How to Maintain an RV: Simple Tips That Actually Work
When we first got our RV, we had no clue what we were doing. My husband thought checking the oil once a year was enough. Boy, were we wrong!
After a few costly mistakes (including a breakdown in the middle of nowhere), we learned that basic RV maintenance isn’t hard, you just need to know what to do.
If you’re looking for beginner RV maintenance advice, you’ve come to the right place. These are the things we wish someone had told us on day one.
RV Maintenance Quick Look
- Deep Clean the Interior – Remove dirt, dust, and mold from cabinets, cushions, and vents to keep your RV fresh and healthy.
- Wash the Exterior – Clean off road grime and bugs to protect paint, decals, and seals from damage.
- Check Brakes & Wheel Bearings – Inspect and test brakes and grease the wheel bearings to avoid breakdowns and ensure safe stopping.
- Inspect the Propane System – Check for gas leaks and test all propane appliances to make sure they work safely and efficiently.
- Check the Roof and Seals – Look for cracks or soft spots in the roof and reseal if needed to stop leaks before they start.
- Sanitize the Water System – Flush and disinfect the fresh water tank and lines to keep drinking water clean and safe.
- Maintain Your RV Batteries – Clean terminals, check water levels (if needed), and test charge to avoid battery failure on the road.
- Service the Generator – Change the oil, clean filters, and run it under load to keep your backup power source ready.
- Clean and Lube Awnings & Slide-Outs – Wash the fabric, check seals, and lubricate moving parts to prevent damage and leaks.
- Test Heating and Cooling Systems – Make sure your furnace and AC work properly before your next trip so you stay comfortable year-round.
10 Things You Should Be Doing To Maintain An RV
1. Give Your RV a Good Cleaning Inside
Here’s the thing about RVs, they get stinky fast. All that moisture from cooking and showering has nowhere to go. We learned this when we found mold growing under the mattress in a friends RV. Gross!
Now we deep clean our own RV at least twice a year. Pull everything out of the cabinets, check under the beds, and don’t forget those air vents. A box of baking soda works wonders for smells. Trust me on this one.
2. Wash the Outside Too
Dead bugs on the windshield? Check. Dirt everywhere? Yep. Your RV gets filthy on the road. We wash ours every few months with special RV soap (regular car wash stuff can damage the finish).
Pro tip: Get one of those long brushes so you don’t need a ladder for the roof. And be gentle around those vents, you don’t want water getting where it shouldn’t.
3. Don’t Forget About Your Brakes
This is serious stuff. Bad brakes = bad news. Every year, find an empty parking lot and test them out. Drive about 20 mph and hit the brakes hard. Everything should feel smooth.
We ignored a squeaking sound once, which ended up being a big mistake. The bearings overheated and we were stuck on the side of the highway with smoke coming from our wheels. Not fun!
4. Check Your Propane Setup
Your stove, heat, and hot water probably run on propane. That’s why this annual RV maintenance task is so important. We check for leaks by spraying soapy water on the connections or using a gas leak detector.
Also, turn on each appliance to make sure it works. The flames should be blue and steady. Yellow flames? Time to call someone who knows what they’re doing.
5. Look at Your Roof (Yes, Really)
Water damage is the worst. And guess where it usually starts? The roof. We check ours twice a year because we park outside.
Look for cracks around anything that sticks up like vents, AC units, TV antennas. If the sealant looks old and crumbly, scrape it off and put new stuff on. It’s easier than you think, and way cheaper than fixing water damage later.
6. Clean Your Water Tanks
Nobody talks about this, but your water tank can get pretty nasty. We sanitize ours every spring using RV water system cleaner. Just follow the directions on the bottle.
Your water will taste better and your pump will last longer. Win-win!
7. Take Care of Your Batteries
Dead batteries = no lights, no water pump, no fun. Check them before each camping season. Look for white crusty stuff on the terminals (that’s corrosion – clean it off).
If you have the kind with caps, check the water level. Add distilled water if it’s low. And if your open lead-acid battery is more than 3-4 years old, it might be time for a quick equalizing charge to clean it up.
8. Run Your Generator
If you camp without hookups, your generator is super important. Change the oil and filters according to the manual (we do ours every 50 hours of use).
Here’s something we learned: generators hate sitting around. Run yours every month, even if you’re not camping. Put a load on it too, turn on the AC or microwave. Keeps everything working smoothly.
9. Keep Moving Parts Moving
Your awning and slide-outs need love too. We spray our slide-out seals with rubber conditioner twice a year to keep them from drying out and cracking.
For the awning, give it a good scrub with RV awning cleaner. Check for tears while you’re at it. A small rip can turn into a big problem fast.
10. Test Your Heat and AC
Nothing worse than finding out your AC doesn’t work when it’s 100 degrees outside. Test everything before your first trip of the year.
Change or clean the filters (we do this every few months). Make sure all the vents are blowing air. For the furnace, listen for weird noises and check that the exhaust isn’t blocked.
Your RV Care Checklist
I get it, This seems like a lot. But most of these RV maintenance tips only take a few minutes. We keep a checklist on our fridge:
- Spring: Deep clean, sanitize water, test all systems.
- Summer: Wash exterior, check roof, clean AC.
- Fall: Service generator, check batteries, lube slide-outs.
- Winter: Prep for storage (or keep using it like we do!).
The truth is, taking care of your RV isn’t that hard once you get into a routine. These simple tasks have saved us thousands of dollars and tons of headaches. Plus, there’s nothing worse than having something break when you’re trying to enjoy your vacation.
Remember, every RV is different. When in doubt, check your owner’s manual or ask other RVers. We’re a friendly bunch and always happy to help!
RV Maintenance FAQ
How often should I take care of my RV?
It depends on how much you use it. We do the big stuff once a year, that’s our annual RV maintenance routine. But some things need attention more often.
Before every trip, we check the tires, make sure nothing smells weird inside, and test the propane. If you camp every other weekend, definitely do a mid-summer checkup too.
What soap works best for washing an RV?
Get the stuff made for RVs or at least a gentle car wash soap. The RV soaps cost a bit more but they won’t mess up your decals or make your rubber seals crack.
How can I tell if my roof is leaking?
Water stains on your ceiling are the obvious sign. But here’s what we do, after it rains, we go inside and feel the ceiling.
Soft, squishy spots mean trouble. Up on the roof, look for old, cracked caulk around anything that pokes through. We check ours every couple months because fixing a small leak beats replacing a whole ceiling.
What’s the best way to check for propane leaks?
Super easy, mix some dish soap with water in a spray bottle. Spray it on all the connections. See bubbles? You’ve got a leak.
We do this every spring as part of our RV care checklist. Takes five minutes and could save your life.
What should I use to fix roof leaks?
Get the sealant made for RVs, there’s self-leveling stuff for flat spots and thicker stuff for edges. Whatever you do, don’t use regular caulk from the hardware store. The RV stuff costs more but actually works.
How often should I clean my water tanks?
We do it every spring, no exceptions. If your RV sits for months or your water tastes funky, do it again. It’s one of those beginner RV maintenance tasks that seems complicated but really isn’t. Just buy the cleaner and follow the directions.
Do I need to add water to my RV batteries?
Only if you have the old-school kind with caps on top. The newer sealed ones don’t need water. Not sure what you have? If you can unscrew caps and see the fluid inside, add distilled water when it gets low. If there are no caps, leave it alone.
Why does my battery keep dying?
Could be the battery is just old (they last 3-5 years). Or something is draining it, we had a radio that stayed on even when we thought it was off. Dirty terminals can cause problems too. Start with cleaning the connections and go from there.
How do I keep my slide-outs working?
Keep them clean! Dirt gets in the seals and causes leaks. We wipe ours down every trip and spray the rubber seals with conditioner twice a year.
The moving parts need grease too, check your manual for where to put it. Seems like a pain but it’s way easier than fixing a stuck slide-out.
How do I know my brakes need work?
If they squeal, grind, or just feel weird, get them checked. We test ours in an empty parking lot, if the RV pulls to one side when braking, something’s wrong. Also look for dusty wheels, that’s brake dust and means they’re wearing out.
Can I do this stuff myself?
Most of it, yes! These RV maintenance tips are pretty basic. Cleaning, checking seals, changing batteries. We do all that ourselves.
But for brake work, generator repairs, or anything with propane lines, we call the pros. Not worth the risk of messing those up.
What’s this going to cost me?
If you’re handy and do most of it yourself, maybe $100-300 a year for supplies. We spend about $200 on cleaners, sealant, and filters. If you pay someone else to handle your annual RV maintenance, expect $500-1000 or more. Bigger RVs cost more usually.
What’s the one thing I absolutely can’t skip?
Keep water out! Check your roof seals. Seriously, water damage will ruin your RV faster than anything. After that? Make sure your batteries work, your brakes stop you, and your propane isn’t leaking. Do those four things and you’ll avoid most of the big problems.
