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RV Service Tip of the Month

January
Feburary
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

JANUARY

RV Roof Care

At least once a year you should inspect the roof of your RV. Climb on top of the unit and do an inspection. Look for dried, cracked, or missing sealant around vents and joints. Look for rips, tears, or other damage. Finally, take a broom and sweep off any built up dirt.

If you aren't sure what to look for, or simply don't have time - call your Service Writer and make an appointment. We will gladly take care of it for you.

FEBRUARY

Cleaning It Out

If your black tank has solid deposits in the bottom, it diminishes the total capacity of the tank (and smells even worse than usual!) Paul Evert's RV Country is always available to help you with these types of problems, so feel free to call us if you've already read enough!

However, for a quick fix to this yucky problem, try this: Dump a 5lb back of CRUSHED ice down the toilet. Add a little bit of water and go for a drive. The ice will act as an abrasive and may save you a costly tank removal!

If you aren't sure what to do or simply don't have time to deal with this - call your Service Writer and make an appointment today. We will gladly take care of it for you.

MARCH

Basic Tools

Whether you are new to RVing or just need a reminder, now is the perfect time to take inventory of the basic tools you carry with you on your trips. You never know what you might need! Below is a just a small list of basic suggested items:

Complete socket set (Get 6 point if possible)
Combination Wrenches
Adjustable (Crescent) Wrench
Water pump pliers (Also known as a slip-joint)
BFH (Big Friggen' Hammer!)
Lug Wrench (You'd be surprised)
Duct Tape
Silicone Sealer
Flash Light
Flares/Safety Reflectors

Hope you have happy and safe travels!

APRIL

Proper Tire Pressure

Your RV carries a lot of weight! The tires are made to handle this weight, provided it doesn't exceed manufacturer specs. The pressure on the side wall of the tire is the MAX that should ever be put in the tire.

The correct pressure will be in the owner's manual or on a plate on a door jam or somewhere in the RV. Make sure to inflate tires to the correct pressure based on the weight the RV is carrying.

Pay attention to the front and back pressure as they are often different.

MAY

Battery Care

Make sure the fluid level in you RV coach and house batteries is correct.

You should check it at least once a week during usage and monthly during storage. T he proper level is just above the metal plates inside.

If the level gets too low, the plates react with the air and corrosion begins. If the level is low, add just enough distilled water to bring the level above the plates.

JUNE

Electric Hook-up Safety

Buy an electrical system tester for use in your RV.

Any RV/Marine supply store will carry them. These are small devices that plug into an electric outlet. They verify correct wiring and grounding of the outlet.

Before you plug in your RV, check the site outlet. Then leave the device plugged into one of the RV outlets where you can see it.

If you aren't sure what to look for, or would like more advice on this subject - call your Service Writer and make an appointment. We would be happy to go over everything with you.

JULY

Caring for your Generator

Your generator is made to be used. In fact, it needs to be used to keep it working at its best. At least once a month you need to run it and let it get to full operating temperature.

When you run your generator, be aware of the following:

Never start the generator with a load on it (Make sure all appliances are turned off)
Let the generator run for 5-10 minutes before applying a load
Even if you only start it to run the microwave for a minute or two - let the generator run for 15-20 minutes so that the engine gets warm

AUGUST

Checklist for Towing a Car (With a Tow Bar)

Is the Tow Bar Hooked Up and Checked?
Are the Safety Chains "X" and Hooked up?
Are the Tow Vehicle Lights Working? (Brake and Turn lights)
Is the Transmission in the Proper Gear?
Is the Driveshaft Disengaged If Need Be?
Is the Parking Brake Off?
Is the Ignition Key in the First "ON" Position?
Do You Have a Spare Set of Keys for the Tow Vehicle?
If YES Now Lock the Tow Vehicle.

Remember You Are Driving a Vehicle 20 Feet Longer Now!

SEPTEMBER

Disconnect Your Battery

If you will not be using your RV for any length of time, disconnect the battery. Your RV has many systems that draw a small amount of current all the time.

Things like your propane leak detector, tank monitors, or digital clocks will draw enough current to drain your house batteries if you are not plugged in.

If you don't have one already or do not want to manually unplug the batteries, you can always have a "Battery Disconnect Switch" installed. See anyone on our Service Department staff for more information on this.

OCTOBER

Cleaning out your Water System

Tips on Cleaning Out your RV's fresh water tanks

To clean out the fresh water system in your RV, follow these steps:

Fill the water tanks 1/2 full.
Add a solution of 1/4 cup bleach and 1 gallon of water for every 15 gallons of tank capacity.
Open all the faucets until all the air has been removed from the system and the solution has filled the water system.
Let the unit sit for 3-5 hours.
Drain the water system and refill with fresh water.
Run the fresh water through all faucets and drain the system again

Leave the system empty and drain to prevent the build-up of microorganisms. This will also prevent pipes from bursting if the weather freezes

NOVEMBER

Quick Tips

Don't start the water heater unless it is filled with water. The water heater is designed to heat water and can be damaged if run dry.
Do not move the generator throttle linkage by hand. The generator RPM controlls the AC output. If you have appliances plugged in (Like the microwave and TV - even if the TV is off) you can overload them and severely damage them.
If you don't run your generator often enough, the fuel in the carburetor will go bad. Symptoms of this include rough running or a no start condition. Working with fuel is dangerous - please contact our Service Department if you suspect this is the case.

DECEMBER

Prevent Freezing

To prevent damage to your RV water system from freezing weather, completely drain the system. You can do this by turning off the water pump and opening ALL the water faucets, hot and cold. Next, open the low point drain valves. Leave the faucets and valves open to allow all the water to drain.