Travel Trailer Maintenance

Your travel trailer will give you all the best features and amenities to make your RV trips more enjoyable, but this is only going to last so long as you take care of it. Like any major investment, there are certain basic maintenance checks that you’ll need to carry out fairly regularly. We here at Herold Trailer Sales have listed out some of the basics below, but if you need additional help, stop by our location serving Des Moines and Ankeny, Iowa, as well as Omaha, Nebraska. Our friendly staff is happy to chat with you about your trailer or show you around some of the models we have available right now.

Maintain your Seals

Whenever the manufacturer has to make a cut in the frame of the travel trailer, say to insert a vent or a door, it creates a weak point in the frame that could lead to leaks. This is why seals are then set in place, to keep the water out. However, you’ll need to maintain these seals if they’re going to continue doing their job. Use sealant conditioner to keep them from drying out and cracking. Also take some time to inspect your seals for holes or rips and cover any you find with silicone sealant. 

Check your Appliances

Your appliances are a crucial part of making your camping trips more enjoyable. Make sure they’re going to work for you when you need them most. We recommend testing them before every trip and keeping your eye out for things that don’t seem to be working. If your fridge doesn’t properly cool down, there could be a coolant problem or an energy flow problem. If your gas stove starts emitting orange, yellow, or red flames, there might be a propane-related issue, which can also be the case if you turn on the furnace only to be greeted by a banging sound. Whatever appliance issue you may run into, it’s better to run into it while you’re still close to home and have an easy way to fix it.

## Lubricate Moving Parts

One of the biggest moving parts of your travel trailer is the slide-outs (if you have them). These can help you maximize the amount of interior space you and your camping party have to work with, but if they’re not properly cared for, you could be looking at a massive repair. Regularly grease the tracks and bars using dry slide-out lubricant to ensure these essential moving parts stay clean and functional. There are other less problematic areas that could do with occasional greasing, like doors and Windows.

Manage Humidity

Just because your seals are functioning, doesn’t mean there isn’t a risk for moisture accumulation. Humidity inside the trailer is one of the biggest challenges you may face as an RV owner. You’ll need to actively fight it in order to avoid accruing water damage and stave off that icky sticky feeling that comes with a humid environment. The easiest and cheapest way to do this is to leave windows, doors, and vents open on nicer days. If you need to shut up the trailer, you can also invest in a dehumidifier. 

Professional Inspection

While there’s a lot you can do personally from the comfort of your own home, there’s still a lot more that you won’t be able to do. Either you won’t have the skills to fix something or look for a particular problem, or maybe you simply won’t have the tools to do so. That’s why periodic inspections from professionals are so important. They’ll look in all those hard to reach places and help you with the more complicated maintenance concerns you may run into. 

Luckily for you, Herold Trailer Sales has a dedicated service department that will gladly help you with all your RV-related needs, from basic inspections to major repairs. Contact us today and we’ll set you up with one of our experienced technicians. We welcome all current and future RV owners from Des Moines and Ankeny, IA, as well as Omaha, NE