RV’ing In Southern Oregon Spring 2024
By Paul Wesner, Vintage Trailer Land
Those cold and damp days of winter have passed, turning our attention to upcoming and exciting outdoor adventures! But how do you know your Recreational Vehicle is ready for its first season’s run into the great outdoors? Whether you winterized your RV last fall or not, here is a list of tips you can follow to awake your camper from its winter hibernation.
Step Inside
If you’re like most RV owners, your house-on-wheels has not had much of your attention in the off season, including regular inspections. So it’s time to go inside and check for any obvious issues; namely, signs of rodents, leaks, moisture, and other problems that need to be addressed. Like, did you forget to clean out perishable food and do the laundry after last trip?
Plumbing System
If you or a shop winterized your water lines, you’ll need to flush the antifreeze out of the plumbing system. To do this, follow your owner’s manual (or find instructions online), which will detail how to service the water heater, tanks, toilet and faucets.
Windows & Vents
Waking up to rainwater dripping on your face is not the ideal camping experience. Take time now to carefully check the condition of the windows, vents, seams, and roof. Clean and replace seals or sealants that are weathered, cracked, or missing. Be sure to use proper RV sealants; not household types found at home improvement stores. Vacuum fridge vents and clear all vents from leaves/debris and old wasp nests.
Batteries
Test and charge as needed. If you don’t own one, purchase a battery maintainer ($15-$50). Pull the covers and check the battery fluid.
Engine & Running Gear
In the case of a motorhome, perform required maintenance & repairs. For all other RVs, check the running gear including tire condition, tire pressure, axle bearing grease, suspension lubrication, etc. Few things are as frustrating as a mechanical breakdown on the family vacation, so adhere to the old adage, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Appliances
Test your stove, oven, microwave, comfort heater, air conditioner, generator and other appliances and components. This will require you to turn on the propane system and on-board power systems (test generator, solar, and plug in shore power). Make sure you have plenty of propane in the tanks.
Make your first outing as smooth as possible by de-winterizing your RV. If you don’t feel confident with any of these inspections, maintenance, or repairs, contact your local RV shop. Tip: call and get on their schedule today, lest you get stuck in a backlog of seasonal scheduling. Now that your RV will be ready to go, the great outdoors awaits you… happy camping!
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