By Cheri Sicard
Jacob, a certified RV technician from Rigor RV Repair, produced the video below to set the record straight about 4 RV maintenance myths he sees clients of his repeating over and over. Of course, this is but one expert’s opinion. See if you agree.
What are Jacob’s top 4 RV maintenance myths?
Myth #1: Put talcum powder on your RV slideout seals. According to Jacob, slideout seals do not need lubrication, they need a preservative. What you need is a slideout seal conditioner like this one that helps protect slide seals from UV rays and keep them soft. By contrast, talcum powder will dry out the seals.
Myth #2: Bug screens attract bugs. This myth claims that putting screens near propane-burning appliances will attract bugs. Jacob claims he has had customers who were advised not to put screens over furnace vents because insects may build a nest there that you will have to clean up. Jacob says they will build either way. Wouldn’t you rather have them on the outside of your rig than inside your furnace? Use the screens!
Myth #3: You can over-grease your wheel bearings and blow out the grease seal. Jacob says it doesn’t work that way and it is literally impossible to put too much grease in an easy lube spindle. Jacob says not enough grease is the common problem he sees with wheel bearings. Jacob’s advice, even on a new trailer, is to fill the hub with grease.
Myth #4: Flex Seal. Jacob simply does not recommend Flex Seal for anything RV related. He says it does not work and someone will eventually have to fix the original problem with the added hassle of having Flex Seal to remove.
##RVDT2166
You can over grease wheel bearings.
You can over grease wheel bearings by filling the hub. If you use a grease fitting that many have mounted on the outer end of the hub, pumping too much grease in the hub can blow by the inner seal and enter the brake drum. The last thing you want to do is grease your brakes.
Myth #5 Grease seals are designed to keep grease in the hub. Grease seals are designed to keep dirt from getting into the wheel bearings. That is why trying to pump grease into the hub and wheel bearings blow out the seal.
Do it right. Take it apart and pack the wheel bearings every year.
Thanks Cheri! I have been watching Jacob on YouTube for a while.
There is one place you can use Flexseal that Jason has thought of. As the sun, wind, and rain wear down your slideout awnings they get thiner and that’s when they start tearing in high winds. I Took a 4 inch piece of Rhino duct tape (white) and wraped it around the seal right where it connects to the rig on both ends. Then I cut a piece that’s long enough to reach from the rig to where the awning rolls up on the front of the slide. this will strenghen the awnings so they last longer. Then having painted houses for 20 years I paper tape off the rig where the awning attaches and use a spray shield for other areas and spray white Flexseal on the top of the awnings (two coats). mine lasted 14yrs
Jacob is wrong on not being able to over grease the wheels… I work at a large trailer dealership and see this regularly. If the wheel bearings are packed properly, you do not need to add grease between when you pack the bearings every year (maybe every other year if you don’t put too many miles on it). The only time we would ever recommend a little fresh grease may be mid year if you are a heavy used or going on a long trip. By a little grease, I mean 4 or 5 pumps from a grease gun. For the life of me I can’t figure out why Dexter would want to produce an EZ-Lube axle. They even have a video on their YouTube page showing to pump it full of grease until the old grease comes out.
It happened to me. 3 out of 4 drums were found with grease in them.
Let’s just say we are going to have to agree to disagree
Yes, you can over grease an easy lube axle and blow out the seals. We bought a used Cyclone 3612 toyhauler, triple axle. I pulled off all six drums to check the bearings and brakes. Two of the six axles had been over greased, seals pushed out, and brakes coated with axle bearing grease. The other four were just fine, though.
Amen, that was the most inaccurate statement I’ve seen in a while. When the hub is packed full one more pump is going to blow the rear seal out and grease is going to be thrown by centrifugal force onto brake lining surfaces.
Agree with you. I thought I was being very careful and adding just a little grease but got grease all over the brakes.
At about 500 miles into an 8K mile trip, we got a leak in a rotted sewer pipe coupling. Wrapped it with 4″ FlexSeal tape and went on our way. Solved the problem. Completed the repair at my leisure when we got home a couple months later. Point is, FlexSeal makes a lot of products. Might want to be a little more specific.
Most of what Jacob is true! But I disagree with him saying you CAN”T over grease your trailer spindles. Hey you put too much grease in it has to go somewhere & it will go right past your wheel bearing seal & yup all over you your brakes. I’ve always taken them apart, cleaned & inspected them & hand packed the bearings & put some on each inner bearing race. This way I know they have enough grease! Thats my nickels worth.
Snoopy
Yep!
Flex seal is pretty good for underbody sealant/coating. It can be tough to remove should you need to replace the floor but using it knocks off one more reason to need to replace the floor…..
I think Flex Seal is just another snake oil product. The commercials look good, but as said, it is almost impossible to remove.
I will disagree to a point, I had a leaking roof in a rain storm, took my Flex Seal tape onto the roof and applied per instructions just like they show in the commercial applying to a leaking swimming pool. It not only wouldn’t stick it rolled up into a worthless ball of tape. Last time I spent money on anything with the flex seal name. Commercials are still great entertainment.
I AGREE IN THAT all that TV advertising has the price of a roll of FS tape MUCH more expensive than ETERNABOND or other common EPDM tapes…. which disregards whether as good as, better, or worse than…
I discovered this guy’s YouTube Channel last week and just love his presentation. Thanks for including it here.
He is good. I recently discovered him too but have already featured a few of his videos.
Maybe, but he is deadly wrong on not being able to over grease your wheel bearings. If you pump too much grease in at the fitting on the outside of the hub, it can easily get into your brake drums, rendering them ineffective. Just that one very wrong comment that could easily hurt someone is enough to make me stay away from him.
I’d like to see him do something besides talk & drink coffee.