Travel Trailer Maintenance
Whether you're getting one of the smaller, personal trailers or a big rig for the whole family, travel trailers can be a great way to explore new parts of the country and make for a great camping trip that combines all the fun of the outdoors with the comforts of home. Because they play such an important role in your family's life, you'll want to make sure you're spending enough time making sure your RV will continue to run smoothly until you decide you're ready for an entirely new rig. So Cal RV Sales & Service has provided some tips for at home travel trailer maintenance, but if you find you need a more experienced mechanic to fix a problem, talk to our service department at our location in Corona, California. We proudly serve Riverside, Orange County, San Diego, Chino, and L.A.
Maintain Your Seals
Seals are an essential part of keeping moisture and water out of the trailer. They're installed wherever a cut needs to be made in the frame of the rig, so you'll probably find them around vents, doors, and windows. One tear can leave you vulnerable to leaking and water damage, so use seal conditioner to keep them from drying out and use silicone sealant to repair small holes and tears you may find.
Check Your Appliances
One of the best parts of using a travel trailer to camp in is the convenience of amenities that come with it. From a full kitchen that includes a microwave and stove to televisions to central heating and cooling, there are a lot of great appliances and features that make camping in your travel trailer more comfortable. This is why you won't want to find out on the road that one of them isn't working. Hook up your rig to a power source and test out each appliance to make sure it's working. Also use your own knowledge of the trailer to figure out if something might be acting a little suspicious. If something's making a noise it doesn't normally make, it might be a sign that there's an issue with the appliance or the RV itself.
Lubricate Moving Parts
Remember when we were talking about seals? Another important seal you'll want to maintain is around any slide-outs you may have. And while you're there, you'll want to make sure that particular area is properly lubricated. If these parts grind together, it can lead to a wide host of problems. Use dry slide-out lubricant on the bars and tracks to ensure everything is going to continue to work properly. Look for other moving parts around your trailer that could do with some lubrication, like door hinges and locks.
Manage the Humidity
Keep in mind, water damage and moisture accumulation don't always happen just because of leaks in your rig. Humidity can lead to water droplets forming all over your cabin, so you'll want to take steps to prevent this from happening. The cheapest way to combat this is to air out the RV when the weather allows. Let a cross breeze flow through to keep the interior dry. More expensive endeavors include a dehumidifier and desiccant crystals. Whatever your solution is, make sure you have one when you start to see those water droplets forming, as they don't easily go away on their own.
One of the best ways to prevent big, costly repairs from happening is to have your rig regularly inspected. While there's a lot you can do at home, there are some things you may not be able to see or can easily miss. That's why you'll want a professional to inspect it periodically. When that time comes, stop by So Cal RV Sales & Service and we'll help you with any of your RV related concerns. We welcome all current and future RV owners from Corona, Riverside, Orange County, San Diego, Chino, and L.A., CA.