Fix the Little Things
Whether you've been on the road for a while, or you've just bought an RV (even a new one), there are things you'll need to fix from time to time.
Of course, you may not even know all the things that need to be fixed, but start with the things you do know that need to be fixed.
It's hard to fix things when you don't have the right tools
That's why you need to pack a little toolbox to take with you. You can't carry all the tools you used to have with you, but you'll need screwdrivers, vice grips, wire cutters, needle- nose pliers, a utility knife, a set of Allen wrenches, a multimeter to measure voltages, and a few other tools. You'll also need some electrical tape and some duct tape. A battery-powered electric drill will come in handy when you're making modifications or adding gadgets.
If you find that you need a tool you don't have, you have two options. The first option is that you can usually borrow the tool you need from another RVer. The second option is that you're usually not far from a hardware store, so you can always buy another tool.
If you live in an RV, things are going to break
Little things that are annoying, but not really important can be (and usually are) put off indefinitely. I know because I have a list of over a dozen things that I need to repair on my motorhome. Some of the items have been on the list for more than a year.
Some things are beyond my skill level and I have to have a mechanic to do the repair. For example, my gearshift will not go into low gear. I found out that it does shift into low gear. It's just that the gearshift indicator cable has stretched and it doesn't show that it's in low gear. It indicates that it's still in second gear.
Of course, it goes into low gear automatically when I take off. What all of this means is that I'll probably never spend the money to replace the cable and fix this problem.
The cord on the window shade beside my dinette is broken, and the shade doesn't work very well. This shade covers a double window and from the videos I've seen on YouTube, it's a little bit more complicated than restringing a narrow shade (which I've done). I bought the string needed to restring the shade over a year ago. The next time I run across the string, I'm going to bite the bullet and restring that shade.
I could give you a list of more than a dozen things on my motorhome that need to be repaired (I have the list), but you get the idea.
The big things get fixed
The big things that keep you from getting on the road get fixed, even if you have to hire a mechanic or a mobile RV tech. It's the little things that we can take care of ourselves that get put off forever. I know this from my own experience.
If you keep putting off the little repairs, it won't be long before your RV will literally be falling apart.
How long will an RV last?
I've seen RVs that are more than 50 years old and they are in better condition than some new or late model RVs. It's like asking how long a house will last. The IRS says that the useful life of a rental house is 27.5 years, but take a look at Thomas Jefferson's house or go back further and look at Shakespeare's house, you will see that if a house is taken care of and repairs are made as needed, a house can last forever. I think the same is true of an RV.
I've added a lot of gadgets to my motorhome during the seven years I've owned it, but I haven't done a good job of keeping up with repairing the little things.
During the month of June, I'll at a campground that has concrete slabs for all camping spaces, so it will be easy to make repairs inside, outside, and underneath the motorhome. My goal is to have my motorhome back in top-notch condition by the end of June.
Watch YouTube videos and you can learn how to fix almost anything on your RV
I like to watch two or three YouTube videos before I start a repair project that I haven't done before. If you follow this approach, you will grow your skill set and soon be able to take care of a lot of your RV repair projects. This will save you a lot of money that can be used for traveling.
Here's another option to consider
Ed and Liz just released an RV repair course this week, called "Fix it Yourself". Ed is a certified mobile RV repair tech. The course will initially only be available through this Saturday, March 23rd, and it's being offered at a special introductory price.
They will probably offer it again at a later date, but at a higher price. (They didn't want too many people signing up for the course to start with.) Below is a link to information about the course. This is not an affiliate link. I bought the course, and it is going to save me a ton of money. Check it out and see if you think it will save you some of money. Here's the link:
https://thevirtualcampground.com/fix-it-yourself/
Bottom line: Take good care of your RV, and it will be enjoyable, comfortable, and reliable for a long time to come. Take pride in having a well-maintained RV.