Steps to Prepare Your RV for Spring & Summer Trips

Spring will be here before we know it, so it’s time to begin spring cleaning and prep to make sure your motorhome or trailer is ready for the upcoming season. There’s more to do than simply removing the protective tarp and hitting the road! Follow these steps to prepare your RV for spring and summer trips…

Check for damage. This is particularly important if the RV has been stored outdoors. A tarp can protect the exterior from some damaging environmental elements, but not all. If it snowed in the location where your RV is stored, the weight of the snow may have caused moisture damage or harm to the roof.
Reinstall the battery. It’s a good idea to take the battery out of your RV during the winter, and reinstall it come spring. Hopefully, you have stored the battery correctly so that it is able to generate enough power.
Confirm the vehicular functions work. All motorhomes and trailers should have the brakes and lights checked, and for motorhomes, you should do all of the usual de-winterizing things you would do for any other vehicle: check/replace the fluids, inspect the battery, treat your windshield, etc. Don’t forget to inspect the tires to look for cracking and repair any damage. Make sure that the tire tread isn’t too low, and test the air pressure. You should also tighten the lug nuts. Click here for a helpful video on RV tire maintenance.
Prep the water system. This step depends on how you prepared the system for winter last fall:
1. Emptied the system with low pressure air: Simply close the drain petock and fill up! Then turn the pump on to pressurize.
2. Pumped antifreeze through the pump and lines: Flush the whole system with water a couple of times. You may need to sanitize it further, if the taste is off. Make sure to redirect the water flow to the water heater, if you bypassed it in the winterizing process.
Test gas appliances. After turning on one of your LP tanks, light the stove burners to get any trapped air out of the gas line. Then turn them off and light the refrigerator on gas, leaving it running for a while to ensure it will keep the refrigerator lit as you drive. Finally, test the gas to the furnace and water heater.
Give it a good cleaning. Both inside and out, your RV could probably use a deep cleaning before you hit the road. Click here for some helpful, in-depth exterior and interior cleaning tips.
Install new batteries. The smoke and carbon monoxide detectors should get fresh batteries for a new season on the road. You should also make sure the fire extinguisher is still in good condition, and update your emergency kit.

If your RV needs more extensive repair, or a new paint job, Interstate Autobody and Truck can help! Click here to learn more about our RV repair, body work, and painting services.

Featured photo source: Pixabay.com