Get Your Motorhome Ready To Travel
Thoroughly inspecting your RV before leaving for a trip is crucial, because the last thing you want to do is take a detour to deal with a leaky tank, replace a battery or tire, or take your RV in for more serious repairs. Going through a checklist and ticking off items along the way will ensure that you’re not only ready to hit the road, but well-equipped to enjoy your stay once you reach your destination. Whether you’re new to the RV lifestyle or just want a quick refresher, here are a few important things to keep in mind when preparing your camper ready for travel.
Check Your Tires & Batteries
Two of the most common RV components affected by long-term storage are tires and batteries. Unless your motorhome was in temperature-controlled storage over the winter or you live in a warmer climate in general, there’s a good chance the colder temperatures reduced tire pressure and stole some charge from your batteries. Before you hit the road, be sure to fill up your tires, check the tread depth, and look for potential damage that may require replacements. Test your batteries to ensure they have a proper charge or, if you’d prefer, have a technician take a look at them for you.
Check The Engine, Generator & Propane Tanks
For motorhomes, it’s important to inspect your engine and all other powertrain components like you would a vehicle before a long road trip. Top off or change fluids, including coolant, oil, windshield washer fluid. Then, check for any damage, leaks, or other issues that will require attention before you leave for your trip.
For RVs that have generators or propane tanks, now is a good time to inspect those, as well. This is particularly important for motorhomes going on cross-country road trips where passengers may need to use TVs or appliances during travel. Take some time to run your generator to make sure it’s working correctly and doesn’t require service, and check your propane tanks for damage or leaks. Again, if you don’t feel that you have the proper experience to perform these inspections, don’t hesitate to contact your RV dealer or repair shop.
Flush Your Water Tanks & Look For Leaks
While it’s always a good idea to flush out water tanks between camping trips, it’s doubly important when coming out of winterization because you need to flush out all of the antifreeze, if used, and make sure the water runs clear and is free from any contaminants. You may also want to use bleach to clean the entire system.
A general rule of thumb is to use 15 gallons of water to dilute every quarter cup of bleach. You’ll want to fill your water tank, add the correct amount of bleach/water mixture based on your tank’s capacity, open every faucet in the RV, and then run water until the bleach is dispersed throughout. Turn off the faucets and leave it overnight if you can. The next day, turn on all the faucets to drain the bleach, refill the tank with clean water, and then flush it out again until all of the bleach is gone.
When traveling, many experts suggest to only leave your water tanks at roughly 1/3 of their total capacity, if possible, to reduce weight and increase fuel efficiency as well as to prevent surges that can sometimes throw off the balance of the RV. If there will be passengers using the restroom or drinking water during transport, then you may need to go over that 1/3 figure.
Examine The RV’s Exterior & Interior
Perform a walkaround outside of your motorhome and look for rust, cracks, and leaks, especially wherever there is a seam, including where the roof meets the sidewalls to make sure rain or debris can’t get inside. If everything looks good, you may also want to give your RV a quick wash for before you head out on the road, and while you’re in the cleaning spirit, head inside and wipe down all surfaces and the interiors of your cabinets, refrigerator, freezer, oven, and microwave.
Safety Considerations
Cleaning the interior of your RV also provides a good opportunity to make sure all of the doors inside are properly secured to prevent them from swinging open during transport, causing items to fall out and potentially break. It’s also important to check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, and other safety systems to ensure everything is in proper working order. If you do need to replace any batteries, be sure to change them all at the same time so you always know how long they’ve been in use.
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