RV camping provides some of the greatest and most memorable adventures you can have. But occasionally you’ll need to do some RV maintenance and troubleshooting while you’re on the road.
Don’t let those moments get in the way of a terrific camping experience—know ahead of time how you’ll handle these common RV maintenance issues.
Be Prepared!
The first step to RV troubleshooting on the road is to set yourself up for success. If you plan for something to go wrong and make sure that you have the right tools, supplies and equipment, you’ll have the biggest challenge covered!
First, do a thorough check of the RV before you leave home. Check the exterior condition of the motorhome, check the systems, and make sure the interior is in good condition. We recommend using a pre-departure RV checklist.
Also, make sure you’ve got adequate tools onboard for any unscheduled maintenance you might need to do. We recommend assembling RV preparedness kits.
And it doesn’t hurt to read your owner’s manual. It’s not a thrilling read, but it’ll help you understand your RV’s systems and how to properly care for it to prevent unexpected problems on the road.
House Battery
A dead house battery is an annoyance, but fortunately it’s usually not a major issue. If you’re at an RV campground with hookups, plug your motorhome into AC power to charge the battery. It will probably take several hours. Another option is to purchase solar battery chargers, which can be a lifesaver if you’re boondocking or if hookups aren’t available.
It’s also a good idea to check battery fluid levels before charging—sometimes that’s the issue rather than a discharged battery.
Leaks
The weather won’t be kind to your RV. The longer your motorhome is exposed to the elements, the greater the toll on your RV’s seals. Leaks aren’t just minor annoyances—they introduce moisture where it doesn’t belong, which leads to mildew, musty smells, and dangerous mold. Thankfully, roof and window leaks can be easily repaired if you get to them quickly.
For leaks in your rubber roof, use an RV roof patch kit. There are different kinds, so be sure to get the one that’s designed for the type of roof you have. Tape the leak with roof sealing tape, then use the sealant to make sure everything is tight around roof vents and breather caps.
If a vent is damaged, replace it at your earliest convenience.
If you’ve got leaks around your window seals, remove the window, clean the seal, apply new sealant, and reinstall the window.
Toilet
Toilet problems can…well, stink. Usually, either the water drains out of the bowl, or the water runs continually. Both issues can be aggravating.
If the water is draining from the bowl, you probably have a bad seal that needs replacing. It’s an easy fix, but you’ll need to uninstall your toilet to get to the rubber seal.
If you’ve got constantly running water, it probably means the water valve isn’t closing properly. This is an easy fix, too—just remove the toilet and replace the valve.
Waste Water Valve
Another stinker is waste water problems. If you get water spilling out when you remove your sewer cap, you probably have a bad seal on your gray or black waste water valve—or both.
To figure out which valve is the problem, empty both your gray and black water tanks. With the sewer cap off and a bucket under the drain port, pour about half a gallon of water down your kitchen sink. Wait a while and check the bucket. If water is dripping into the bucket, the gray waste water valve is the problem. Repeat the test by pouring five gallons of water into the toilet.
It’s usually pretty easy to replace the waste water valve. Just remove the bolts and slide out the old valve and seals. Replace them with a new assembly and reinstall the bolts.
Slideouts
Slideout issues can be the most frustrating, because you can’t go anywhere if your slideout is jammed open. If your slideout extends easily but won’t slide back in, you could have binding at a seal or at the mechanism. You’ll need a professional to look at it and determine if that’s the case. In the meantime, while you’re on the road, apply a dry slideout lube (wet lubes attract grime and dirt) and push the slideout back in. If the lube makes a difference, you either have a binding problem or an alignment issue.
Other times, the issue is simply a blown fuse, low battery, or a bad circuit breaker, which are easily replaced or recharged.
There are some terrific websites with detailed instructions on DIY on-the-road repairs for your RV. The RV Repair Club has extensive information that covers all of your motorhome’s systems. RV Basics has a lot of technical articles on maintenance and repair, as well.
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