Tips for Creating a Preventive Maintenance Schedule for Your RV  

When you own an RV, adventure awaits, but along with that adventure comes quite a bit of cost. One way to help lessen that cost is to reduce your risk of costly repair through a working preventive maintenance schedule. When you pay attention to small maintenance tasks before problems start, you can often avoid expensive repairs down the road. If you are working on creating that schedule, here are some tips to ensure you don’t overlook any important steps.

Create a Log

One of the best ways to ensure you stay on top of your routine maintenance is with an RV maintenance log. Grab a notebook, and keep tabs on what you need to and have done for maintenance. This will help you see at a glance if you’ve overlooked something of importance.

Start with Routine Vehicle Maintenance on the Right Schedule

Keeping the engine in your RV functional is one of the most important priorities. Start here as you create your preventive maintenance schedule. Make sure you perform regular oil and oil filter changes, tire rotations and tire checks. However, there is a difference between your schedule for these on your personal car and your schedule for these on your RV. While with a car you can wait to perform these checks until you have reached 3,000 miles, you may not travel 3,000 miles regularly in your RV. Instead, set a reminder on your calendar to perform these checks and maintenance steps every six months if you haven’t reached that mileage milestone yet.

Take It for a Drive

Next, make sure you have your RV out for a drive every three months, even if you are not planning a trip. Moving parts in your engine can have problems if they are not given the opportunity to move. The more you drive the RV, the longer some of its engine components will last, so work this in to your preventive maintenance schedule. This also gives the batteries a chance to recharge.

Check the Manufacturer's Specifications on the Generator

Your generator is another engine on your RV, and it needs oil and filter changes too. The frequency you will need to do this task will vary depending on the model you have, so check the manufacturer’s recommendations and work this into your schedule.

Check for Leaks

Every single month, check your RV for signs that seams and seals are coming loose. Even while sitting not in use, water damage can cause costly mold and other damage, and the longer it goes unnoticed, the worse this damage becomes. This is a critical maintenance step because it protects you from unnecessary and expensive repairs.

Annual Checks

There are a few things you only need to check once or twice a year, especially before you go out on a long trip. Some of these include:

• Sewer vent
• Professional brake service
• Carbon monoxide and smoke detector checks
• Propane tank maintenance and checks
• Checking all heating and cooling systems
• Checking all electrical and entertainment systems
• Checking and testing all plumbing systems

Remembering whether or not you performed these tasks from year to year can be challenging, which is why that maintenance log is so critical. By creating a routine and having a log in place where you record what you have done, you will quickly get a handle on your preventive maintenance and enjoy all of the benefits that come with sticking to a maintenance schedule.

Source

https://www.jayco.com/blog/maintenance-tips/yearly-rv-maintenance-tips-tricks/

https://rvshare.com/blog/rv-maintenance/