Well I'm going to start off with a bang here with the most important tip I can think of for the RV owner, and certainly the issue we spend more time on in our service area than any other. That is keeping your RV from letting water into it. Those of you that have camped for a while probably think that is pretty obvious and not much of a tip, but let me assure you that most of the folks starting out at camping don't understand this issue at all. Some people don't understand why an RV would leak... ever! Some are sure that for the first year they don't have to worry about anything because if a leak does happen, warranty will cover it! They are in for a rude awakening! It is rare for a manufacturer to cover damage from leaks in the warranty. Leaks in an RV, even a new one, are considered maintenance issues and are not normally covered. Most of them have a statement written in along the line of, "The owner is responsible to check all seams and seal/caulk as necessary, every 90 days"! Seriously?! Most the campers that I speak to seem to believe that doing that job once a year is more than enough! When water gets in, it creates trouble almost immediately. The ceiling and wall panels will stain and swell if not dried out quickly. Carpet will get moldy and cause the underlying services to rot, and those pressed board facia pieces around the slide outs? Forget about it!
So now that I've identified the problem, what's the tip? Well aside from the inspecting and sealing that I've already mentioned, (Twice a year at least!) the two best things you can do for your RV are,
1. Cover it in the off season. Many RVers have to park their units in a storage facility some distance from their homes, which means it can go weeks or months till they get to take a peak inside of them. A lot of damage can already have happened if snow has been thawing and refreezing and trapping the water so that it pools up when it melts and looks for a way in. A cover will not keep all moisture out, but it will shed most of it and a cover designed for an RV will also be breathable and let it dry out rather than sit there and get nasty like it will under the ubiquitous blue tarps! You can click here to see one that we sell from our online catalog and at our store.
2. If your camper has Slide Out Rooms, the next best thing you can do for it is to put Slide Out Toppers on them. They are simply awnings, designed like a window shade that pull out when you extend the Slide, and roll up when bring it back in. Click here to see one in our online catalog. They will keep debris off of your roof so you will not have to worry about branches and other junk getting caught in the seal, but most importantly, they will help keep the rain from driving against the seals which can lead to leaks. If you notice the seal falling off at spots or not flipping properly when the room moves, it should be repaired or replaced. A Topper does not mean that you won't need to pay attention to the seals around the Slide Out Room, but it does provide extra protection to a vulnerable area of your RV.
Stay dry and Happy Camping!
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