4 Maintenance Problems That Can Ruin your RV or Camper
08-20-2015
Author: Blog Editor in RV Tips & Education
By Justin Stoltzfus
Whether you're adventuring to the beach, to the mountains, or any place else, there are certain types of routine maintenance that are going to be critically important for keeping your RV or camper in good shape, and keeping everyone safe on the road. These big vehicles tend to wear in some pretty serious ways, so look at keeping these critical parts and systems in good repair.
Hoses
If you've ever driven through the desert in any kind of vehicle, you know how hard a hot climate can be on an RV’s cooling system. Things like radiator hoses can strain and break under pressure, and then you have a coolant leak on your hands. Make sure to really be vigilant about maintaining pipes and tubes for radiators, water pumps and other parts of the vehicle’s cooling system.
With many RVs and campers, you also have the issue of maintaining other types of hoses that aren't related to vehicle function, but to conveniences and amenities. For example, experts recommend rolling up drinking water hoses in specific ways, as well as securing sewer connections to keep them from leaking.
Air Filters
Another maintenance problem for campers is related to the same harsh and arid desert climates. You may have heard about “valley fever,” which is what some San Fernando or Los Angeles residents call respiratory problems suffered by those who step into the dirty air of the California hinterlands . Those same sandstorms and dust storms can cause a lot of contamination to get into the camper’s air filter and possibly affect engine performance, which is why it's important to monitor these on a regular basis.
Brakes
You'll also have to keep an eye on the brakes for your RV or camper. One issue here is that heavier vehicles put even more stress on braking systems than driving a small car or even an SUV. So the issue with camper and RV brakes is that these types of vehicles can use either electrical brakes or other types of hydraulic brakes. For pull-along campers, drivers may be required to have specific camper brakes in addition to the brakes that are on the towing vehicle.
All of this requires a good understanding of how brake systems work, and dedicated routine maintenance to avoid things like excessive brake shoe wear, poorly calibrated rotors, master cylinder problems and other issues that could leave drivers without good braking protection. A quick Google search on your needed break system should steer you in the right direction. For example, if your pop-up camper has electric breaks installed, Etrailer has a great Q & A on troubleshooting brakes on a pop-up camper.
Tires
Tires can also be a real problem with camper maintenance. We always tend to put tire maintenance on the back burner, but that's not a very smart thing to do, because everything that’s in your camper is riding on those tires. Lots of RV owners try to delay tire replacement or tire fixes in order to save a few bucks, but may regret it later. Be sure to always do the tire tread test on your camper tires, whether it's a driven or pull-along camper, and find a good shop that will replace them conveniently, so that you’re always rolling on good rubber.
Being aware of these four maintenance problems can help you get more out of your RV or camper as it ages, and be more confident when you're behind the wheel.
If you're on the market for a new pop-up camper, or you're thinking to buy one for the first time, we recommend you read The Four Best Pop-Up Campers and Why You Should Buy Them.
Photo Credit: Soul Surfing
Whether you're adventuring to the beach, to the mountains, or any place else, there are certain types of routine maintenance that are going to be critically important for keeping your RV or camper in good shape, and keeping everyone safe on the road. These big vehicles tend to wear in some pretty serious ways, so look at keeping these critical parts and systems in good repair.
Hoses
If you've ever driven through the desert in any kind of vehicle, you know how hard a hot climate can be on an RV’s cooling system. Things like radiator hoses can strain and break under pressure, and then you have a coolant leak on your hands. Make sure to really be vigilant about maintaining pipes and tubes for radiators, water pumps and other parts of the vehicle’s cooling system.
With many RVs and campers, you also have the issue of maintaining other types of hoses that aren't related to vehicle function, but to conveniences and amenities. For example, experts recommend rolling up drinking water hoses in specific ways, as well as securing sewer connections to keep them from leaking.
Air Filters
Another maintenance problem for campers is related to the same harsh and arid desert climates. You may have heard about “valley fever,” which is what some San Fernando or Los Angeles residents call respiratory problems suffered by those who step into the dirty air of the California hinterlands . Those same sandstorms and dust storms can cause a lot of contamination to get into the camper’s air filter and possibly affect engine performance, which is why it's important to monitor these on a regular basis.
Brakes
You'll also have to keep an eye on the brakes for your RV or camper. One issue here is that heavier vehicles put even more stress on braking systems than driving a small car or even an SUV. So the issue with camper and RV brakes is that these types of vehicles can use either electrical brakes or other types of hydraulic brakes. For pull-along campers, drivers may be required to have specific camper brakes in addition to the brakes that are on the towing vehicle.
All of this requires a good understanding of how brake systems work, and dedicated routine maintenance to avoid things like excessive brake shoe wear, poorly calibrated rotors, master cylinder problems and other issues that could leave drivers without good braking protection. A quick Google search on your needed break system should steer you in the right direction. For example, if your pop-up camper has electric breaks installed, Etrailer has a great Q & A on troubleshooting brakes on a pop-up camper.
Tires
Tires can also be a real problem with camper maintenance. We always tend to put tire maintenance on the back burner, but that's not a very smart thing to do, because everything that’s in your camper is riding on those tires. Lots of RV owners try to delay tire replacement or tire fixes in order to save a few bucks, but may regret it later. Be sure to always do the tire tread test on your camper tires, whether it's a driven or pull-along camper, and find a good shop that will replace them conveniently, so that you’re always rolling on good rubber.
Being aware of these four maintenance problems can help you get more out of your RV or camper as it ages, and be more confident when you're behind the wheel.
If you're on the market for a new pop-up camper, or you're thinking to buy one for the first time, we recommend you read The Four Best Pop-Up Campers and Why You Should Buy Them.
Photo Credit: Soul Surfing
You might also like these related articles!
- Easy RV Repairs You Can Do Yourself!
- 4 Best Pop-Up Campers & Why You Should Buy Them
- 8 Handy RV Gadgets you can't Live Without
Comment
SIEmonJuly 7, 2017 | 08:57 AM
Everybody should aware about this.
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