By Sal & Rebecca, The Tin Can Travelers – We use affiliate links. When you click an affiliate link, we may receive a small compensation at no cost to you.
A recreational vehicle (RV) can be a very big purchase. It’s certainly one that should be protected, and especially if it’s your primary home. And as full-time RVers/travelers, that’s exactly what our Airstream is! “Home is where we park it” isn’t just a catchy phrase, it’s a fact. But regardless of how much time you spend in your RV, regular maintenance is required and certain precautions should be taken. When we consider that most RV’s are not meant to be lived in full-time, blindly entrusting the safety of our loved ones to these investments could be a mistake.
Besides regular maintenance, a RV needs more frequent attention to all it’s working parts than a regular home. Not only is it subjected to earth quake forces while in tow, which can loosen things over time, but once you arrive at your destination the quality of the utility connections is unknown. Propane is another concern. Most RVers use it to stay warm and cook with, but we all know it comes with its own set of risks. And then there are the exterior awnings, if your rig has them, which are not constructed or rated like those found on a typical “sticks and bricks.”
This post is all about protecting your loved ones and your investment. We’ve narrowed it down to four categories of interest regarding safety precautions you can start taking right now! So let’s get started…
Propane
Propane is used by the RV industry to power stoves, refrigerators, furnaces and water heaters. This low-pressure gas is great and helps RVers camp without hookups in remote areas. But propane can also be a silent killer. Propane left on in a RV without adequate ventilation will displace oxygen and kill anyone inside, including pets. Some RV’s do come equipped with propane detectors and alarms, but these wouldn’t help a pet left inside unable to exit. There are aftermarket devices that can alert you via cellular or wifi if and when your propane alarm goes off, but again, this wouldn’t help if you have a pet inside and you’re more than just a few minutes away. Other things to consider are how “hard” your children or significant other sleeps. Would they hear the alarm? And what if the propane alarm malfunctions and doesn’t sound at all?
Remember, your rig is mobile. Things shake, rattle and roll every time it’s being towed. Things come loose, things break, and sometimes we don’t see them. Don’t take for granted that everything is working all the time. There are things you won’t know aren’t working until you need them to. And when it comes to a propane leak or a faulty alarm, it will be too late.
We recommend turning off your propane anytime you leave a pet, child or anyone unfamiliar with propane behind in your rig, even if it’s for just a few minutes. We turn off our propane every time leave our rig whether Richey is in it or not. It literally takes two seconds and it saves lives. We figure, if we turn it off every time we leave, we’ll never forget to do it if we have to leave Richey inside.
Plumbing
Your RV’s plumbing is not as robust as what’s found in a conventional home. Besides RV plumbing having pressure limitations, it’s also subjected to earthquake forces while in tow. Another consideration should always be the climate wherever you store your rig or choose to camp. If your RV’s plumbing is subjected to freezing temperatures for extended periods of time, even with proper winterization, this will stress it. Couple that with unknown water supply pressure and you’ve got a recipe for costly repairs.
We recommend proper winterization according to your manufacturer’s specifications. We also recommend that you use a quality water pressure regulator whenever you are hooked up to any water supply. Frequently check for drips or pooling water in cabinets below sinks and the underbelly of your rig, as any presence of this could be a result of a leak in a pipe or pipe/fixture connection. Whenever we leave our RV, we turn off the water supply at the source (if camping with water hook ups) or turn off the onboard water pump (if dry camping).
Electrical
The RV industry is constantly upgrading electrical systems to give their customers more and more options. Whether you have a 30amp or 50amp system, you’ll want some sort of protection against power surges, low voltage and polarity issues. Like the water provided at campgrounds, electricity is a big unknown and should not be taken lightly. Your rig is equipped with electrical breakers, but these should not be your only means of protecting your electrical system. We use a surge protector anytime we are hooked up to a campground’s electricity. We’d rather replace a damaged surge protector than have our rig in the shop for major electrical repairs.
Awnings
RV awnings are great! They not only provide shade outside your rig, but they can literally reduce the internal temperature of your RV as well. They’re vital during the hotter months, but also add a “cool” factor (no pun intended) to the aesthetics of any rig. Some RV’s have sophisticated systems that automatically retract the awnings once winds rise above their preset threshold. Others have to be retracted manually. But regardless of which system you have, you should always be present when they’re in use. Weather can change quickly and mechanical systems can fail. So, to prevent serious and costly damage to your rig, other people or their property, you should always be present and ready to retract them. It’s also recommended that you retract your awnings prior to going to sleep, and always ensure they’re in the proper, recommended position before moving your rig.
RVing provides us the freedom to travel while maintaining a few comforts of a conventional home. Using the tips above, you can help protect your loved ones, your investment, and prevent costly and avoidable repairs. Educating yourself and your travel partners is the best insurance you can have while on the road. The above tips are only a short list. There are many, many more. We would like to hear what you are doing, or have done, to protect your RV and loved ones.
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That’s a good point that the force form the RV driving around could mes with the parts. I feel like that would be bad if you accidentally had a power line or gas line break. I’l have to make sure that I keep up with the maintenance if I get an RV, so hopefully nothing like that happens.