You've purchased an RV and the one thing that will help you have many years worth of enjoyment from it is without doubt a regular maintenance schedule. You may have negotiated a maintenance plan into your purchase price, if that's the case great. If you have bought a second hand RV, you may be able to do a lot of the preventative maintenance yourself.
Like any expensive item you cherish, you'll no doubt make sure that it's well protected and well looked after. Preventative RV maintenance is all about keeping a check on those parts that are either known to cause problems or will probably cause problems if left poorly maintained.
A few of the more common things to keep a close check on when maintaining an RV are very similar to that of a car. These maintenance items will ensure that the basics are covered.
Fuel System Check
Regularly check that the fuel filter is clean and free from debris that may have come from the fuel tank. Clogged filters will make it harder for the RV's engine to operate efficiently as the correct mixture of fuel to air may not be maintained within the combustion chamber. This can cause what's known as "kangaroo" jumping or juddering and is not a pretty sight.
Air Filter System
Check the air filters and replace them regularly at least 3 to 4 times a year depending on how dirty or dusty the local environment is. Air filters keep the air that's introduced into the engine combustion chamber clean. When these filters become blocked or compromised they will affect the efficiency and hence MPG of your RV. Check them regularly and replace when required or at the interval you have decided upon.
Braking System Check
Be sure to check the brake pads and brake fluid before attempting any long journey. Brake pads will get worn down fast in more difficult or challenging terrain. Check the brake fluid lines regularly for damage or leaks.
Ignition System Check
The contact points on the ignition need to be checked at least once every six months. Your engine may be having a hard time starting and this is exactly the type of problem caused by poor contacts. If you have a direct injection engine, clogged injectors could cause the same problem.
Cleaning products are readily available that you can put into the fuel tank that can add some life to your injectors. You should though know that if this does not work, your injectors may be past the point of saving and will need to be changed.
Suspension System Check
Tires that have uneven wear patterns are often the result of suspension problems or may just be incorrect inflation pressures. If the RV leans heavily in turns or the front end drops low when braking, there is a real possibility that you have suspension problems.
The old test for shock absorbers was to manually bounce each corner of the RV, if possible and watch to see if there are more than just a few bounces. Excessive bouncing will probably mean that the shocks need changing. If you have a large RV, then it would be best to get the above symptoms checked out at a local garage that offers RV maintenance.
Preventative maintenance will help your RV run for much longer and give you extra years of service. Look after your RV and it will look after you. It would be safe to say it's a bit like a marriage.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
RV black water tank etiquette
By: Allen | 05-07-2008
Is it proper to empty and flush a black water tank at the campsite rather than at the dump station in a campground that has full hookup sites?
Q&A Powered by:
Latest RVs Articles
The Toyota Scion: Getting Popularized Among the Youth Generation
By: lucia falicity | 11/10/2008
Getting launched in the year 2004, Toyota Scion had made a serious impact and is very much successful in gaining the attraction and the attention of the generation Y. This generation Y means a market which composed of over 75 million people who don’t have a link to a brand of the vehicles. It had been believed that in coming 5 to 10 years this generation will make the most important part of the consumers of the cars. Now according to a survey in the market, Toyota is able to make a different app
Popularity of Mini Vehicles
By: lucia falicity | 11/10/2008
The main products from the Japan are the Kei vehicles which were the lightweight vehicles. Another famous type of vehicle is the mini trucks from Kei which are serving many purposes. This is the reason the trucks from the Mini are getting popular day by day. These Mini vehicles are very small versatile trucks and tempos that had established their vital position for doing the export in United States.
Mercury Sports Car: Leader in Racing Tracks
By: lucia falicity | 11/10/2008
In the beginning it had been stated that the origin of the Mercury was inspired from the whale sized version of the Thunderbird car which was launched by Ford. But there are many surprises which were related to the development and history of this American sports car. The first model of the Mercury was the “Pony car” which was manufactured by NASCAR and this car gave a mind blowing impact in the racing circuit of the Trans-Am Automobile.
Lotus: Brand Name in Cars
By: Brian Hamsen | 10/10/2008
Nowadays, Lotus Company is getting famous for its brand new sports car which is known as the Lotus Elise. The Lotus Elise is known to be the creation of the person named as Max David who is from London. The founder of the Lotus Company is Colin Chapman. The dream of this person was to manufacture a car which must be light weight and also has the superb performance. This dream was made true by the Max David.
Atvs Pave the Way for Off-road Fun
By: Michael A Bonhan | 10/10/2008
From sand dunes to rugged mountain trails to every off-road scenario you can imagine, our ATVs are up to the task and then some. With a full spectrum of ATVs ranging from pocket quads all the way up to our 400cc models, the shape and size of the vessels you choose for your off-road adventures may change, but the advanced engineering and design we champion in every one of our products won't.
Lincoln: Entering the New Levels of Luxury
By: Brian Hamsen | 10/10/2008
Lincoln was known for the luxurious automobiles and the fame of the company was even more increased when the name of the Zephyr was added to the list of the Lincoln fold. The main design of the Zephyr was based on the Mazda 6 and some of the components of the car are same with the Ford Fusion. Besides this, the car is designed to do mainly 2 things: one is to attract the young generation to the showrooms of the Lincoln and other is to invoke the people to note the aging Town car.
Hummer: Designed for Perfection and Protection
By: Brian Hamsen | 10/10/2008
Hummer was in the beginning developed in the year 1979 in reaction to the Army's call for the expansion of an elevated mobility multi-function wheeled motor vehicle. In the contest to generate such a motor vehicle was Chrysler security, Teledyne and AM General; it is AM General who do well in the contest and fashioned what is now acknowledged as the Hummer.
Mercedes Benz: Now Easy and Affordable
By: Brian Hamsen | 10/10/2008
If a person owns a Mercedes vehicle then he is considered to be in the category of the elite class and is generally appreciated in the society because of the high class, quality, engineering, comfort and also a fun to drive. All these features are accommodated in the Benz car models. As it had been known, that the Mercedes Benz is having a marvelous history which had been spanned over 100 years, the reputation of the company had become a benchmark in the market.
More from Steve Thomas
Colon Cleansing Detox Benefits
By: Steve Thomas | 07/08/2007 | Non-Fiction
Through careless nutrition and stress, our body is exposed to a huge number of aggressors that determine various painful and often embarrassing health conditions. Could colon detoxing be the answer?
Camper Van Hire Classics
By: Steve Thomas | 06/03/2007 | RVs
Two designs that have stood the test of time. One is an American Icon and the other a firm favorite with the surfing community. Camper van hire is enjoying a renewed upsurge in popularity.
Marbella, Costa Del Sol
By: Steve Thomas | 02/03/2007 | Travel
One of the most important beach resorts on the Costa del Sol, Marbella is known as the holiday destination of European business tycoons.
Motorhome and Camper Van Hire - The Basics
By: Steve Thomas | 06/02/2007 | Travel
Motorhomes for hire come in all shapes, sizes and prices. The trick is to find a motorhome to suit your requirements and budget.
Creating A System For Success
By: Steve Thomas | 31/01/2007 | Affiliate Programs
Passing up on the latest marketing course to hit the stands is a decision that ultimately is made by those who have come to understand and truly know where they are going with their business.
European Vacation Planning
By: Steve Thomas | 02/01/2007 | Travel
When planning a European vacation, most likely you will decide to either explore by yourself or go on an organised package tour.
Seek Debt Advice That Empowers
By: Steve Thomas | 15/12/2006 | Non-Fiction
Debt is probably the one occasion when you will feel isolated, alone, and helpless. While creating the debt may have be fun, having a debt collection agency trying to get your money is not as much fun by far.
When Renting Makes Sense
By: Steve Thomas | 15/12/2006 | Finance
Everyone at some time in his or her life finds it advantageous to rent. There are many varied circumstances that may require you to need to rent.
Automotive 
