Trailer Maintenance Top 10 Musts

Owning a travel trailer means maintaining it to keep it in top condition. The smallest thing can turn into the biggest nightmare in the blink of an eye. My biggest fear is LEAKING. If I leak, it's not good. If Spawn leaks, it's definitely an issue. If the trailer leaks, its going to cost a lot of money. 
So, here is my maintenance plan. Ok, so there are more than TEN musts, but I wanted you to click on the blog link and TOP 10 is a magic topic. Thanks for clicking.

Before Each Trip

  • Check tire pressure: Our tires are optimal at 65 PSI (Pounds per Square Inch - I looked it up because fake news is a bad thing). We have those fun little pressure notice stem valve caps. But they are UN-RE-LIABLE. So, I got us a good pressure gauge and check each time we head out.
  • Check propane levels: There are a few ways. Here's an informative video (I get a giggle whenever this guy says propane). I pour hot water on the outside of the tank. Cabana Boy likes to hit things, or just pick it up and guess the weight. Like at a carnival. 


After Each Trip

  • Clean and turn off fridge/freezer: I HATE the way old fridges smell. They get like that from stagnant water and freezer burn chunks. If it's going to be more than a month until our next trip, or there is some buildup of ice in the freezer, I turn it off. I wipe down all the surfaces and wash the storage bins. I place towels in the bottom of the freezer and the bottom of the fridge to soak up the water, either from drainage or melting ice. Then, when it's time to hit the road, I turn it back on a few days before since it takes awhile to get to optimal temperature.
  • Add bio-cleaners to black and grey water systems: A little "Dad Trick" I learned was adding a little bit of your black water tank cleaner to the grey water tank. It helps with any odors that may occur. I use Happy Campers, which is a natural cleaner and it's been doing an amazing job for the last year. After dumping the tanks, I add a scoop with a gallon or two of water in each tank. Done.
*I'm going to say optimal a lot here. It weirds me out, so it's okay if does for you too.
  • Check hitch to see if it needs to be tightened: This was not a thing. But it is now that it happened to us. As the hitch loosened, it was getting more and more difficult to get the ball hitch to attach easily. And we have to attach at an angle because of our evil driveway. Our local RV repair place (San Diego Trailer Supply) tightens it for us. They are awesome.

Bi-Annual Maintenance

  • Wash: Although washing the trailer is right up there with washing the dishes for me, this is a MUST. Removing all the highway grim and smooshed bugs make it a lot easier to see if and where you've taken a hit along the way. I use a wash wand and baby shampoo to clean all of the exterior surfaces. I'm also VERY careful on the roof because it's not made for heavy feet. 
  • Wax: Then Cabana Boy and I tag team the waxing. It's pretty manual, like the Karate Kid. Spray on. Wipe off. Spray on. Wipe off. We use about a dozen microfiber towels and Turtle Wax spray. Does the trick, but it's time consuming and I always feel like I look like that guy from "Lady In The Water" when I'm done. 
*Add to the Fear List: Afraid of falling through trailer roof.
  • Check for cracks and lubricate *tee hee* all exterior seals: After washing and waxing, it's time to check for cracks in the seals. If all is good, I give 'em a good spritz of the lubes with a silicone spray. Let's be honest, if I shook and shimmied as much as the trailer does, I would have a few cracks here and there too. My knees for instance. 
Here's the video I referenced when trying to figure it out. This video also covers when you find a crack and have to fix it before it becomes a major leak.

 
  • Water Heater: This is actually an annual item, but considering how much we travel and how hard the water is in most places, this is something I do every 6 months or so. I drain the water heater, take out the anode rod (Our trailer has a Suburban water heater, not an Atwood) and inspect and usually have to replace, and I rinse the inside of the tank with a spray wand. The video below gave me all the info I needed to do what needed to be done. Oh, and we had to get a fraking tool to get the anode rod out.

  • Check Propane hoses for leaks: This one is easy. Look for cracks, brittle or dryness in the tubing. You take a little tiny bit of dish soap and rub the propane hoses and then spray with some water. If there's a leak, you'll get bubbles. Then you repair. If not, wipe off with a towel.
  • Sanitize water system: This involves bleach and patience. Here's the video I used to help me figure it out.

Annual Maintenance

  • Regrease and Repack Wheel Bearings: To be honest... This is something we have yet to do. When we actually do it, I'll update this section. But it is important to do. So, just because we skipped on it for now, I wouldn't recommend anyone else do this.
  • Lubricate Stabilizer Jacks: Here's another one I didn't even think of. After a year of weather, the stabilizer jacks were starting to make some awful racket whenever we raised or lowered them. Took care of them with some WD-40 dry grease. Boom.
Happy trails. Peace out!

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