Travel Trailer Maintenance

When you're ready to hit the road for a memorable trip to a national park or even your child's baseball tournament, the last thing you want is to find your travel trailer is damaged and not suitable to take along. This brief guide will keep you ahead of the game when it comes to maintenance so your camper will always be ready to hit the road. Sumner RV Center located in Bremerton, Washington proudly serves the areas of Sumner, Sequim, Everett, Olympia, Renton, Kent, Tacoma, and Seattle, Washington, We can provide any parts or servicing that your trailer needs to stay in top shape.

Pack it Up Properly for the Off Season

One of the most important elements for keeping your travel trailer in good shape is doing nothing, but doing it correctly. That is to say, there's often massive periods where a travel trailer will go unused, and how the travel trailer spends those periods is extremely important. Make sure to clean your trailer out completely before locking it up for winter. Clean the outside and find a good, breathable rain cover. Park it in a place where tree limbs won't fall on it, and where weeds won't grow up into it. These simple steps will keep it in good shape when not in use.

Run the Generator

Engines don't like to sit unused. Because a generator is essentially an engine, it needs to be ran once a month or so to keep the parts from seizing and the gas from becoming corrosive. You don't need to run it for too long, but an hour a month at 50% output should do the trick. Add some fuel stabilizer if you want to store your generator over the winter to keep it from getting corroded.

Maintain the Slide Outs

Slide outs can increase the space in your travel trailer a massive amount, but they can also be a massive headache if not properly maintained. Make sure to lubricate your slide outs regularly, as sticking can cause structural damage and create leaks, which are their own nightmare to deal with. A can of spray lubricant applied once every six months or so should prevent locking or grinding in your slideouts.

Check Your Heater and Air Conditioner

You may not always think to test out your heater and air conditioner before leaving because those appliances feel like they should work in the same way that a roof should keep rain off your head. But giving them a run through before you head out will show you if they need servicing and will prevent a miserable week in Arizona heat without cool air or a month in Montana without heat to warm your toes.

Keep Out the Elements

The final element to maintaining a trailer is to make sure to keep it sealed. Small openings to the outside can let in pests and water, both of which can do massive damage to your trailer. A can of expanding foam will allow you to fill any holes or gaps caused by a persistent rat that smells your the food in your fridge. It's also important to maintain all the seals on the roof and windows to prevent water from getting in. Water can cause mold and mildew, among other problems, and repairing that is much more expensive than a simple tube of sealant.

If you come across any problems you can't fix yourself, Sumner RV Center in Bremerton, Washington can help. Our talented team of technicians takes on jobs big and small, from roof repairs, to slide-out maintenance, to furnace and appliance repair. Our dealership and service center proudly serves the cities of Sumner, Sequim, Everett, Olympia, Renton, Kent, Tacoma, and Seattle, Washington. Whatever it takes to get you back on the road, we'll handle it.