Today’s RVs, no matter what kind, come from the factory with a number of safety items installed to prevent personal harm to their occupants. 

With an array of detectors pre-installed to detect dangerous circumstances, RVers can feel very comfortable knowing that the industry is looking out for their well being.

Fire is a leading cause of accidental death, but your RV smoke detector isn't the only one you need to check each year.

Here are some of the detectors and monitors inside your RV that need to be checked each year -- and have a fresh set of batteries installed.

We received the following question from a reader.  It concerns water leaking into the RV -- possibly from the rear corner.

I purchased a 04 dutchman new off a lot in sw fla in 05. It is a 24' sport 5th whl. I am not new to rv lifestyle having owened several over the years but this one like most has its issues. Most I deal with and understand. my question is this. What product works best to seal up the rear corners of the unit.  They have leaked since day one and after having two reputable dealers work on this problem we have found once again after a long hot summer of fla storage moisture/water on the floor of the rear unit. Our travels are usualy within 200mi round trip and what i think is going on is some type of vibration where the alluminum meets the corner beed eventualy breaking the caulk/seal. Does anyone know a product by name that i can use that works for this condition?  Thanks -- Paul

Water leaks can cause many a case of baldness.  Just when you think you’ve figured out how the water is getting in, a good heavy rain will come along and prove you wrong.  Rather than pulling your hair out over the situation, a more methodical water test may be required.

Here are some possible sources of RV water leaks, along with ways to accurately determine the true source of your leak...

Most fulltime RVers head south for the winter -- making sure they’re well below the snowbelt before the first snowflakes of winter start to fall. 

This is all well and good if you're retired, or able to take your source of income along with you.  What about those forced to stay put because of their job or other reasons?... Is it possible to survive the winter months in an RV?

Absolutely! My wife and I spent two winters with snow, ice, and below-zero temperatures in our 5th wheel trailer while we were living in Denton, Texas.  It did take a bit of effort on our part to remain warm and comfortable, but yes it can be done.

The lucky ones are packing up and stretching their wings for the annual flight south.  The rest of us are faced with many months of snow, below zero weather, and seeing our RV sitting alone, waiting for the first spring birds to return.

I live in northern Minnesota, and the occasional frost has already arrived.  Within the next few weeks temperatures will be dropping well below freezing every night.  Now is the time to prepare your RV for those cold winter months.  If you wait much longer you’ll have a pretty stiff repair bill next year, as the water system in every RV must be protected from freezing.

Weather and age will take a toll on every plastic vent, appliance cover, or breather that may protrude through (or is mounted on) the roof of your RV. 

Over time, ultraviolet rays beating down on your RV's roof will cause the plastic vents to deteriorate to the point that a simple brushing by of a small branch will cause them to crumble away into dust.

Hail storms have broken more rooftop fixtures than anything else.  It happened to us on a trip out west.  It was just one of those chance things when nickel-sized hail took out the bathroom vent on our travel trailer.  Age wasn’t an issue this time, it was less than a year old.

What damaged the vent isn’t that important; what matters is that exposure to the elements will take a serious toll on your RV unless you replace the broken item before the next rain storm.

Here's how to replace old RV rooftop fixtures...

You may be wondering if there is a surefire permanent cure for an inaccurate Black water tank level indication.  The simple answer is NO.  

From the first time you use the toilet in your RV to the day you sell it, odds are the indicator panel for the level of waste in the Black tank will give you an inaccurate reading.

Here's why, plus tips for determining your "true" Black water level...

It’s bound to happen... whether you got too close to a tree branch while pulling into your campsite, or the neighbor kid decided to practice his baseball skills, chances are, you'll have to deal with a broken RV window at some point. 

Your first thought will probably be to contact the nearest auto glass repair center and have them come out.  There’s only one problem: unless it’s the front windshield or cab area of your Class C motorhome, they’re probably not going to be much help.  Most auto glass repair shops aren’t geared to handle RV windows. 

Two Nationwide Auto Glass Repair Shops That Service RVs:

Complete Auto Glass

Auto Glass Center

 
Of course, if the windshield on your Class A motorhome is broken, then you’ll have to order the replacement glass through the RV dealer first, then make arrangements with the auto glass company to install it.  Don’t even think about attempting this job on your own, the windshield requires special techniques best left to the professionals.  The cost of the replacement glass will set you back a bunch, and you don’t want to take a chance on breaking it.

   

Now, some tips for repairing the window in your RV travel trailer...