Spring's Here -- Is Your RV Ready?

Get Your Maintenance Done Now Before Summer Vacation

Are you ready for the arrival of spring and the anticipation of days spent enjoying the outdoors, working on that tan, hiking those trails or perhaps watching your children play at the beach? Many are already making their vacation plans for this summer. In the midst of all the enthusiasm, many are forgetting that their RV is still winterized or worse yet, not even ready! At Lassen RV, we want to help you become aware of your RV needs, many of which you can even do yourself!

A regular cleaning and maintenance of your RV is just common sense, as it is also critical to minimizing potential problems and maintaining the value of your RV. Lassen RV recommends an annual checkup to keep your RV in good working condition. A spring checkup by a certified RV service technician can save you time and money, and ensure a carefree camping season.

While a trip to a certified RV service center is recommended, there are several spring maintenance chores that can be accomplished by the RV owner, regardless of their mechanical ability or knowledge. Follow these tips to guarantee that your first trip starts out on the right note:

¨ Take a good look at the roof. Check all seals and joints for weathering, cracking and shrinking. If the roof coat is peeling or flaking, it must be removed by scraping it off. For metal roofs, use an aluminum roof coat and brush it on about 1/8-inch thick. For rubber roofs, use an elastomeric roof coat or self-leveling sealant. Never use a petroleum based product on a rubber roof as damage to the rubber membrane will result. Also, while silicone caulking has a place in the RV, it has no place on the roof. Silicone will not stick well and may damage the rubber, and on a metal roof it will adhere to some places and not others causing pockets that will trap water.

¨ De-winterize your water and holding tank system. If you have antifreeze in your lines, you must flush the system thoroughly before use to get rid of the antifreeze. While this kind of antifreeze is nontoxic, it will still make your water taste really bad. Drain your fresh water storage tank and refill with fresh water. You can add a tablespoon of baking soda every time you fill the water tank to keep it fresh and sanitary. Now is also a good time to check the operation of your dump valves. The slide mechanism should operate smoothly with no sticking and should seal completely. Change any suspect valve before a problem develops. There are not many things worse than encountering a stuck or broken sewage dump valve, when the tanks are completely full!

¨ Tune up your generator for spring. Replace any wires or components that appear worn, frayed or may have been chewed on by rodents. Wipe down, clean and lightly oil or paint any rusted parts.

¨ Check the RV tires. Inflate the tires to the proper pressure and inspect them closely for small cracks. Check the tread for uneven wear and for other irregularities in the wear pattern. Tires should be replaced if the tread is worn down to 1/16 inch or if the sidewall is cracked. Make sure the lug nuts are tight on both the inner and outer wheels. Don't forget the spare tire!

¨ Inspect the battery. Note: If you have neglected your battery over the winter months, it may be damaged. Batteries can actually overcharge if they are left on a charger for an extended period of time without any use or draw. An overcharged battery will not accept a full charge and not carry a sufficient amperage load. Also, a battery will discharge slowly even when not being used and should be given a top up charge about once a month when in storage. Bring the battery back up to a fully charged state with a trickle charger on it for several days. Just remember to disconnect it after being charged! When being charged, a lead acid battery will emit hydrogen gas which is explosive, so only charge in a well ventilated area and well away from any ignition source. When unhooking the battery charger, first unplug the charger and then disconnect the battery to prevent any disconnect sparking. Lassen RV is able to do a load test to determine the battery capacity, but the battery needs to be fully charged for this. Check the water level in all cells and top up with distilled water only.

¨ Check or install smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. An RV is a home away from home, so treat it like you would your house by checking the batteries and expiration date of your smoke and CO detectors. Newly manufactured RVs are required to have these detectors installed but if your RV does not have them, they can be purchased and are very easy to install.

¨ Take extra care when inspecting your gas appliances. Remove the furnace cover and check for nests or lint accumulation. Open the main LP-gas valve and check the gas system for leaks. You can do this by putting soapy water on every gas line connection and watching for bubbles. If you find leaks, bring your RV in to a certified service center for repairs; don't try to fix them yourself!

For those who are not able, or may simply not have the time to prepare their RV for the season, remember that Lassen RV has a Certified RV Service Center and we are able to accommodate all of your RV’s needs!

Lassen RV

1103 Price Rd.

Albany, OR 97322

Toll Free: (877) DREAMRV

(877) 373-2678

(541) 917-7395

Fax: (541) 917-7396