If you’re new to RVing, it helps to have an RV maintenance checklist to track your seasonal, annual, and pre-or post-trip maintenance tasks. Some, like cleaning the top of slide-outs before retracting them, are quick and easy. Others, like sanitizing your RV fresh water tank, take more time but are vital to the overall health of your RV systems. In the video above, Product Expert Ian Baker and Service Technician Sean Harless provide useful RV maintenance tips for tasks you should address before or after each trip, seasonally, or at least once a year.
Our Customer Reference Handbook includes an RV maintenance spreadsheet to help you track your RV maintenance schedule. Use it to create reminders for specific maintenance tasks and keep it up-to-date if you decide to sell your RV. Keeping quality RV maintenance records is a great way to maximize your RV’s resale value. With that said, let’s dive into this RV maintenance checklist, beginning with basic RV maintenance tasks you should complete before or after each trip.
Pre- and Post-Trip RV Maintenance Checklist
For any task on this RV maintenance checklist, you can always search ‘RV maintenance near me’ to schedule an appointment at a Camping World Service Center.
RV Tire Maintenance
Recommended Frequency: Before and after each trip
Your tires are the foundation of your RV. If you don’t maintain them properly by regularly checking tire pressure, monitoring tread depth, tracking tire wear, and covering them when your RV is sitting idle, you’ll decrease their lifespan and possibly endanger your next RV trip. Use these additional resources to practice diligent RV tire maintenance:
- How To Maintain RV Tires While in Storage
- Why You Need an RV Spare Tire Cover
- Everything You Need to Know About RV and Trailer Tires
RV Jack Maintenance
Recommended Frequency: After each trip (or 2-4x per season)
This RV maintenance task might require the help of a certified technician, especially if your RV is equipped with an auto-leveling system. If those systems aren’t adjusted and maintained properly, they can put your entire RV and anyone inside in danger. Consult a service center to see if your stabilizing system needs to be inspected and adjusted accordingly. If you have manual stabilizers, there’s a little more you can do on a regular basis. That includes inspecting the hardware securing the stabilizers to your RV’s frame and proper cleaning and lubrication. Proper RV leveling and stabilization are also vital to minimizing wear and tear on your RV stabilizing jacks.
Use these resources to learn more about RV stabilizing jacks, and the link below to schedule jack service:
- How To Level and Stabilize Your RV
- Best RV Stabilizer Jacks
- RV Scissor Jack Installation
- RV Stabilizer Jacks Not Working?
- Power Tongue Jack Not Working?
RV Toilet Maintenance
Recommended Frequency: Every trip
Some new RV campers are surprised that RV toilets require different procedures than their residential cousins. From using the correct RV toilet paper to ensuring water is left in the bowl to prevent odors rising up from the holding tanks, there may be more to learn than you think. Use these additional resources to practice smart, safe RV toilet maintenance during your RV trips:
- Is RV Toilet Paper Really Necessary?
- RV Cassette Toilet vs Portable RV Toilet
- Best RV Toilet Replacement
- How To Replace an RV Toilet
- RV Toilet Flange Seal Replacement
RV Holding Tank Maintenance
Recommended Frequency: Every trip (and seasonally)
Your RV’s gray, black, and fresh water holding tanks require proper maintenance to avoid clogs and other septic issues. Tips like how to empty holding tanks properly, when to use holding tank treatments, and what tools you’ll need to fix a clog will really come in handy when the need arises. This can be a major learning curve for new RVers, so here are a few additional RV holding tank maintenance resources:
- RV Holding Tank Maintenance Tips
- Emptying RV Holding Tanks
- Using an RV Black Tank Flush
- Unclogging an RV Black Tank
RV Exterior Maintenance
Recommended Frequency: After each trip
Dust, debris, and other contaminants can wreak havoc on your RV’s exterior if left on the surface. That’s why experienced RVers make time to wash their RV’s exterior after each trip and before placing it into storage. Use the right cleaning products to prevent damage to your RV’s decals or exterior finish. Your RV’s finish will determine the right solution, so consult your manufacturer or owner’s manual to learn which products to use (and what to avoid) when cleaning your RV.
Using an RV Cover
Recommended Frequency: Anytime your RV will sit idle for an extended period
Installing an RV cover is the best way to prevent exterior fading and other weather-related wear and tear. RV covers are fairly easy to install, and they can save your roof, seals, windows, exterior decals or paint, and tires from harmful UV exposure, moisture, and other environmental factors. Use these resources to learn more about the importance, benefits, and use of an RV cover:
Seasonal RV Maintenance Checklist
For any task on this RV maintenance checklist, you can always search ‘RV maintenance near me’ to schedule an appointment at a Camping World Service Center.
Inspecting RV Seals
Recommended Frequency: Every 90 days
The seals on your RV’s roof, windows, doors, and compartments should be inspected regularly. This helps you avoid leaks and water damage that will result in much more expensive repairs on your motorhome or travel trailer. This should also include RV slide seal maintenance, as the rubber seals around these expandable RV slide rooms are one of the most common places where water intrusion can occur if not properly maintained. Use these additional resources to learn more about RV slide seal maintenance and maintaining the seams and seals around windows, doors, and more:
RV Battery Maintenance
Recommended Frequency: Every 90 days
Checking the charge, cleaning the terminals, and inspecting the cables are three of several checks you should complete on your RV batteries every three months. Here are a few more resources to help with seasonal RV battery maintenance:
- Troubleshooting RV Batteries and Trailer Lights
- Should You Upgrade Your RV Batteries?
- RV Battery Not Charging?
Sanitizing RV Fresh Water Tank
Recommended Frequency: Seasonally in the spring (or after 2-4 weeks of non-use)
Using an RV water filter is key to keeping dirt and corrosive chemicals out of your RV’s fresh water tank. But even with a quality RV water filtration system filter, you should sanitize your RV’s fresh water tank seasonally. The ideal time is either before you winterize your RV or as part of your RV maintenance schedule in the spring. From using the proper solution to ensuring it stays in your RV plumbing for the correct amount of time, you can use our step-by-step RV fresh water tank sanitization tutorial to guide the process.
Flushing the Water Heater and Checking the Anode Rod (if applicable)
Recommended Frequency: Seasonally (usually during winterization and dewinterization)
An anode rod is a sacrificial element that attracts corrosive chemicals to keep them from damaging your water heater tank. Once it’s diminished, it must be removed and replaced to keep your water heater tank safe. Not all modern RV water heaters are built with an anode rod, but those that are must be inspected and replaced regularly. Even those without an anode rod should be properly drained and rinsed seasonally. Use these resources to practice healthy RV water heater maintenance:
- Why Replace an RV Water Heater Anode Rod?
- How To Drain RV Water Heater
- RV Hot Water Heater Not Working?
RV Air Conditioner Maintenance
Recommended Frequency: Every 90 days
Cleaning the filter in your RV’s air conditioner is important for efficient operation. You can also look into blocking air vents, installing insulated window treatments, and other solutions to keep your RV cool when camping in hot climates. Use these additional resources to learn more about proper RV AC maintenance:
- How Do RV Air Conditioners Work?
- Top RV Air Conditioner Questions Answered
- Why Is My AC Dripping Water Inside?
Winterizing RV
Recommended Frequency: Seasonally (whenever temperatures are at or below freezing)
When your RV is sitting idle, and there’s the possibility of freezing temperatures, winterizing is essential to protect your plumbing lines, tanks, and fixtures from damage. Camping World offers a basic winterization and a complete winterization package. Contact a service center to find out which package is right for your RV.
Here are a few more helpful resources:
- How To Winterize an RV Generator
- Everything You Need to Know About RV Antifreeze
- Winterizing an RV Tankless Water Heater
Dewinterizing RV
Recommended Frequency: Seasonally (when there’s no risk of freezing temperatures)
When preparing for spring camping, you’ll need to flush the RV antifreeze out of your fresh water and wastewater systems. There are several other tasks that all RVers should know to get their camper ready to hit the road for camping season.
Here are a few more tutorials to assist with spring RV prep:
Annual RV Maintenance Checklist
For any task on this RV maintenance checklist, you can always search ‘RV maintenance near me’ to schedule an appointment at a Camping World Service Center.
RV Roof Maintenance
Recommended Frequency: Annually
Rubber RV roofs should be inspected and cleaned seasonally, at the very least. But they should also be professionally inspected each year to ensure all the seals are intact and the roof membrane is not damaged significantly. Of course, there are other types of RV roofs besides rubber, such as fiberglass and aluminum. Check your manufacturer’s instructions for the proper RV roof maintenance procedures.
RV Slide Out Maintenance
Recommended Frequency: Annually
Working on RV slideouts should be left to a professional RV technician. They are driven by complex systems, and you can significantly damage your RV if you aren’t careful. That said, there are ways to manually retract slideouts if you’re stuck in an emergency situation. If your slide-out is stuck, here are a few resources to help you pull them in so you can make it to the nearest Camping World Service Center:
RV Awning Maintenance
Recommended Frequency: Every 90 days
Awnings are a useful RV accessory for protection from sun and light rain. But they can easily be compromised if you don’t operate and maintain them correctly. They must be opened properly, closed at the correct times to minimize damage risks, and periodically inspected for proper operation and damage. Use these RV awning maintenance resources to keep your awnings (and slide toppers!) in good health:
RV Furnace Maintenance
Recommended Frequency: Annually
Most RV heating systems rely on burning propane to create heat, but they also rely on DC and AC power and various components that need to be inspected annually, at a minimum. From the health of propane lines (which are sometimes run under the frame and exposed to road debris) to the proper sequencing of the furnace itself, thorough RV furnace maintenance should be conducted by a certified RV technician. That said, you can use these resources to learn more about RV furnaces and the link below when you’re ready to schedule your annual RV furnace inspection:
RV Refrigerator Maintenance
Recommended Frequency: Annually
The last thing you want to discover when you get to camp is that your RV refrigerator isn’t cooling. In some ways, RV refrigerator maintenance has become simpler with so many manufacturers moving to 12-volt RV fridges. However, a certified technician should still inspect and verify the proper operation of your RV refrigerator annually. Use these links to learn more about RV fridge maintenance and operation, and the link below to schedule your annual fridge inspection:
- How Does an RV Refrigerator Work?
- RV Refrigerator Maintenance Basics
- Choosing the Best 12-Volt RV Refrigerator
- How To Replace Heating Element in RV Refrigerator
RV Wheel Bearing Maintenance
Recommended Frequency: Annually
This is a maintenance task that requires considerable nuance. You need the correct type of grease, specialty tools for removing and packing RV wheel bearings, and expertise to inspect trailer brakes while your tire is removed. We highly recommend contacting a Camping World RV Service Center to schedule your annual RV wheel bearing maintenance.
Other RV Maintenance Tips
For more RV maintenance tips and ways to save on the cost of RV ownership, subscribe to the Camping World Tutorials YouTube Channel. There, we offer helpful videos on RV Maintenance, RV Basics, RV Troubleshooting, and RV Modifications. You can find links to each video playlist below:
we just purchased an RV & it has no manuals with it at all….you used to offer a kind of “walk thru” class that teaches you how to work everything properly. Do you still offer this service? Or do you know how we can possibly get ahold of the “owners manuals” that would go with the make & model of the RV that we purchased? Any help you can give us would be much appreciated. Thank you so much.
Great info. I’ve been RVing for a few years and did pick up some interesting tips. Will now subscribe to your info sessions.