If you haven’t taken the proper steps before heading out on the road, the summer can take a toll on your RV. Lazydays veteran Andy Dietz has some great advice on what to do so you can enjoy your travels and stay worry-free all summer. You can find the checklist for the RV's exterior, refrigerator, radiator and A/C systems inside the Summer print issue of BetterRVing.com.
Interior Space
• Air out your coach by opening all of the windows and vents.
• Turn on all the lights and fans to check for burned out fuses or bulbs and to make sure the converter is charging your battery properly.
• Test your GFI (ground fault interrupter) plugs with a tester kit available at the hardware store.
• Make sure the faucets are closed and place the water heater bypass assembly back into the summer position. Now you can fill your fresh water tank.
• Purge the water lines with the water pump and remove any bacteria in the tank with a tank freshener product. You can also add a cup of bleach to a gallon of water and pour into the empty tank. Fill the tank and run all of the faucets until you smell bleach. Let it sit for 24 hours, drain and fill with fresh water.
• Make sure your water lines are flowing clear and the water heater reads FULL, then plug into shore power and test the system.
• Inspect the fittings and remove the access panels to ensure there are no leaks. Then check the fresh water tank, underbelly, black and gray holding tanks and gate valves for leaks or damage.
• Check that all of your appliances are operational. Start with the electrical ones and the move onto the gas appliances after turning the liquid propane tanks bank on. If you smell any propane, turn off all of the appliance and call an RV technician to inspect the system.
• Replace the batteries on all of your clocks, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Operate your slides to make sure they’re functional.
Now the hard part is done! All that’s left is to relax and enjoy your summer travels.