I’m so excited! The weather has finally warmed up, the sun shines almost every day, the cherry blossoms are brilliant, the lawn needs mowing (the photos below are from my yard). It’s spring and that means it’s time to go camping!
My front door.
My first 2019 camping trip is planned. I’ll be heading out in just a week or so and will report everything to you when I return.
Barberry bush in the front yard.
I can’t hardly wait to go … just to be heading out on the highway, looking for adventure, and whatever comes my, yah gotta go and make it happen … er, wait a minute, that sounds just like that old Steppenwolf song doesn’t it, Born to be Wild. Well, I’m not wild, and that tune isn’t necessarily one of my favorites (tho I sure remember it from my smokin’ college days), but I do like my own sort of adventure and I like heading up the highway, even though I’m just calmly cruising along in the right-hand lane, tapping my fingers on the steering wheel to the rhythm of the tunes that are my favorites. 🙂
Ferns, Iris, Lilies, Pansies, etc.
Happy Pansies!
I’ve forgotten what this is … help me out.
I want to go camping right now, this very moment, but I can’t go until the rig is ready … until the maintenance on the trailer is complete. So I brought the trailer to the house a couple of days ago and started in on the full list of chores. Here’s what I’ve completed:
- Check and adjust brake clearance at each of the four wheels.
- Check axle bearing lube/grease.
- Check and top off tire air pressure.
- Check wheel lug nut torque.
- Check all exterior lights (brake lights, turn signals, etc), and all interior lights.
- Defrost freezer.
- Fill the one propane tank that was partially used last autumn (the other tank is still full).
- Empty grey water tank (black water tank was emptied last fall at the end of my last trip).
- Check heater and A/C operation. Check operation of frig/freezer on AC (shore power) and on DC (battery power) and on propane.
- Check underneath the trailer for leaks or damage (though I did that last fall too before winter lay-up).
- Check battery electrolyte levels and state of charge.
- Unplug trailer from shore power and then check charging from the roof solar system.
Elephant Ear Hosta.
That was today’s work. Tomorrow, I get to:
- Flush RV antifreeze out of the fresh water tank and all water lines, add bleach/water mixture to tank, flush, then fill tank, clean the water pump filter, install the zinc in the water heater, fill and check the water heater.
- Wash the entire outside of the trailer then wax the front exterior wall of the trailer.
- Apply lubricant (using a rag) to all of the window seals, and then spray the lubricant into the door lock/latch and hinges. Lubricate the corner jacks and the step under the door.
- Clean the inside of the trailer.
- Stock the trailer for camping.
A few potted plants just off my back deck.
The Dwarf Bamboo is very healthy this year.
While checking the trailer lights, I noticed that the truck’s right rear taillight was burned out, so I replaced that bulb, and checked the rest of the truck’s lights … all A-OK. Figuring out how to remove that right rear taillight lens was interesting … two screws were obvious, but the next/final step was not obvious. With some very careful, judicious tugging and twisting, I finally figured out the proper angle and effort needed to pop that red lens off of two absolutely, completely hidden nubs … part experience, part trial and error, part magic. Since the package with the new taillight bulb had two bulbs in it, I decided to replace the left rear taillight bulb as well … that way they are both brand new.
So what else should I be doing for annual RV trailer maintenance? You folks who have or used to have RVs may have a checklist or even just ideas of what you do each spring. What should I add to my list? I’ve got several days yet before I leave so any advice will be greatly appreciated and any suggested chores from you will get done asap.
My neighbor’s Japanese Maple … and a ??? in my yard.
A closeup of the plant growing on the fence above. What is this?
Happy spring everyone … let’s go camping!
Wow, you got a lot done! I hope you have a great time (I know you will).
It’s warmed up here in Las Vegas too. 95*
Yikes, Ginger, that’s too warm! But I bet you have air conditioning. I guess warmer weather up here means even WARMER warmer weather other places. Stay cool. 🙂
As far as any extra maintenance, be sure to check the loose nut behind the steering wheel. I noticed that Pied Piper had this same loose nut in the wheel house… I hope that your trip is enjoyable and I am very jealous!
Nut behind the wheel indeed. 🙂 One might also consider that someone could have a few screws loose. But then, Bob, you know all about this stuff don’t you. [Bob’s a really good boating friend of mine, so we get to rib each other this way.]
So, what’s the “Pied Piper”? the rest of you might ask. Here’s my Youtube channel, https://www.youtube.com/user/annhaypnw/videos, where all of my camping videos are, along with a good number of videos from my former boating days on my 1939 Matthews “Pied Piper”.
That there are peonies sprouting!
Peonies! I didn’t know! 🙂 Thanks Robin.
Looks like you are covering all the bases. Checking the condition of your roof for cracks in the Caulking and for any loose screw from Road Vibration.
Looking forward to reading about your adventures.
Be Safe and Enjoy!
It’s about time.
Ah, the roof. I do get up on the ladder and use a VERY soft brush to clean off the solar panel, but I do absolutely need to add “check the roof for cracks and loose screws”. Will do! Thanks Rick.
But I can’t say off the top of my head what the shrub is in your last two photos.
Back to camping… I like to take the screens off the windows (and the ceiling vents if possible) and lightly scrub them with a brush and warm soapy water, give ’em a rinse and let them dry in the spring air. Meanwhile, great chance to clean the windows and those tracks. Oh and fresh baking soda in the fridge for odor absorption.
Thanks for mentioning lubricating the step, good idea!
Oh good idea about the window screens and roof vents. After washing the outside of the windows, I realized that the inside surfaces also needed cleaning so I simply opened the windows and did that … without removing the screens. Would have been simpler to remove the screens, eh? Ok, lesson learned, and a great idea and opportunity to clean the screens (and vents) … oh and the tracks, good idea. Yep, I already replace the baking soda in the fridge each year.
Gosh, all of you folks are full of really good ideas!
Great list Ann. When we’re getting ready for our first trip out in the spring, we add some deodorizer and a gallon of water to the previously emptied black tank (just pour the deodorizer and water in through the toilet), and we spray the valve that’s at the bottom of the toilet bowl with 303 so the seal remains lubricated and doesn’t dry out and crack which would allow odors to come back up from the tank into the trailer, and which would require the seal to be replaced. We always clean and dry the awning in the fall, but we also unfurl it in the spring and check everything, just to make sure. Hope you have a great camping trip!
The toilet! How could I forget the toilet! Actually, Marge, I do exactly what you folks do … deodorizer (bio-stuff) and water, and I spray the toilet tank seal with CRC lubricant.
I used 303 Protectant as a diesel truck mechanic for Portland General Electric and then as a gas/diesel mechanic for FedEx. It is excellent! But it is more of a “protection” product than a lubricant. 303 Protectant on the outside of the rig will protect vinyl decals, where real wax (like carnuba) actually deteriorates vinyl. 303 Protectant is also great to clean/dress tires. Interestingly, 303 was originally invented by a Seattle-area Boeing engineer and was a single product. The company that produces it has since created several different products, I suppose for more income, though I’m told via the grapevine that the products are pretty much identical. Anyway 303 will work just fine in the toilet, but my money is on CRC lubricant.
But! …. I forgot all about the awning. Must admit I haven’t yet extended it completely. I have pushed the button and let it run out a foot or so, then I retracted it. I need to open it up and extend it and make sure it operates properly. It is now on the list and it will get done. Thank you!
Ann, you are so right about 303. We used it for years on the vinyl “windows” that were sewn into the canvas covers of our boat. It is great for protecting vinyl from UV. My understanding is that it was created specifically for its UV protection qualities for the aerospace industry and that it was used to “polish” the exterior surfaces of airplanes. It can be used as a lubricant but there are better lubricants out there … but not WD40 which is one of the worst! Just sayin’. 🙂
I’m with you David about WD40. As a FedEx mechanic, besides the mechanical work on the trucks, I was constantly lubing door hinges, steering mechanisms, seat belt springs, hood hinges, etc, etc. One year each of us tried several different brands of spray lubricant. Of the 14 mechanics that did this test independently of each other, every one of us rated WD40 the worst. The two best spray lubricants were CRC and LPS, and again that rating was unanimous among us. LPS makes a spray lubricant that is food-grade and that can be applied to cheap plastic, whereas most lubricants will eat up cheap plastic over time. The upper track for the patio door blinds where I used to live were made out of cheap plastic … I used that one particular type of LPS spray for them.
Wow, I wouldn’t want to be the person who had to “polish” an entire 747! I’m sure they have machinery that does that, or at least helps, and I’ve heard that they absolutely do that (a smoother exterior looks better and it reduces fuel consumption), but it’s a funny image in my mind now of one little person spending eight million hours polishing an entire 747. 🙂
I’m so excited that camping season is here! I’m waiting for a little warmer temps. But Katie and I are schedule for adventure in early June.
I think the plant sending up red shoots might be a peony.
You are right on Dawn … I’m told by people who know these things that they are for sure peonies. I have all the maintenance work on the trailer done and have just two projects that I want to complete on the trailer and then I’m done. I’m excited too! I’ll be looking forward to your June adventure. 🙂