When it comes time to service your RV, it can be stressful. Is there any of this you can do yourself? If you do go to a service provider, how much will that end price tag be? And what if they have questions that you don’t know the answers to? It can be especially hard if you own a used RV, and aren’t sure when any previous maintenance was completed.
That’s where Courvelle’s RV can help. Below, we’re going to offer 5 tips to make RV service less stressful.
Tip 1: Record All Identifying Numbers
Whether you’re completing the service yourself, or if you’re visiting a service center, it’s helpful if you know all your identifying numbers. This includes a list of your RV’s brand names, model numbers, serial numbers, and spec numbers.
Your RV service provider will be able to utilize these numbers when locating parts, warranties, and recalls. While this may be difficult if you aren’t the original owner of the RV, most sales will include this information in the owner’s manual
By compiling this list into an excel document, you can ensure a less-stressful experience when communicating with an RV service expert or searching for a part yourself.
Tip 2: Look for Obvious Issues
If you start noticing an odd sound or strange feeling while driving, try to identify it. Complete a quick inspection of your RV, looking for leaking water, cracks, broken hardware or wiring issues.
If all else fails, try to research the issue online. While this may not give you the exact solution to the issue, you will be better informed of any issues when searching for solutions, and if you need to visit an RV service expert, you’ll be able to pass this info along to them.
Tip 3: Record Specifics
Even if you cannot find the exact issue after completing your inspection, you may be able to identify the issue by researching the specifics.
Does the problem occur every time? Does it happen when starting the RV, or after a long drive? Does it happen more when it’s cold? How might your weather conditions factor into the issue?
Thinking through these questions may help you locate the issue. If not, these factors may still be helpful when communicating with a service provider.
Tip 4: Know your Warranty
Before you decide if this issue is something you can fix yourself or if you need to employ the help of an RV service supplier, it’s important to take a moment to talk about warranties. You may have gotten an RV warranty from the dealership, but that warranty is most likely separate from the warranty extended by each appliance manufacturer.
By doing a project yourself, you could adversely impact the manufacturer’s ability to honor a warranty. That’s why it’s always important to check your warranties before jumping into a project – this also plays into the first step, record all identifying numbers. Knowing updated warranty information can help you easily decide if you need a service expert, or if you can complete this task yourself. Now that that’s out of the way, let’s take a look at some DIY service successes.
Tip 5: RV DIY Service
Any savvy shopper will find that you can get the parts cheaper online. With so many process videos and how-to articles available, it seems like we can do anything now. However, sometimes you might run across a more technical problem, and you’ll find yourself faced with the choice, “Can I do this myself, or should I schedule an appointment at an RV Service Center?”
When it comes to do-it-yourself service, the only true limit to what you can do is your level of technical ability. You have access to all of these new ideas, and we encourage you to take on new challenges such as routine maintenance and facelift upgrades with your RV. Let’s take a look below at some of the DIY projects we’ve seen our customers have a lot of success with.
Routine Maintenance:
We’ve seen many of our customers complete some amazing renovations on their RVs, but sometimes the unseen, routine maintenance tasks have the largest impact and can save you the most money. These projects include things like adding lubricant to your slide outs, cleaning your water heater, regularly checking and filling your tires, and minor roof maintenance. All of these actions will help keep your RV running in great condition for many years to come.
Facelift Upgrades:
One thing we love to see around here are your DIY RV upgrade photos. So many of our creative and talented customers have completely revamped their dated RVs and turned them into mod lodges or contemporary cabins. Whether you painted the cabinets and upgraded the bathroom, or if you completed a total remodel, the work you do never ceases to inspire us, and that’s why we want you to keep doing it
However, sometimes these projects can quickly get out of hand. For example, when adding solar panels and converters to your battery, it may seem easy enough. But a faulty solar panel setup can put you and your passengers in danger, which is why it’s always best to call on your local RV Service experts if you aren’t comfortable with the technical level required in your project — it may even save you money in the end.
RV Service Experts When You Need Them Most
If you do decide to schedule a service appointment instead of completing the service yourself, you can count on our expert team at Courvelle RV to offer you fare rates for your RV Service. We are conveniently located in Opelousas, LA. If you can’t find the part you’re looking for, we might be able to order it for you.
In the event you’ve decided that your RV is beyond repair, we may be able to offer you a trade-in value — feel free to search our inventory if you’re interested in upgrading. Either way, we invite you to contact us today to see how we can best serve you and your RV.
