A Checklist for Year-Round RV Maintenance

You’re all set to hit the road in your RV, but the perfect road trip can quickly be ruined when an unexpected breakdown occurs. Your RV serves as your home away from home and offers you the opportunity to see far off destinations. Performing year-round RV maintenance can help keep your wheels moving on the road and help prevent long delays that could leave you stranded waiting for repairs. Ultimately, recommended maintenance varies based on your specific RV. It’s a good idea to check your owner’s manual for specific maintenance to perform and when it should be performed. We share some general tips to help keep your RV in tip-top shape.

RV Maintenance Checklist

Before setting out on a road trip, keep these essential RV maintenance tips in mind. Like cars, you’ll want to keep up on your basic maintenance — regularly replacing fluids and filters. These additional tips will help you determine when to schedule and conduct repairs.

Inspect Your Brakes

Ensuring your safety on the road is a big reason to perform regular maintenance. Having your brakes checked regularly helps keep you safe and could help you avoid expensive repairs.

Service the Generator

Check your owner’s manual for recommendations on how regularly the oil and filters need changed. It’s also a good idea to run the generator often when your RV is in storage.

Check the Tires

Tire pressure changes with hot and cold temperatures and with elevation changes, so before and during every trip, perform tire pressure checks and look for areas of uneven tread wear.

Inspect the Roof

If you park your RV outside, trees and weather will take a toll on your roof’s condition. Spray off debris periodically and check all roof seals and seams. While you are at it, make sure all skylights operate correctly.

Clean Your Tanks

Most freshwater tanks need a seasonal flush when you have your RV serviced. A mild bleach and water solution cleans out bacteria and a few freshwater flushes clear out the bleach. Do the same to your grey water tank to control odors.

Operate Awnings and Slide Outs

Make sure seals don’t stick on slide outs by keeping them lubricated year-round. Open and retract all awnings and slides to make sure they are clear of debris and operate smoothly.

Take it Out for a Spin

Don’t let your RV sit for long periods of time without running the engine. Pro-tip: If you store your RV for long periods of time, remove the battery and store it in a climate-controlled environment.

Write it Down

Be sure to keep a record of all maintenance performed on your RV — include dates, what was performed and if any repairs or replacements were needed. Keeping a detailed maintenance log could help you fetch a higher price if you decide to sell your RV in the future.

Make Sure You Are Covered

When it comes to hitting the open road, regular RV maintenance can make or break your trip. And before you set out on your next adventure, be sure to check with your Farm Bureau agent to help ensure your RV is properly covered.