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Just as with an automobile or any other machinery, occasional breakdowns and broken parts are unavoidable. It is never fun when something goes wrong, but there are things that you can do to minimize the damage, both mechanically and financially. If you’re ready to cruise the open road with confidence, then check out these 3 tips for avoiding headaches on your next RV repair.
Perform Proper Maintenance
One of the easiest ways to avoid anguish over your RV repair is to never need the repair in the first place. In some cases, that’s easier said than done, but many issues that are encountered could be avoided by performing some simple and regular maintenance. Usually, performing the maintenance is much cheaper than needing the RV repair down the road, and most maintenance items are quite simple to complete yourself.
Track all your maintenance work with our RV Maintenance worksheet
We all know that water damage is one of the worst things that can happen to an RV. It can create problems that remain hidden for months, and then the problem goes from minor to gigantic very quickly once it is uncovered. It is for this reason that at least annual roof maintenance is an absolute must. You should closely inspect all of the joints and ensure that there are no cracks in the sealant. If there is, an easy roof repair you should perform is to immediately clean and reseal them to prevent water from entering.
In addition to roof maintenance, you should also perform regular oil changes if you have a motorhome. Make sure to lubricate slide outs as necessary, and regularly check your brakes and wheel bearings. By following these simple RV maintenance tips, you can avoid some major problems down the road.
Do It Yourself RV Repair
A great way to avoid a big RV repair bill is to perform the work yourself. The bulk of any repair bill is typically the labor, whereas most parts are usually not that expensive. By performing the repair yourself, you do not have to pay a dime for the labor! There are countless resources available online today that will walk you step-by-step through almost any repair you can imagine especially YouTube. Even if you have never done repairs before, you can absolutely tackle some of the simpler jobs.
If you decide to make the repair yourself, then you should shop around for the best price on the part you need. This can save you even more money. Again, you can find part numbers, diagrams, and everything else you need online. Before ordering the part online, make sure that you are ordering from a reputable store. You should take the same precautions as you would before ordering any other item online such as making sure the site is secure and checking its reviews.
Do Your Homework
Maybe you have decided that you just don’t have the time to complete that repair or it is too big of a job for you to handle. Then it’s time to look for RV repair shops. This is where some thorough research will pay off. First, decide whether you can take your rig into a repair facility or if you’re going to need a mobile RV technician. Call around to different facilities in your area to get pricing information and turnaround times on their RV repair services. Pay attention to their customer service skills on the phone, as those will often translate into the way you will be treated once you arrive at the facility.
Once the shop has a chance to diagnose the problem, make sure that you agree to the RV repair that will be performed. They should be able to provide you with an estimate for the repair before you commit to having it completed. You don’t want to just give them “carte blanche” to go in and start doing everything. This may leave you stuck with a big bill for things that you did not even want to be done. You may also want to check out extended RV warranties to limit your total cost to just a deductable.
If you own an RV long enough, you will have a need to make repairs at some point. Following these RV repair and maintenance tips can help make those repairs a little easier on both you and your wallet. These tips will also have you back on the road sooner so that you can enjoy that next trip. Best of luck and enjoy your adventures!
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My brother has recently purchased an RV that all of us will be sharing in the future and we want to know how to maintain it properly. I really appreciated it when you stated that water damage is a big thing to look out for when handling an RV because we plan to use it around beach areas and lakes and so this may end up being our number one concern. I’ll be sure to look for a place where we can get his RV serviced if ever any problems come up. Thank you for the article!
I just got myself a secondhand RV and we are planning on hitting the roads in 2 weeks. I’m not sure of the last service date and I want to avoid any breakdowns during our trip. As you mentioned, the easiest way to avoid anguish is to perform the maintenance, of which, the roof maintenance is of utmost importance to prevent water damage. To be on the safe side, I will take my RV to the RV repair service center and have it checked and serviced.
Plan out everything you will need to get the job done. Before you start making repairs, make sure you have all the tools and materials needed to perform the repairs like paint brushes, nap rollers and a bucket of your favorite RV roof coating and lay them down in order so you don’tmiss anything. When you have all the tools and materials in order, all you have to do is reach out and grab them.