There’s a choice every RV owner must face – preventive maintenance or crisis repairs. There is no third option. To help cut costs, many RVers attempt to perform preventive maintenance on their RVs themselves.
Consider this: A typical RV with a generator, two roof air conditioners, and a slide-out or two has a minimum of 18 to 22 retail hours of mandated maintenance that needs to be performed each and every year! At an average retail labor rate of $120 per hour, that’s more than $2,600 spent per year just trying to avoid a major problem.
Alas, it’s important to note that not all components on your RV will automatically self-destruct if these hours of maintenance are not performed, but it is highly recommended. If systems are maintained and checked periodically, you will gain additional life from these products.
There are several seasonal maintenance tasks that you may want to consider doing yourself to cut costs.
Some of these DIY maintenance tasks include:
- Checking and sealing the roof, windows, storage compartments, and doors
- Routine cleaning and mold removal
- Cleaning, flushing, and servicing the propane (LP) appliances
- For motorhomes, checking all fluid levels and changing the oil in the generator and chassis engine
- Cleaning the filters in the roof air conditioners
- Cleaning and treating the holding tanks
- Flushing and sanitizing the fresh water system
- Performing battery maintenance
Is there a task that definitely requires a trip to the service center? Read this before scheduling your appointment.
