10 Signs You’re Shortening the Life of Your RV

RD.COMTravelVacationsExperiences

People buy RVs to simplify their vacations—but often forget that these vehicles are a home and a car, requiring the care necessary for both.

Avoid these mistakes at all costs…to avoid added costs

Your RV is supposed to be your refuge on vacation—literally, your home away from home when you’re heading to the best RV parks around the country or wherever else. But when something goes wrong, that vacation might be ruined, along with the memories of the trip. Of course, all RV owners think they’re doing the right thing, but an RV is a complicated system. After all, it has plumbing, heating, and air conditioning systems like your home, along with an engine, transmission, and tires like your car. All of these systems work together to make the RV work, but neglect or abuse can compound into a failure. Depending on the severity, this could simply make your trip miserable, or it could cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Here are several ways you could be abusing your RV—and a few ways you can prevent problems before they happen.

You’re not replacing old tires

Your tires are the only thing keeping your RV from dragging on the road. That’s why most experts say tires are the most important part of motor vehicle safety. As much as RV tires sit, however, you’ll often find that they don’t wear out as much as they age out. Learn to read the date code on the side of your tires, and if the tires are more than ten years old, it’s time to replace them. Make sure you check every tire—and if your rear axle has dual tires, check them all!

You should also proactively protect your tires. When tires sit, they are subjected to UV rays from the sun, causing the rubber to crack on the sidewalls and making a blowout more likely. If you’re storing your RV for a few months, it’s a good idea to fit tire covers over each tire to protect from UV damage.