July 23rd 2018
You hear that? It’s the sound of the clock ticking by the seconds until your next camping trip! Camping season is just around the corner, so you’ve probably got dozens of possible trips in mind, but there are some other important steps you’ll want to take before you hit the road with your RV. Making sure your rig is all ready for camping requires some work, but it will be well worth it when you don’t have to stress over your RV while you’re out trying to have fun. If you still need an RV to take your family camping, then stop by Bus Supply Company near Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Jackson and Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
It may seem strange that an RV can come out of storage with damage, considering it really didn’t do anything for months, but you may be surprised. Sometimes, a problem that got missed right before you put it in storage can fester and get worse as time goes on. Other times, it’s an issue that accrues naturally in the environment it’s kept in. Still other instances are just natural wear from disuse. No matter how the problem happens, the important thing is to spot it before you try to take it out on the road. This requires a complete top-to-bottom inspection.
Open all windows, doors, and cabinets and unroll your awning, looking for functional issues or critters. Carefully check all slide-outs and proceed with caution if it seems like your slide-out might be getting stuck. Check your tires to see that there’s the right amount of air pressure and that they’re free of damage. Open any vents you may have covered and, in general, look over every inch of your RV, looking for any potential problems or concerns.
You’ll want to connect to a power source for this step. There’s nothing like getting to a campground and realizing your stove doesn’t work. Make sure all appliances are fully functioning in ways they’re supposed to function, whether this means heating properly, that all lights are turning on, and that it sounds the way it’s supposed to sound. Test out the furnace and the air conditioner and take a moment to check some portable devices you may have stored as well, like flashlights and emergency radios.
For a slightly more technical piece of advice, we highly recommend sanitizing your fresh water tank. This part of the de-winterization process helps to flush out any antifreeze you probably put in your water supply to prevent your pipes from bursting over the winter. Antifreeze is toxic to humans, so definitely don’t skip this step.
Grab a hose to pressure your lines and flush out each line, one at a time, by opening the proper faucet or valve until you see fresh water. To sanitize the tank, fill it with water and add a quarter-cup of bleach for every fifteen gallons. Then repeat the flushing out process you performed for the antifreeze until you smell bleach. Let the solution sit in your water system overnight, or at least for eight hours, before purging it as well.
Some checks and repairs can easily be done from the comfort of your home. Changing a lightbulb or cleaning out a dusty cabinet is one thing, but you may have spotted a more serious problem during your inspection. You may be tempted to try and fix it yourself, but think about how much money you spent on your RV. Do you really want to take the risk? It’s probably better to bring your RV in if you notice any major, or even minor, necessary repairs.
In fact, here at Bus Supply Company, we recommend all RV owners bring their rigs in after bringing their RV out of hibernation. Some issues may not be visible from the outside, so getting a full, professional inspection is highly recommended. If it’s time to see a professional, contact our service department about setting up an appointment, whether you’re coming from Jackson or Hattiesburg, Mississippi, or Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
