RV Maintenance & Breakdown Prevention
Section updated .
RV breakdown prevention is four recurring checks: tires for pressure, age and heat, the propane system for leaks, shore power for a safe pedestal and surge protection, and the water system for freeze damage. Each guide names the symptom of neglect and the condition under which the rig should not move.
A moving home fails in particular ways. Tires fail from heat, age and neglect rather than from a single dramatic cause. Propane systems fail quietly until they do not. A bad pedestal damages appliances that cost more than a campground night. A freeze breaks lines that stayed hidden behind a wall.
Each guide here ties a protocol to a current condition, so the check happens when it matters: tires before summer heat and long trips, propane before winter, power before each plug-in, freeze protection before the first cold night.
Guides in this section
Tire pressure, age and heat
Cold inflation to your rig's data, sidewall date codes, and the symptoms that mean stop before the blowout.
Read the guide →Propane system checks
Leak awareness, regulator and detector checks, and what to do the moment you smell gas.
Read the guide →Shore power and surge protection
Test the pedestal before you plug in, protect against surges and low voltage, and know when to unplug.
Read the guide →Freeze protection for the water system
Hoses, pumps, lines and tanks, and the cold-night steps that prevent a burst.
Read the guide →How to work through this section
Begin with tires, because they cause the most roadside failures. Read the propane checks before the heating season. Make pedestal and surge checks a habit at every plug-in. Read freeze protection before any night forecast near freezing.
Tires monthly and before every long leg, propane at each season change, power at every hookup, freeze protection before the first cold forecast.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I check my RV tires?
Check pressure cold, against your rig's load and inflation data, before every travel day and at least monthly. Inspect the sidewalls and read the date codes on each tire at the start of every season.
What should I do if I smell propane?
Stop what you are doing, put out any flame, leave the rig, and keep away from ignition sources. Shut off the supply from outside if you can do so safely, and have a qualified technician inspect the system before it is used again.
Do I really need a surge protector?
A surge protector or energy management device is inexpensive compared with the appliances it protects, and a pedestal in a campground can have faults you cannot see. Use one at every plug-in.
When do I need to worry about freezing?
Whenever overnight forecasts approach freezing, and especially if they stay there for several hours. Check the National Weather Service forecast for your exact location, not the nearest city.
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