Suggestions Needed for Routine Maintenance

[JudyJB]

My motorhome is over three years old and has 66,000 miles of rough full-time use on it. To prevent future problems with things like slides, I am stopping in Decatur, IN, in a week or so to get some routine things taken care of that I don't trust being done by a regular dealer because of bad experiences. Here is what I have so far for them to do:

1. Check and maintain slides and slide motors. Make sure no objects are under slides.
2. Check hoses and gas supply hose behind stove for fraying that might have occurred when slide moves in and out.
3. Check water system for a leak that would cause water pump to take long time to prime. This is the third water pump in my RV, and if I do not use it every day, it takes several minutes to half an hour to prime. Same problem with two previous water pumps.
4. Move water pump closer to front of storage area so it is easier to check and replace.
5. Check squeaking on front cab area.
6. Provide me with name and color of touch-up paint for front running boards and coach steps.
7. Check and maintain AC unit, if needed. It occasionally makes noise when first running.

I have had brakes checked and tires rotated in last month, so that is not needed. I will get shocks and some other chassis things looked at the big Ford dealer in Phoenix, so I am just looking for coach stuff.

Any routine things I have missed???

[mtngal]

House batteries/connections. Generator oil change?

[Rufflesgurl]

How about roof caulking? Brakes checked?

Linda

[Rufflesgurl]

How about roof caulking? Brakes checked?

Linda

[JudyJB]

Thanks. Had brakes checked a couple of weeks ago when I had the loose wheel bearings fixed. They were 75% which is very good.

I will add roof and batteries check to list.

My goal is to make sure this rig will work well for the next three years!

[gingerK]

I'm learning from this. Angel is getting her front end looked at tomorrow for wheel alignment. Her front tires just look crooked to me when viewed from the front.

[Azusateach]

I think I'd ask them to check the gaskets around your black & grey tank handles. Those can get brittle with age and begin to leak. Same thing with your toilet gasket. And I'd check your windows, too. If they're double-paned, they might have wiggled themselves loose and are now looking a bit foggy.

And I'd have them flush out your hot water tank. Not just drain it, but take one of those oversized water pic-type wands and give it a thorough flushing. Depending on the type of tank you've got, you may have anode and it might be all used up, meaning you'll need a new one.

You've mentioned having a water filter. In addition to keeping that clean, you might look at the little faucet "baskets" and see if they're filling up with sediment -- same thing with your shower head.

Laura

[JudyJB]

Good suggestions, Laura. I know this will cost me some money, but I would rather spend it now than have something to bad in middle of nowhere.

[Bethers]

Service/maintain the generator.

I used to drain/clean my hot water tank annually. It's very easy to do yourself. I say used because I'm overdo with my new rig.

[Birdie]

Service the furnace! When you had service on the wheels recently did you have them all repacked?

[JudyJB]

More good suggestions:

- Birdie, good point about the wheels. I will add that to the list for the Ford dealer in Arizona. Fleetwood handles only coach issues.

- I did have the generator serviced last winter, so it should be OK, Beth.

- I fixed toilet gaskets myself last winter, but I will get the dump valves checked, Laura.

[Birdie]

Call me extra careful, but if I have used my generator a lot, I have serviced before I settle for the winter and if used a lot in the winter again before I hit the road to travel. Having said that, this year I have used it more on the road traveling since mid Sept than all summer. So the number of hours put on it since the last service is negligible. No service this winter, but I did last winter because I did a lot of dry camping last spring/summer/fall.