Tag Archives: RV repairs

Getting Ready for the Spring Camping Season

06 Wednesday Apr 2022

Posted by in Tips & Tricks

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Hopefully, the weather is warming up in your area and it’s time to get the RV back out on the road!

Of course, there are things that have to be done in order to ensure your RV is camp-ready. Some of these tasks must be saved until the weather warms up and you’re about to head out on your first trip, but a few are things you can be working on right now. Doing these tasks now will help pass the time while you wait, and more importantly, will save you time later when you’re itching to get on the road once again.

Not sure what you should be doing during the off-season to prepare for the next camping season? Here are some of my favorite tips.

Make Repairs

First and foremost, you will want to use the downtime of the off-season to make repairs to your RV. While you’re just sitting around anyway, you can…

  • Send your rig to the shop now and take advantage of these months you aren’t using it.
  • Make all DIY repairs while the weather is dreary in preparation for spring.
  • Replace appliances and broken parts.
  • Reseal things.
  • Replace filters.
  • Change oil where needed.
  • Perform any other maintenance tasks you’ve put off.

Doing these things now will help you pass the time until you can finally camp again, and they’ll help you get on the road as soon as possible when the sun starts shining again.

Clean Up

You probably don’t want to wash the outside of your RV until the snow has finished falling. That said, if you didn’t deep-clean the interior of your RV before putting it in storage, now is the perfect time to do just that.

Parking in the middle of nowhere really does a number on an RV’s interior. Dirt and dust get carried in left and right, and try as we might to keep up with a broom and dustpan, that day-to-day cleaning can’t possibly keep up. For this reason, we recommend using the winter months to clean things like curtains, carpets, furniture, window screens, and all the nooks and crannies you don’t necessarily worry about while out camping.

Doing so will leave you with a bright and shiny camper that is nice to stay in when you finally do head out on your first trip.

Update Your Look

If cleaning isn’t enough to make your RV feel inviting, you might consider using this time to make some updates to the interior of your home-on-wheels.

Even simple things like changing out the bedspread or shower curtain can make a big difference. New window coverings can also add a nice pop of color, while rugs can cover stained floors, and peel-and-stick wallpaper or tile can cover ugly brown or gray walls.

Making simple but colorful changes to your rig will make it feel more at home so you can fully relax while out on your RV adventures this spring and summer.

Plan Your Springtime Adventures

Believe it or not, now is the best time to start scheming and planning for the spring and summer months. Where will you take your RV? Where will you stay while you’re there? When will you go and what route will you take?

Make these decisions now and start booking campgrounds and attractions. Because camping has become so popular, some camping reservations are very hard to get unless you’ve booked in advance. On top of that, some attractions (such as national parks) require timed entry tickets, which also must be booked far in advance.

De-Winterize Your RV

Finally, as the days get warmer and hard freezes become a thing of the past, you will want to start de-winterizing your RV. You can choose to do this all in a single day or spread it out over several days. Just make sure you get it done before you hit the road.

The most important de-winterization tasks include:

  • Recharging and reinstalling your RV batteries.
  • Replacing alarm batteries and testing the alarms.
  • Testing all appliances.
  • Testing RV lights.
  • Checking tires for damage and adding air to them if necessary.
  • Refilling and reconnecting propane tanks.
  • Checking all seals and resealing anything that needs it.
  • De-winterizing RV plumbing by connecting to city water, running all faucets until the water runs clear, filling fresh water and repeating the process using the pump, flipping the water heater bypass to open, and allowing the tank to fill again.

You may also want to clean the exterior of your RV, sanitize your fresh water tank and lines, change your water heater anode rod, and do any other maintenance tasks that are due to be taken care of.

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About the author: Chelsea Gonzales

Chelsea has the amazing opportunity to take part in full-time RV living and traveling with her tiny tribe. She homeschools her five-year-old son as they travel, and takes full advantage of their unique situation by using the entire world as her son’s classroom. A group of total Disney fanatics, Chelsea and her family often find themselves in the Orlando area in order to visit the Disney parks, but they have also visited over 25 of the 50 states with plans to see many more along the way. No matter where her travels take her, Chelsea enjoys riding bikes, gazing at beautiful sunsets, finding new coffee shops, Irish dancing, and sitting around a campfire with her family.

You can join her adventures through her blog, Wonder Wherever We Wander.

Richard M. ~ “Early on a Saturday morning, everyone was supportive, professional, and courteous in helping me diagnose the problem. The Tech was honest in the diagnosis and rendered sound courses of action.”

Replacing Your RV Flooring

09 Wednesday Oct 2019

Posted by in RV Information

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RV Flooring

It seems every year there is something new and exciting being added to RVs that we just have to have. It started a long time ago with the addition of solid surface countertops, tile, and wood flooring, LED lights, then slide rooms! More and more RVs are continuing to become more like residential homes and the older models become somewhat obsolete.

However, there are several features that we as owners can add to or modify without throwing out the old for the new. While adding a slide room may be a little overwhelming, smaller renovations can be accomplished by a typical DIY handyman with some minor tools.

RV Carpet & Wood

One question that keeps coming up on the RV Repair Club site is, how can I replace that dingy worn-out carpet in my rig? Changing carpet is typically not a terribly difficult job, however, there are some factors you need to be aware of in the different flooring options and they type of floorplan you have.

 

Carpet

If you are just replacing old worn out carpet with new carpet, it’s a fairly simple task however, you may find difficult installation issues when tearing up the old carpet.  For example, is it stapled in various areas or glued? How is it installed under a slide room?  And how do I get the carpet that’s glued to the engine cover and driver/passenger compartment to come off? For this, they tend to use some of the strongest glue I have ever seen. I have had to scrape and tear and eventually had to use a thin underlayment as there were too many carpet fibers, glue clumps and such that the surface was too uneven.

Keep in mind, carpet is very forgiving, it is usually tucked behind a tack strip at the edges or stapled tight up against the wall.  Once the carpet is “fluffed” it hides all the seams and edges. Same thing with 90-degree corners such as the entrance steps where two pieces of carpet meet. Simply fluff the carpet and you do not see the seam!

When replacing with new carpet, it’s best to use an “action back” or synthetic backing rather than a jute back or the spongy kind called “kanga back” as these will absorb moisture and stretch. It’s best to go with a medium weight or fiber ounce per yard such as 25-30 as this will be durable and plush without being too thick to work with or clean.

Wood & Tile

If you are looking to replace the existing carpet with a wood product or tile, keep in mind the chassis of your rig will twist with road and campground conditions and this will make the floor twist as well. Carpet will flex where wood and tile will not. These materials typically sit in a residential installation with a consistent comfortable temperature of around 70 degrees. Your RV will sit in storage when not being used and could dip below zero winter or above 100 degrees in the blistering summer. If you are thinking about using a wood flooring product, do some research on the different types of wood and keep in mind the extreme conditions that your RV may experience.

The thickness should be at least 7 mil and have a heavy-duty top finish that can withstand the force of a slide room mechanism (if needed) as it is extended and retracted. Check to see what type of rollers or glide shoe your room has and how it will rub on the floor.  You will also want to find a product that interlocks and creates a one-piece floating floor that is less likely to buckle with the chassis issues. This also means you will need plenty of trim pieces to hide the gap and edges at the floor to wall seam, transition area from the driver compartment, and any other gaps from cabinetry and furniture. Quarter round wood pieces works well as well as an L-shaped stair trim made of wood, metal, or rubber which we have used before.

If you are considering tile, make sure the grout is a flexible type and the unit you are installing has a solid foundation and very little flex!  Even the large diesel pushers with a heavy-duty chassis and airbags have a problem with tile cracking and popping.  Typically tile is not a great option for units that will be stored in below-freezing temperatures. There are several simulated tile products such as Nafco that are interlocking squares and create a floating floor that holds up very well. These have been used by RV manufacturers for several years.

Installing Tile Floor

Once again, it’s not impossible, but it’s wise to take some time to identify the challenging areas like the slide room, transition areas, stairs, and working around furniture.

Dave Solberg: Managing Editor, RV Repair Club

For the last 25 years, Dave has conducted RV maintenance and safety seminars, developed dealer and owner training programs, written RV safety and handyman articles, authored an RV handbook reference guide and logged over 100,000 miles on the road in an RV.

RV Repair ClubRV Repair Club is your go-to online resource for enthusiasts who want quality RV maintenance, repair, and upgrade information – a community where passionate RVers can come together to gather knowledge and share their experiences.

Learn more about RV Repair Club.

Tire DiscountsGlen P. ~ “We have had excellent and caring responses every time we call Coach-Net and have repeatedly recommended them and will continue to do so.”

Warranties and Service Contracts – O My!

15 Wednesday Apr 2015

Posted by in RV Information

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Service-ContractEverything you wanted to know about warranties and service contracts but were afraid to ask.

As consumers, we’ve all purchased items like cell phones, TVs or some other electronic device and big ticket items like automobiles and RVs. During this purchase process, your salesperson likely introduced terms to you such as ‘warranty’ and ‘service contract’.  If you are like most people, you think you know what those are but you’re not entirely certain what a warranty really is versus a service contract. The sales person may compound your uncertainty by iterating terms like “extended warranty” and “extended service contract”.  Let’s demystify and simplify this confusion.

Forget about the word “extended” for a moment and concentrate instead on warranty and service contract. These terms are used as if they are interchangeable when, in fact, they are distinctly different. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) defines the terms quite simply: “A warranty comes with the original price of the product, whereas a service contract costs extra. It is mainly this separate and additional cost that distinguishes a service contract from a warranty.”

What is a Warranty?

A warranty is, generally speaking, protection against any potential manufacturing defects or other forms of original defects in the product. Warranties typically have shorter terms and greater restrictions than Service Contracts.  A service contract, often called a service agreement, is generally broader in scope and allows for regular service on the product. Typically, “extended warranties” and service contracts exclude routine maintenance such as oil changes and tire replacement on your vehicle.

What is a Service Contract?

Service contracts are designed to protect you against unexpected, costly repairs. They are purchased separately from the product and can be purchased at any time. However, the earlier you purchase a service contract in the life of a product, the better coverage (and purchase price) you may obtain.

Why Do I Need a Service Contract?

A vehicle service contract can offer peace of mind and other benefits to owners. Knowing that your repair costs are covered can ease not only your mind but your wallet as well. Your vehicle is a big investment and the longer it stays in great condition, the more value you are likely to retain. Service Contracts are designed to help protect your investment by keeping your vehicle in good working order without you having to incur unexpected repair costs that you might otherwise have difficulty in paying.

Why Do I Need a Service Contract Now When I Still Have a Manufacturer’s Warranty?

The better shape your vehicle is in when you first obtain coverage, the better your rates, or cost to purchase, will be. It actually costs less to purchase a vehicle service contract on a new vehicle than on an older vehicle that has fallen into disrepair. By buying when your vehicle is in the newer condition, you can lock in the cost of the service plan at the best price possible.

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