Top 5 RV mistakes that cost big money to fix.
When you are in the business of repairing RV’s, you see a lot of damaged RV’s and you hear a lot of stories about how they happened. Aside from some of the more common RV repairs we make from incidents like running an RV against a pole or a low hanging branch, some of the mistakes people make over and over can even happen to seasoned or full time RV’ers. So with Thanksgiving upon us, let’s take a moment from the hustle and bustle and let us remind you of some big RV blunders that can cost you big money.
1. Leaving the awning extended- First up is leaving the awning extended when it should be closed, and additionally the second most common awning mistake is not properly latching it. Your RV awning is invaluable to the RV experience since it provides shade, protection from the rain, and privacy in cramped RV parks. But awnings can also be finicky. It only takes a few seconds of high wind or heavy rain to completely destroy an RV awning and do some secondary damage to the attaching structure. Rather than play TV weatherman, just make it a habit to close up that awning once the first drops of rain start to hit, or the winds start to kick in. Also do not leave the awning extended when you are out exploring. You really can not trust the automatic awning wind sensors. RV Awning repairs will set you back a couple of grand, and really who wants to spend money replacing something that was working fine just a moment ago?
2. Not Leveling the RV- Life in an un-level RV is obviously unsettling. But what is worse is the damage that it can do to thinks such as your RV slideouts. No one wants to sleep on an angle or use the bathroom on an angle. Each RV comes with a leveling device of some kind, and there are always leveling block and chock blocks. Take the time when you arrive to level out your RV and enjoy your camping experience. And here is a tip, don’t assume that the RV spot will always be level.
3. QUICK DIY fixes that end up doing more damage- In your home there are always little things you have to fix to keep it in top shape. RV’s are no different. Things start to rattle, stuff gets loose, things break. But on an RV, because of the construction and the close proximity to everything, what seems like a quick fix can sometimes cause more damage than god We have seen instances where simply tightening a table base screw caused a complete carpet tear out when a slider was retracted. We have also seen instances where RV’ers have punctured water lines and things like that. Before you make that quick fix, look first and think about what else you could be affecting.
4. Delaying annual maintenance. Water is the number one killer to an RV. The only way to keep water out is to be vigilant about seams and caulking and to do an annual sealant inspection. We understand that this is not fun to do, and it can be easy to miss small breaks in a caulked seam. But annual sealant inspections are vital to protecting your RV investment. Do not put them off.
5. Forgetting to Disconnect before leaving- Your RV is a power hog. Everything takes electricity. Therefore the power systems are vital to your RV. Have you ever left an RV park and seen an RV in front of you who is dragging cords or cables behind it? It happens more often then you might think. There’s a lot to remember when you pack up and leave a campground. One of the most important things is to disconnect all utilities.
So please take these 5 mistakes to heart and avoid costly self inflicted repairs.