Owning a recreational vehicle unlocks a world of freedom and adventure, but occasionally it also unlocks some unique maintenance challenges. You might find yourself facing unexpected issues miles away from the nearest service station, which can quickly turn a dream vacation into a stressful ordeal. Learning about these potential pitfalls beforehand empowers you to handle them with confidence and keep your journey on track. Find out about the seven most common RV problems and how to fix them.
Leaking Roofs
Water damage acts as the silent killer for many recreational vehicles because owners often fail to notice it until the rig’s structural integrity suffers. Manufacturers use sealants around vents, skylights, and seams. These sealants eventually dry out, crack, or peel away due to changing weather conditions and movement in the roof when moving or driving the RV. If water seeps into walls or ceilings, it will cause mold growth, delamination, and rotting wood, requiring expensive reconstruction.
If you find compromised areas on the roof, clean and reseal or remove the old sealant and apply new sealant designed specifically for your RV roof. The owner’s manual will have the manufactures recommendation on brand and type of sealant to be used. Twice a year inspection and maintenance will keep roof sealed and the interior dry. This will also protect your RVs resale value.
Toilet Clogs and Sensor Malfunctions
Few things ruin a camping trip faster than a malfunctioning bathroom, and RV toilets present unique challenges compared to residential plumbing. Clogs, at or just the toilet bowl, occur when there is not enough water in the bowl to break apart waste and paper while flushing. Furthermore, tank sensors frequently give false readings, showing the tank as full when it is empty.
You can resolve most clogs by using a toilet wand or a flexible snake designed for RVs to break up the blockage physically. To prevent this issue from returning, you must use plenty of water with every flush and only use toilet paper specifically rated for septic or RV use. You can also clean your sensors with a tank-cleaning solution or a bag of ice cubes, which will scour the sensor probes.
Tire Blowouts and Internal Wear
Another example of the most common RV problems that owners face are tire blowouts. These can create dangerous situations on the highway and cause significant damage to the wheel well and undercarriage. Additionally, RV tires often age out before they wear out, meaning the tread looks fine, but the sidewalls crack & degrade from sitting stationery for long periods.
Protect your RV by checking tire pressure before every trip while the tires are cold. A tire pressure monitoring system can also provide you with real-time data on pressure and temperature, allowing you to act quickly before a blowout. Additionally, inspect the sidewalls for small cracks or ‘Sidewall Checking’ caused by ‘Ozonolysis’ and replace them as soon as possible if these cracks are seen. Regardless, plan to replace your tires every 4 to five years even if the tread is good. One blowout will cost more than a set of tires.
Slide-Out Mechanism Failures
Slide-outs maximize your living space, but they also introduce heavy mechanical components that can fail or become misaligned. You might encounter a slide that refuses to extend, gets stuck halfway, or extends/retracts unevenly. These issues often stem from weak or discharged batteries which will blow fuses, sheared pins on ‘through the frame’ rack and gear mechanisms. Never lubricate these tracks or gears! The lubricant will attract dirt and cause much bigger problems.
You should first verify that your auxiliary battery has a full charge, as slide motors demand significant power to operate. If the motor runs but the room does not move, check the shear pins on the gear pack and replace them if they are broken. If a slide becomes completely stuck, consult your owner’s manual for the manual override procedure to retract the room so you can drive to a repair facility.
Air Conditioning Efficiency Issues
An RV air conditioner works hard to combat the heat absorbed by thin walls and large windows. However, owners often find that the A/C unit runs constantly but fails to cool the rig, or it cycles on and off too frequently. This usually results from severely dirty intake filters, which block air flow. On the roof portion of the AC outside, dirty condenser coils, again, block airflow which causes the AC to ‘Over heat’ and trip the breaker. Sloppy ductwork in the ceiling will allow ‘cooled air’ to escape and never make it to the vents.
Start your fix by cleaning the filters inside the return air assembly every two weeks during heavy use and when in dusty desert climates. Access the roof to inspect the exterior shroud and ‘Condenser Coil’ and remove any leaves, wasp nests, or debris blocking the condenser fins. You can gently comb out bent fins and wash with a water hose only (no pressure washer!) to help restore proper airflow.
If the air coming from the vents feels weak, remove the ceiling assembly and use foil tape to seal any gaps between the supply and return air chambers. This simple step often dramatically improves cooling performance by preventing cold air from mixing with warm air.
Fresh Water Pump Cycling
Your water pump should only run when you open a faucet or flush the toilet. If you hear the pump cycling on and off when no water is in use, you are likely to have a leak somewhere in the system or a failing check valve inside the pump head. A freshwater leak can cause severe damage if not caught early. While camping, this wastes fresh water and drains your battery unnecessarily.
Begin by checking all visible plumbing connections under sinks and behind the toilet for small drips. If the plumbing looks dry, the internal check valve within the pump may allow water to backflow into the fresh tank, causing the system to lose pressure and cycle the pump.
You should never disassemble the pump head as there is a coiled spring inside that will jump out! If the pump cycling persists without an external leak that can be found, replacing the water pump remains the most likely solution.
A Dead Battery
Dealing with a dead battery can bring your travels to a halt. There are way too many scenarios that can cause this, including a bad battery. Test equipment is needed to track down the true cause. There are some simple things you can do with a little know how. First, check that the battery connections are clean and tight; even a small amount of corrosion or a loose cable can keep power from reaching your RV battery and 12VDC systems. Make sure the RV is not plugged into shore power and the generator is not running. Next, clean dirty connections with a wire brush and take off the cables ONE AT A TIME, clean them and reinstall them. Then move to the next terminal and repeat.
The next step will be to check the water level in the battery if the battery has removable caps on top to refill using distilled water. After removing the fill caps make sure each cell is filled to the indicator ring about 1 inch below the top of the battery. Reinstall the fill caps. If the problem continues call your local or mobile RV technician to further diagnose the problem.
Your Partner in Solving RV Problems
Keeping your home on wheels in peak condition ensures that every trip is safe and enjoyable for you and your family. Although you can handle minor fixes on your own, more complex repairs require the expertise of dedicated professionals to ensure long-term reliability. Contact Blue Moon Mobile RV today to schedule your travel trailer, 5th wheel trailer or motorhome repair service. We’re ready to help restore your peace of mind so you can enjoy your RV adventure again.
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