Performing routine RV maintenance can extend its life and save you thousands of dollars. However, if your RV is neglected, vital parts can stop working and can cost a great deal to fix. Making the investment of time and money in an RV throughout its life is worth it! Don’t miss a vacation because your RV was not given the proper TLC. Check out Louie’s Ace Home Center for answers and parts to help you get started!

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Here are the tasks that should be completed on a monthly and annual basis:

Monthly Routine RV Maintenance Tips

• Run your generator for 2 hours each month to flush old gasoline and gunk out of the generator.
• Check water levels. (use distilled water only)
• Check hoses and clamps to make sure they are secure and show no signs of leaking.
• Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors monthly.
• Every 6-8 weeks run a ½ cup of bleach through the fresh water tank and let it sit for the day (this ensures that the next time you go on a trip, you’ll have clean, fresh water).
• Transmission, tires, and the engine require regular maintenance.

What Do I Need To Do Each Year?

• Service A/C & furnace.
  • Heating and cooling systems need to be repaired every year.
• Replace filters and vents.
• Brakes need to be serviced annually to assess wear and tear.
• Vacuum the carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and wipe them down with a lightly dampened cloth and dry off.
  • NEVER use cleaning solutions on your detectors, it will ruin them.
• Check for rust, paint chipping, dings & dents regularly.
• Service/check your propane tanks annually (or every 5000 miles).
• Reseal your RV every year.

Other Helpful Routine RV Maintenance Tips

• Lubricate cabinets and other landings, as necessary, so they don’t stick.
• Keep record of when you need to complete repairs and maintenance checks.
• Always perform preventative maintenance on your RV before taking it on a trip. This includes: cleaning, inspecting, and servicing.
  • This will save you money and time.

How Louie’s Ace Home Center Can Help

Here at Louie’s, we offer a wide variety of RV accessories and parts to help you keep your RV maintained. If you need a part, stop by and talk to one our knowledgeable representatives. We also offer ACE hardware rentals for other needs. Give us a call to answer any questions you may have!

Learn More Routine RV Maintenance Tips

Are you ready to start planning for your spring and summer camping trips? A few months ago we showed you how to winterize your RV  to get ready for the colder months. Now, we'd like to share our best tips for de-winterizing your RV, so that you can be on the way for your next adventure.

Tips for De-Winterize Your RV

1. First, turn the valve for the front water tank off.
2. Fill the water tank 1/3 full with fresh water.
3. Take the hot water plug and put it into hot water tank. Need a hot water plug? Hot water plugs are available at Louie’s Ace Hardware.
4. Use a 16-inch socket to tighten hot water tank. Make sure that you don’t over tighten so that it does not pull the threads of hot water tank. 16 inch sockets are also available in our store.
5. Now, you can go inside your RV and fill the water tanks there. Locate the water pump and check the lines to make sure there’s no leaks.
6. Turn the water pump on. Once water pump builds pressure it’ll shut off.
7. Now, turn on one of taps. Let it run until the pink anti-freeze runs out, and nothing but water comes out.
8. Move from the kitchen and drain all of the other water sources in the trailer including the bathroom and bathtub.
9. If you have an outdoor shower, go outside to fill its tank. The shower is usually located on the outside of the RV.
10. Once you're done pumping anti-freeze, you can fill the hot water tank with water. First, find the hot water bypass valve and turn it. Let it run continuous until water tank fills with water.

Before you go out for a trip, make sure you check your RV for gaps, cracks, and tears. You’ll want to fix these before the season starts to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.

Happy Camping!

Louie’s ACE Home Center carries all of the products you need for trailer brake controller installation, especially if it has electric brakes. There are two main items that will ensure that your breaks and lights work correctly, while also maintaining safety on the road...an electronic break controller and a safety device.

A lot of people have the misconception that if you simply plug in your trailer with the cord it comes with, all of the lights in your trailer will come on, and you will have access to your breaks and lights. Unfortunately, that’s not true.

Set up an Electronic Break Controller

You actually need an electronic break controller or module to control the lights and breaks.  There are several different types that you can install in your truck. Don’t know where to start? Check out Louie’s ACE Home Center located in Fallon, NV to find the best trailer brake controller for your vehicle.

How does it work? A break controller sends power to your trailer and electric breaks, to make both features work when you’re driving your truck.

Install a Safety Device

The next thing you need to consider for your trailer, is getting a safety device with a back-up battery. These usually come in the form of an electric pin and without it, you can face up to a $160 fine. This device provides an extra layer of safety for your electric breaks, in case they would stop working while you’re on the road.

Instead of risking an accident or fine, stop by Louie’s or give us a call at 775-423-7008. Our friendly and knowledgable staff will help you get the right break safety device for your trailer.

We hope this information helps you set up your trailer with the right products for your electric breaks, so that you can hit the road with confidence

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