Preparing your RV to get started safely this season

For RV owners, the end of the winter means one important thing, and that’s the first use of their vehicle. It’s important to take certain steps to ensure that your RV is up and ready to go for a safe and enjoyable season.

The following are some tips you can use to inspect and test your systems and ensure that your RV is all set for use.

• Check the exterior – among the top issues that can develop while an RV is in storage is water leaks. Have a careful look over the entire exterior of the vehicle to make sure that the caulking is all in good condition and that it hasn’t cracked or fallen away. Be especially careful as you check around doors, windows, vents in the roof, and seams. It takes only the tiniest crack to allow a significant amount of water to enter.

• Inspect the tires – give the tires a visual inspection with an eye open for cracks between treads and on the sidewalls. Think of any crack as a safety hazard and a good reason to replace that tire. Once you know that your tires are in good condition, check their pressures and compare it to the recommended pressure from the manufacturer. Recommended tire pressures are usually posted inside a cabinet on a decal.

• Clear your appliances – take the access covers off the refrigerator and the water heater. Carefully inspect the assembly of the burner for any kind of foreign debris such as dust, nests, and spider webs. The burner area can be cleaned using very light air pressure from a compressor. Never blow a high amount of air pressure into the chimney of a refrigerator. If you aren’t sure how to do it, have a professional do this task.

Beyond these steps, you should also check batteries and L.P. items, check the hot water heater bypass valve and then fill the water, test smoke detectors and other fire appliances, inspect and test the generator, check dump hoses and valve seals for waste tank valves, and inspect the awnings and check the condition of the fabric and the spring tension.

Remember www.DiscountRVParts.com is standing by for all your RV Parts, RV Supplies, and RV Accessory needs. Visit us online, our RV Parts online SuperCenter is always open!

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Do you ever feel like sometimes we all need to take time out and remember what this Holiday Season is about?

Let’s go back in time… Roughly 2000 years ago Jesus Christ came to this earth in human form and was born in a stable on a cold winter’s night. This birth is what this season is about. We all get caught up in the being busy and the stress we incur during this time of year and often we lose sight of what’s important.

Maybe go outside late in the evening on a cold winter’s night and reflect on what is truly important.

We wish you and your family a Merry Christmas!

Your friends at DiscountRVParts.com

Fall is here and before you know it winter will be upon us. If you do not use your RV during the winter months, make sure you winterize it to prolong the life of your RV parts. Your camper and RV parts can take a beating if you do not properly prepare for the winter months.

Winterizing your RV and all the parts is fairly simple and can normally be done at your home with some simple RV parts and supplies. There is not a lot to do, but you want to make sure it is done correctly and in a timely manner.

The first, and biggest, thing you need to worry about is your plumbing. Not only do you need to drain the lines, you also need to blow the lines and purchase antifreeze that is safe for fresh water plumbing. You can purchase antifreeze from us part #24181, your local RV parts and supplies store. You may also need a blow out plug, part #41280.

Next you need to check for roof leaks and examine all your seals around exterior doors and windows. You will want to make any necessary repairs as soon as possible. Leaks and broken seals make it hard to control the amount of moisture trapped in the RV, and also brings the increased risk of insects, mice and other rodents that will be looking for a warm place during the winter months. You do not want mice and other rodents to chew on your wiring and interior RV parts.

The last items you will want to thoroughly check will be your tires, suspension, vents, roof vents, etc. All of these parts need to be properly inspected and repaired prior to your RV storage in the winter months.

If you have any questions or concerns about the winterizing process of your RV and RV parts, please do not hesitate to E-mail us at info@DiscountRVParts.com. We would love to walk you through this process and help with any of your parts and supplies.

As we head toward colder temperatures, I would like to suggest a few preventive maintenance checks to prepare your RV for the fall and winter camping seasons. Please don’t confuse these checks with winterizing your RV or preparing it for winter storage.

In no particular order, here are my top 7 pre-winter RV checks:

1. Inspect your RV batteries
Check all battery connections for secure mounting. Clean the batteries with a 50/50 mixture of baking soda and water, if necessary. If you have lead-acid batteries, check the electrolyte level in each cell and add distilled water, if necessary. Many older converter chargers provide a constant charge of approximately 13.5 volts, which is too high for fully-charged batteries and can cause the electrolyte to boiled off, resulting in an early death for the batteries.

Check water levels weekly, at a minimum, when using the RV. Test the battery state-of-charge and charge any batteries that are at or below 80 percent. A discharged or partially-charged battery will freeze much faster than a fully-charged battery. Use a digital voltmeter to measure voltage and get a quick picture of the batteries’ depth of discharge. If you don’t feel comfortable working on or around batteries, have a reputable RV service center perform battery maintenance for you.

Note: A 12-volt battery that is charged should read 12.5 to 12.7 volts. Readings less than 12.5 indicate the battery state of charge is below 80 percent and the battery needs to be charged. A 6-volt battery that is charged should read 6.25 to 6.37 volts. Readings below 6.25 indicate the battery state of charge is below 80 percent and the battery needs to be charged.

2. Test automotive antifreeze
The antifreeze in your tow vehicle or motorhome radiator should always have a 50- to 70-percent concentration of antifreeze to water. Water does a good job helping to cool an engine but it freezes quickly during cold winter temperatures. Water can also cause certain metals to rust and corrode over time. The proper concentration of antifreeze is necessary to provide freeze protection and chemical protection against corrosion.

To test the antifreeze, use quality test strips, a float-type hydrometer or a refractometer. A refractometer is the most accurate testing device.

Inspect all coolant hoses for signs of damage or leaks. Coolant hoses deteriorate from the inside out. Inspect all hoses for wear, cracks, soft spots, brittle areas and leaks. Inspect hose clamps for secure mounting and replace any damaged coolant hoses or clamps as required.

3. Use a fuel stabilizer product like STA-BIL
Fuel stabilizers provide excellent protection against stale fuel during periods of storage. They contain corrosion inhibitors, remove water and help to clean fuel injectors. There are fuel stabilizers designed for use with gasoline and diesel engines. I use a fuel stabilizer in gas-powered lawn equipment, ATVs, boats, motorcycles and RVs. DiscountRVParts.com stocks STA-BIL fuel stabilizer.

4. Furnace checkup
One LP-gas appliance that gets overlooked during warm weather is the forced-air furnace. Most service requirements for the furnace need to be accomplished by a reputable RV service center, but there are a few things the owner can do to prepare the furnace for cold-weather operation.

The battery plays an important role in the proper operation of the furnace. Keeping lead-acid batteries watered and fully charged will prevent many furnace-related problems. Inspect furnace ducting that is above floor level for damage, such as crushed ducting or obstructions that could affect furnace operation. Make sure the furnace air return is not blocked or restricted. Test the operation of the furnace before the day arrives when you actually need it. Have a certified technician test your LP-gas system annually for proper appliance operating pressure and leaks.

5. Inspect all safety devices and replace all dry-cell batteries
Carbon monoxide is deadly. Test the CO detector, LP-gas leak detector and smoke alarm for proper operation every time you use your RV. Instruct individuals on symptoms and what to do if they are exposed to carbon monoxide or if they hear LP-gas leak detector alarms. Replace all dry-cell batteries when you change the settings on your clocks in the spring and fall. Make sure you have a charged fire extinguisher on hand and that you and other adults know how to operate it.

6. Clean, inspect and reseal your roof as necessary
Not that this is directly related to fall or winter use, but I like to inspect the roof twice a year, at a minimum, and I think spring and fall are good times of the year to make these checks.

Note: Exercise caution any time you work on the roof of your motorhome. The roof surface can be slippery and a fall can result in serious injury, or worse.

Clean your roof with an approved cleaner for the type of roofing material your motorhome has. Every time you clean the roof, inspect the sealants around all of the openings and the seams on the roof. Water will take the path of least resistance, and if there is the smallest opening, it will find it. Thoroughly inspect the roof sealants for potential leaks and reseal any areas of the roof seams and around openings where you suspect a leak. Make sure you use sealants compatible with your roofing material. Keep in mind that your warranty can be voided if you fail to perform some of these required inspections. Check your motorhome owner’s manual for roof inspection intervals.

7. Plan for non-use
If you don’t plan to use your RV over the fall and winter months, winterize the plumbing system to prevent freezing. Prepare all other systems for short or long-term storage. DiscountRVParts.com has a large selection of RV Winterization prodcuts, starting with RV Anitfreeze.