Well it's almost that time of year again. Time to shake the cobwebs off your
camper and get it ready for another great camping season. Here we will review an
annual spring preparation checklist. If your camper has been sitting idle all
winter you need to whip it back into shape for another camping season. At first
glance this checklist looks like it would take two days to complete, but it’s
actually something you can do on a Saturday afternoon when there’s nothing else
to do. By following a simple checklist you make sure nothing is overlooked.
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Depending on how your unit was winterized it will need to be de-winterized.
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Every spring I like to sanitize the water system. Watch the video.
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Inspect for water leaks. With the water system pressurized, either by the water
pump or hooked up to city water, inspect the plumbing for any water leaks. Check
the operation of the toilet.
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Remove any protective covering that you may have put over LP gas vents or
outside vents to keep insects or rodents out. Remove any mousetraps, dryer
sheets or moth balls you may have put out. Open all doors and compartments and
check for rodent intrusion.
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Wash the unit thoroughly. This is a good time to inspect the roof and body
seams, and window sealant for cracking that would allow water to get in. Consult
a member of our Momot parts team for sealants compatible with these materials
and reseal as required.
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Inspect the operation of the awning and check the awning fabric for any damage.
Clean the awning if necessary and let the fabric dry thoroughly before rolling
it up.
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Inspect the tires for signs of dry rot and wear. Inflate all tires to the
recommended tire pressure. Check the lug nuts for proper torque.
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Lubricate all hinges and locks with a graphite spray lubricant.
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Inspect and clean the camper's interior.
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Plug in any appliances that you unplugged for storage and replace any dry cell
batteries you may have removed. This is a good time to put new batteries in
items like smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and clocks.
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Test the operation of the carbon monoxide alarm, LP gas leak detector and smoke
alarm.
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Check the fire extinguisher. Be sure it is fully charged. If it is a dry powder
type turn it upside down and tap on the bottom to help release the powder that
settled on the bottom..
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Reset any breakers you may have turned off. If you removed any fuses for storage
re-install them.
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Clean or replace air conditioner filters if it wasn’t done prior to storage and
remove any covers that were put over air conditioners.
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Open vents and windows and air the unit out.
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If you removed the coach and chassis batteries for storage install them. Whether
they were removed or not check the electrolyte levels, clean the terminals and
clamps, and check the charge level in all batteries. Recharge batteries as
required.
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Check the operation of the electric steps if applicable. Lubricate step
mechanism.
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Test the operation of the hydraulic jacks if applicable. Check hydraulic fluid
level.
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Check all 12-volt interior lights and accessories.
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Test the monitor panel for proper operation.
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Check the operation of slide-outs if applicable.
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Check the remaining 120-volt appliances for proper operation.
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Test the Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI) for proper operation.
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Turn the refrigerator off, leave the doors open and allow sufficient time for it
to get to room temperature so it can be checked in the LP gas mode.
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Note: Before using the LP gas system it’s a good idea to have a leak test and
gas operating pressure test preformed. A qualified technician with the proper
equipment should do these tests. Contact a member of our service team for
pricing.
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Once this is accomplished, turn the LP gas valve on and check the operation of
all LP gas appliances. Be sure the water heater is full of water before testing
the water heater. If a gas appliance is not operating properly have it inspected
by a qualified technician. Insects are attracted to the odorant added to LP gas
and build nests that can affect the appliance from operating properly.
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Inspect any canvas for dry rot and tears
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Inspect all hitch work and coupler for damage as well as the breakaway switch
and pigtail for proper operation.
This list is not all-inclusive, and some of these points may not apply to you,
but it seems to work for most people.