RV tech shares quick, helpful tips for RVers

RV technician James Douglas Sieling posted this on our RV Maintenance Advice Facebook group, and we thought it was worth sharing. Here’s what James wrote:

Hello everyone, hope all is well. Here are a few tips that popped into my head, and I just thought I’d share with you.

• Check the caulking on all your corners every 2-3 months, if not sooner, and cleanly remove any old caulking before putting more on.

• If you don’t like mice, don’t leave any food out. Even dog food and kids’ noodle,  marshmallow, or popcorn art, for instance.

• Black tanks don’t hate toilet paper; they hate a lack of water. 2-3 liters (or a gallon+\- if you’re in the states) of water per boom boom is gonna fill your tank faster. I know, but it’s going to save you a headache down the road.

• Only open your propane tank about a half turn. God forbid there’s ever an accident, you’ll save yourself time shutting things off.

• Store your unit with your jack down low or up high to give a good water run off while it’s in storage.

• Check your roof every month or two if you can. Please don’t do full roll-on coatings. Try to stick to one product up there. I myself haven’t seen better than Dicor lap sealant. Roll/brush-on coatings are rarely done correctly by campers, and sometimes even technicians themselves mess them up. In doing so, the new layer usually separates and will completely hide any damage, but won’t seal it anymore.

Now finding a leak is going to be nearly impossible, and a job that could take an hour might take all day. Just touch up or seal only what needs to be sealed. If your roof needs a complete coating, please hire a professional or do a lot of research before doing so yourself.

• Don’t put well water in your fresh tank or let water go stagnant in there. This has a likelihood of making your water heater and fresh tank smell like sulfur.

• Always load the front of your trailer first when traveling, and try not to travel with a full holding tank.

• Every air conditioner is a dehumidifier.

• Don’t buy a trailer with water damage. Nothing wrong with buying a damaged unit if you know how to do repairs or have the money to do so, but if you’re looking to simply have a hassle-free time, water-damaged units tend to be giant inconveniences.

• Open your emergency windows frequently. The sun on the seal can almost glue these shut when left unopened for long periods of time.

• Level your RV slightly higher on the door side so your air conditioner drips off the backside, and also, if you ever have a plumbing leak, it will run out one of your corners rather than pooling in the middle of your floor.

• Lube everything at least once a year. Stabilizers, hinges on doors, hinges on your steps, breakaway switch, slide seals, slide mechanism, coupler, tongue jack, shackles and suspension, outdoor switches, and anything else that moves.

• When sealing your windows, corners, and roof, remember to never strip your entire RV and only do one corner at a time, then seal that spot back up ASAP. Even if the weatherman says no rain for days. You don’t want to be stuck with an unsealed unit in a surprise rainstorm. Start with the backside of your RV in case you’re a bit messy with the first couple of tries.

• Last but not least, and this might apply to more than camping, but comparison is the thief of joy. Don’t try to keep up with the Joneses. There’s most likely always someone with a better trailer, but that doesn’t mean they can have more fun than you.

That’s all for now. Happy camping, everyone. Please stay safe.

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