Common RV Maintenance Issues
TL;DR: With summer, RV travel spikes as a safe way to vacation amid COVID-19. Despite maintenance efforts, RVs face issues like tire problems, water line/pump failures, battery failures, roof/window leaks, and toilet malfunctions. Stay prepared and address repairs promptly for a trouble-free journey.
COVID-19 kept many folks at home during the spring. Now that summer is upon us, RV travel will be a more popular option than ever. Families, couples, and individuals can head to their destinations without fear of becoming sick during an airplane ride or crowded bus ride. Harvest Hosts is the perfect way to continue to social distance and reach your destination without experiencing an overly-populated campground. However, RV owners are no stranger to maintenance problems. It’s been said that if you enjoy tinkering, you should purchase an RV. New and used RVs of any class experience many of the same issues. Sometimes, no matter how much maintenance an owner performs, issues can still arise. Below, we’ll discuss some common maintenance issues that can happen to any RV.
Tire Issues
Previously, we’ve discussed how to maintain your tires in this handy blog post. Sometimes even after checking all the maintenance boxes, tire issues can still arise. Road damage, wear and tear, and non-use are all factors that dictate your tire’s life. It’s a best practice to have a Tire Pressure Monitoring Sensor to stay ahead of flat tires.
If you find that your tire(s) is flat or low, you must find the closest gas station or tire servicing company to have your tires inflated. If you find yourself with a flat tire, maintain control of the vehicle. Do not immediately brake, but instead accelerate to maintain control. Once your RV stops pulling to the side with the flat, begin slowly braking and safely pulling off. It’s a best practice to carry a full size spare to replace your damaged tire.
Water Lines/Water Pump
A common mistake for newer RV owners is improper winterization. It is imperative that you empty all the water from your lines and fill them with antifreeze to prevent your water lines from freezing and bursting. This can also happen if your RV is stagnant for even just a few days during freezing temperatures. If you need assistance winterizing your RV, check out our simple guide.
Water pumps can also stop working for a variety of reasons. Thankfully, replacing these is as easy as connecting a few wires and pipes to your new water pump. If you don’t feel comfortable performing this maintenance yourself, water pumps are oftentimes covered by RV warranties.