water both drain automatically into the wastewater compartment. They flush out through a sewer connection together with the blackwater. At some point, these RV parts may experience puncture and leaking. Pay special attention to your blackwater tank. Perform regular maintenance to avoid potential equipment failure. Flush out regularly and keep the sewer system clean to prevent unpleasant odors filling from your vehicle. For pipe or tank leakage, you can use thermal welding or epoxy repair kits.
Awnings. The awnings are the most typical RV part that needs replacement or repair. Awnings that have improper alignment can easily pool in rainwater. The weight of the rainwater can put serious straining on the awning arms. If the wind increases, the arms will strain against it. You can avoid these damages by tilting your awning down at a certain angle to prevent the pooling of water. Then, retract the awning if the wind beings kicking in to prevent further damage.
Door Sweeps and Shower Seals on the Shower. These RV parts experience a lot of use, especially if many people use the vehicle all year round. You need to change your door sweeps and seals on the shower every few years or so. Clean it them often and do the necessary changes to prevent water leakage around the edges, thus also preventing the formation of molds. After stripping out and cleaning these parts, use a silicone sealant to reseal everything. Use a factory replacement or a standard one to replace your door sweeps.
Weather Seals and Other Internal Structures. Hot weather has a tendency to damage the weather seals around the doors and windows of the RV, causing water and air to penetrate. Worse, the damage can loosen the adhesive that holds the components together around the RV. It helps if you have silicone sealant and repair epoxy handy. Once mildew or mold takes hold in the structure, minor leaks can easily turn in major and costly repairs.
RV Maintenance Tips
If you know how to maintain your RV properly, it can last up to 10 to 15 years. The cost of a new recreational vehicle usually costs more than a lot of houses. Also you will need rv parts Canada. Therefore, preventive maintenance and care can keep expensive repairs to a minimum.
Cover the RV Roof. The roof is one of the rv parts that require special attention as it is vulnerable to environmental damage. The damages it receives are often unnoticeable as owners rarely go up the roof. But negligence can cost you thousands of dollars in repair or replacement. Prevent roof damage by storing your RV under a carport or use an RV cover. Also, you can find RV covers made of steel that you can install on your property as well as customize according to the type of RV you own.
Open the vents. When you are not using your RV during the summer, the temperature can get extremely hot inside. This extreme heat can cause some materials to fail and break down over time. These include the flooring, seams, seals, and wall coverings. These rv parts may deteriorate gradually and you will find yourself having to deal with unnecessary repairs.
Opening the vents promotes good airflow and keeps the temperature inside the RV down. While doing this, cover the exterior vents to prevent rainwater from making its way into the vehicle.
Keep the tires of the RV in good condition. Cover, protect, and clean the RV tires when parked or in storage for a long period. The harsh UV rays can cause these rv parts to deteriorate rapidly, thus the need to replace them even before the tread has worn out. There are UV protectant products available that you can use to your tires after cleaning. Also, do not forget to put RV tire covers when storing your vehicle. Check the diameter of your wheels before buying these covers.
Lubricate the slide-out rails. If you hear a squeaky pop-out sound on your RV, it can be an indication that you need to pay attention to the slide-out rails. It is vital that you apply proper lubrication to these rv parts to prevent corrosion and rust. It is advisable to put lubricant to the rails at least two times a year, depending on how frequent you use the vehicle. It helps your slide-out free from squeaky sound all year round.
Make the tips above become your guide to keep your RV and its parts in top shape. After all, you will want to protect the huge investment of time and money you have made to it.
