Tips and Suggestions for RV Owners

• After turning on your propane tanks, light one burner on the stove top to start the gas flowing through the system before starting other gas appliances. This helps bleed any air from the system so your appliances are more likely to start on the first try.
• Always level your RV before starting the refrigerator. The unit may operate improperly, or not at all if your RV is not level.
• Pre-cool the refrigerator at least 24 hours before loading in your food, and try to load the RV refrigerator with items that are already cold. This is especially important in hot weather.
• Opening and closing the refrigerator excessively or leaving the door open will cause it to warm up dramatically, much more than the refrigerator in your home. This is especially true in hot weather. Try to limit the amount of time the door is open.
• When storing your RV with the refrigerator off, leave the refrigerator doors ajar to avoid mold and mildew.
• When filling the fresh water storage tank, do not use full hose pressure. Filling the water tank too quickly can cause the tank to rupture or break the mountings. A tank fill adaptor will help the tank to vent more effectively when filling.
• Verify the operation of your trailer brakes before setting off on each trip, and be sure your brake control is adjusted properly.
• Check the wheel lug bolt torque before each trip. If necessary, retighten them to the torque specified in your owners manual.
• Always use RV approved toilet tissue. It is designed to break down quickly in your holding tank and prevent clogs and buildup over time.
• Toilet chemical should always be used to help deodorize and break down waste. You should always start with 3-5 gallons of water in the tank (enough to cover the bottom) and allow the tank to become as full as possible before dumping it. This promotes more complete draining and reduces buildup. NEVER leave your toilet tank dump valve open while the trailer is in use.
• The kitchen waste holding tank (grey water) will require cleaning from time to time to remove grease buildup and allow the monitors to read correctly. Chemical degreasers are available in our parts department.
• Check the water level in your batteries once a month. This is especially important if the trailer is plugged into 110V power while in storage. Top off with distilled water if needed.
• If the coach batteries are low, the LP leak detector will sound an alarm. Plug the trailer into 110V or otherwise charge the batteries.
• 110V wall receptacles are wired to a common GFI breaker, usually located on the plug in the bathroom area. If this has tripped, no power will be available at any of the plugs. Push the reset button on the plug to restore power. Note that the refrigerator 110V circuit is often wired to this as well.
• When storing the RV for more than two weeks, disconnect wires on the negative battery terminal or use the battery disconnect switch if equipped. This will help avoid battery drain.
• The furnace must be turned off at the thermostat control while not in use. If the thermostat is simply turned down, the furnace may come on unnecessarily and drain your battery.
• Covering the tires of your trailer while in storage will protect them from premature failure due to weather checking. Vinyl tire covers are sold in our parts department for this purpose.
• Grease your fifth wheel plate, slider bar or spring bars and hitch ball before each trip to reduce noise and premature wear. Teflon discs for fifth wheels are a great alternative and are sold in our parts department.
• Proper venting and air circulation will help prevent condensation inside the RV. Leaving one or more windows and roof vents slightly open will help, and our service department can install a power exhaust roof vent to help even more.
• Have your axles and brakes serviced once a year. This includes repacking the wheel bearings, inspecting and adjusting the brakes and brake wiring, and checking axle U-bolts and spring hangers.
• Use of a city water pressure regulator is highly recommended to keep water pressure at a constant 45 PSI. Many RV parks have higher or fluctuating pressure, and this can cause damage to water lines.
• Be sure that drawers and cabinets are closed before extending or retracting your slide out rooms. They can sometimes be close enough to cause interference damage.
• If you've been parked under trees, check the roof of the slide out rooms and sweep off any debris before retracting the rooms. Slide topper awnings can help prevent debris from being pulled inside the coach and possibly interfering with the weather seal.