RV Mobile Medics Repair & Service

Labor Day weekend is one of the last big RV camping weekends of summer, and plenty of RV owners will be getting ready to hit the road. Before you hook up and head out, take a little time to make sure your RV is ready for the trip.

A simple RV pre-trip inspection can help you catch potential problems while your RV is still sitting at home instead of discovering them after you’ve pulled into the campground.

Your RV Pre-Trip Checklist

Here are a few things worth checking several days before you leave:

• Check your RV tires. Texas summer heat can be tough on RV tires. Check the tire pressure while the tires are cold, and inspect the tread and sidewalls for cracks, bulges, unusual wear or other signs of damage. Don’t forget to check the age of your tires, too. RV tires can age out before the tread is worn out.
• Make sure your RV batteries are ready. Check that your batteries are charged and inspect the connections for anything loose or corroded. If you have flooded lead-acid batteries, check the water level and add distilled water if needed. Battery maintenance will vary depending on the type of batteries installed in your RV.
• Think about your fresh water needs. If you’ll be traveling somewhere without a water hookup or want water available while you’re on the road, make sure you have enough fresh water for the trip. If your destination has reliable hookups, you may not need to travel with a completely full fresh-water tank and the extra weight that comes with it. Also, make sure that tank is clean before you fill it up, if you haven’t used it in awhile.
• Get the RV refrigerator cold before you load it. Turn your refrigerator on ahead of time and make sure it is cooling properly before filling it with food. Loading a warm refrigerator with a weekend’s worth of groceries makes it work even harder. A refrigerator thermometer is an easy way to verify that it’s maintaining a safe temperature.
• Test the RV air conditioner. Labor Day may signal the end of summer, but Texas temperatures usually haven’t gotten that message. Run your A/C before the trip and make sure it is cooling properly. It’s much better to discover an RV A/C problem at home than after arriving at the campground on a hot afternoon.
• Check the plumbing and water heater. Turn on the water and look for leaks around faucets, and underneath the cabinets, check connections and accessible plumbing. Make sure the RV water heater is operating correctly and that you have hot water before leaving.
• Run your slides, jacks and leveling system. Extend and retract your slides and operate your jacks or leveling system before departure (but make sure that you are completely level before you operate your slides). Listen for unusual noises, watch for slow or uneven movement and make sure everything operates as expected.
• Check the awning. Extend and retract it to make sure it is operating properly, then verify that it is completely retracted and secured before traveling.
• Check your lights and towing equipment. Test the brake lights, turn signals and running lights. Inspect your hitch and towing connections, along with the breakaway cable and safety chains where applicable. Take a few minutes to walk around the entire setup before pulling away.
• Give the exterior a walk-around. Look over the roofline, exterior panels, vents, doors and storage compartments for anything loose, damaged or out of place. Make sure exterior compartments are closed and secured for travel.
• Take care of the holding tanks. Starting your trip with the black and gray tanks properly emptied gives you more capacity once you reach your destination. Make sure the valves are completely closed and the sewer cap is secure before traveling.
• Check your RV essentials. Make sure you have the things you’ll need once you arrive, including your surge protector, water-pressure regulator, drinking-water hose, sewer supplies, tire-pressure gauge, flashlight and a few basic tools.

Don’t Wait Until the Day You Leave

It doesn’t take long to give your RV a good once-over, but those few extra minutes can make a big difference.

Don’t wait until Friday afternoon to start checking everything. Give yourself a few days before the holiday weekend so there’s time to address anything that isn’t working the way it should.

The best time to discover an RV problem is while it’s still parked at home, not when you’re setting up at the campground with a long weekend ahead of you.

Need RV Repair Before Labor Day Weekend?

If your pre-trip inspection turns up something that needs attention, RV Mobile Medics Repair & Service can diagnose and repair many RV problems right at your location.

We provide mobile RV repair throughout Fort Worth and the surrounding area, helping RV owners with A/C and electrical problems, plumbing, water heaters, slides, jacks, leveling systems and more.

Getting a problem checked before you leave can help you start your trip with one less thing to worry about.

Enjoy the long weekend, make some memories, and give your RV a little attention before you ask it to take you on the next adventure.