Tech Tips: Winterizing Your RV

Greetings everyone!

Its that time of year where many of us start camping in cooler temps. An RV is a great way to get out and enjoy all kinds of winter activities from snow boarding, skiing, snow shoeing or just playing in the snow. The concern is that cooler temperatures can cause severe damage to your RV's water system if certain steps are not taken to protect it even if it has an "Artic package" or sealed under belly.

Most RV's fresh water tanks are located on the interior of the RV either in a cabinet or under the bed area. As long as the interior of the cabin is kept above freezing, the interior fresh water system will be fine. The main concern and focus should be on protecting your holding tanks. If exposed to freezing temps, ice can form in the tanks causing damage to valves and plumbing and even the tanks in severe cases. If you are planning a trip to the snow, follow a few of these simple procedures to protect your RV from damage.

First,to help protect your fresh water system, maintain the interior temperature at all times during your stay. Keeping the interior temps above the freezing point will protect your lines, fittings and water tanks from freeze damage. Secondly, keep your water heater on at all times. The warm water will protect the warm lines and the residual heat from the lines will warm the cold water lines.

The best protection of your holdings tanks is not to use them at all. Empty them prior to your trip and keep them dry and empty during your stay. If you must use them, use them sparingly and use a product like Artic Ban or Freeze Ban in your tanks. This type of Antifreeze is non toxic and safe for the environment and will help protect your tanks from freezing.

If you are planning on storing your unit for any length of time un-attended, you must do a complete winterization. If these proceedures are not followed you run serious risk of damage to your RV's water systems which can cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars in damage.

To properly winterize your RV first make sure all fresh water hookups are turnd off and no water is flowing into the unit. Then drain all of the water system by turing on all interior water faucets and fixtures with the pump in the on position. Run them until the fresh water is exhausted.

Next, install a blow out plug which attatches to your city water connection and allows air to be blown throught the water system to completely drain water from the lines. Do this again with all of the onboard water faucets and fixtures in the open position. Once complete, close all taps. If you have low point drains underneath, make sure to take the time to completely drain these out as well.

Next, drain the water heater by removing the drain plug or annode rod which is located at the lowest point on the side of the water heater tank inside the exterior access door. If you have a water heater bypass valve, turn the valves into the "bypass" position now. Then pour the required amount of Freeze Ban or Artic Ban directly into the frest water tank through your water fill. The next step is to circulate the anti freeze through the water lines by turning on each faucet, starting with the one closest to the tank and working your way down until the antifreeze comes out of each faucet. let about 1 cup of antifreeze come out of each faucet before turning the faucet off. Next run your toilet flush mechanism until you see the fluid coming out of the flush jets.

Make sure both grey and black tanks are completely drained and empty.Then take approximately 1 cup of antifreeze and pour it into the drain of each sink to make sure the traps each have antifreeze in them. make sure to include the shower or tub drain as well. Next put approoximately 1/2 gallon into the bottom of your black tank directly through the toilet and another 1/2 gallon through one of the drains to make sure if there is any water left in your holding tanks, it is protected from freezing.

Guess what? Your done! By following these steps your rig should be completely protected from freeze damage until next spring when you take it out of moth balls and plan your next trip. It may seem like alot to do but it will save your hard earned cash for something fun like camping rather than at the repair shop!

Happy Camping!
Michael Kahle
Murrieta Creek RV
951 698 8577

A complete photo documentary of a recent Weekend Warrior repair.

Your Insurance Company and the Importance of Regular Maintenece.

Hello again everyone!

I ran into a situation again that I thought I would bring to everyone attention because it is happening more frequently and affects the insurance coverage for your RV.

As you are probably aware, we have been repairing severely water damaged vehicles in particular the Weekend Warrior brands as of late. In most cases, the customers insurance has picked up the tab for these repairs because repairs can be extensive and expensive. I am starting to see a trend emerging that I have not seen in a while from the insurance companies that could greatly affect your coverage of these types of repairs.

This last week we took in a 1998 Weekend Warrior with severe damage to the front end from water intrusion. We completed the estimate and contacted the adjuster to come and inspect the damage of which they did the next day. The adjuster asked if we had been the repair shop for this customer and if there were service records showing regular roof maintenance for his RV. This particular customer was new to us so I was not able to provide proof of maintenance for them. Later that day in speaking with the owner, he mentioned he had been asked the same question by the adjuster and also had no records to show. As it turned out, his repairs were declined by his insurance company because he did not have proof of regular maintenance by a professional RV repair facility.

I bring this to your attention because I am seeing this more and more and brings another strong reason to have regular maintenance done to your RV, minimally a seasonal inspection so you have something to show your insurance if an issue arises. Lets face it, insurance companies are looking for any excuse to deny your claim. The best insurance to protect yourself is to get your RV inspected regularly and keep on top of your manufacturers reccomended maintenance schedule. This will give them no wiggle room when you need them most.

To schedule a free documented RV roof and exterior seal inspection or any other needed maintenance to your RV contact our shop anytime at 951 698 8577. Insure yourself against your insurance company and those dreaded words: Not Covered!

Happy Camping!

Michael Kahle
Murrieta Creek RV
951 698 8577
info@murrietacreekrv.com

ALERT: Weekend Warrior Trailer Owners

Hello Friends!

I wanted to take a minute to bring to your attention a possible manufacturing defect that may affect many RV models including Weekend Warrior and Weekend Warrior Superlite light trailers.

In the last 6 months our body shop has seen a large number of RV's, in particular the Weekend Warriors and Superlite series that have serious water damage to the front end along the roof line area into the front and sidewall structure. The damage is caused by water entering the vehicle through open roof seals along the front seam due to inadequate sealant at the time of manufacture. This situation is compounded by the fact that at the time Weekend Warrior used particle board, a material not suited for RV construction, in the supports of the front roof radius. This material deteriorates very rapidly at the presence of moisture and will act as a sponge to pull water into it once leaking begins.

We are doing FREE visual inspections of these models of Weekend Warrior trailers built from 2001-2008 at our facility for concerned owners who feel their unit may be affected. So far,this condition has been present in many of the vehicles and a large percentage of the Weekend Warriors we have inspected. I would encourage you to check your front roof seam and seals to confirm if this condition affects your vehicle. If it is present, please take steps to correct it as soon as is possible to first stop any further water damage and take inventory of what damage is already done.

We are available for questions or guidance if you wish to consult with one of our water intrusion specialists to discuss the issue further or show you what to look for with your own vehicle. Our repair facility is fully equipped to handle any repairs necessary, should you find water damage present.

If you have any questions, feel free to call us at 951 698 8577.

Thank You,

Michael Kahle
Murrieta Creek RV
info@murrietacreekrv.com
951 698 8577

The importance of regular trailer axle maintenece

Working directly with our service department, I find I spend alot of time educating my customers about how to maintain their RV's. Its always a little surprising how little most people know about maintaining their rigs. With all of the forums, websites and resources available most owners are still pretty clueless about some of the basic maintenance for their RV's. One of the most critical areas of any trailer and often the most neglected, is maintenance to the axles and brakes.

Your axles carry the weight and stress of the RV in all types of conditions. They bear the brunt of extreme heat, cold, stop and go traffic and a whole variety of conditions. Because of this, we recommend having your bearings repacked and brakes checked at least once per year. If you carry livestock, you should consider doing it twice per year. The procedure is simple and can be done by most do it your-selfers in one afternoon.

Durinig a routine inspection the wheel is removed and the brakes are checked for wear. If they are worn beyond 50% they should be replaced. If they are in good condition, they can be simply cleaned and adjusted to make sure they are making good contact with the drum. Next, the bearings should be cleaned of the old grease and checked for wear or damage before repacking them with fresh high temp grease. If the bearings are worn at all, they should be replaced with new because if a bearing fails, the spindle can overheat or seize and throw the wheel completely off. ( You don't want that! ) Next, the spindle should be cleaned and checked for wear and then everything gets re-assembled with new seals to hold in the fresh grease. The wheel lugs are installed and re torqued and that completes the service!

The above is not meant to be an instruction for doing it yourself but rather an explanation of what is done during this service. A good manual to refer to if you want to attempt this yourself is Trailer Life's RV Repair and Maintenance Manual by Bob Livingston. This amazing manual has detailed diagrams and step by step instructions for pretty much any service needed on your RV. Even if you are not doing the work yourself, it will help you understand what your RV shop is talking about when discussing repairs to your RV with you.

Regular maintenance is the key to trouble free operation of your RV. If you keep your maintained, they will provide you with years of trouble free service. If not, you will most likely find yourself on the side of the road with a missing wheel or worse!

Happy Camping!

Michael Kahle
Murrieta Creek RV
951 698 8577
www.murrietacreekrv.com

Desert Season Is Upon Us.......Are you ready?

Hi everyone!

It's that time of year again for us Desert RV'rs. Good weather, cooler temps and the bite from the notorious camping bug means the Desert Season is here. Like bears coming out of hibernation at the first sign of spring, we take a swing by the storage lot or pull the cover off the rig that has been siting in the yard for the last few months and begin to ponder the first trip of the new season. We mull through the storage compartments, brushing mud and sand off the wheel chocks and awning mat taking inventory of what we still have and what we may have left in the sand at the last camp site. Its a good feeling imagining sitting under the awning on a cool fall day after a long ride, holding our favorite beverage and taking some R&R time with the family.The problem is, an estimated 250,000 of your fellow RVers are thinking the same thing right about now. So whats the problem you say?

This year in particular will be different from the last few in regard to RV service. With the virtual implosion of the RV industry this last year, many of the RV dealers that are still in business have pulled back staff and closed locations to save money. What that means to you is the possibility of much longer "in-service" times, longer appointment waits and generally poorer customer service (if that's possible) than ever before. If your RV is new and still under manufacturer warranty, the problem will be amplified because many of the RV manufacturer's as well as suppliers have quietly gone out of business over the winter. The few remaining are working shorter work weeks with fewer staff which will make it harder to get needed parts when the rush hits. Based on my personal "Guesstimate", I would say plan on a minimum of 4-6 weeks of down time or longer for any repairs if you wait until mid season. So whats the solution? Dont procrastinate, plan ahead and take steps now to beat the last minute rush.

First, do a full system run through on your rig right away. Start the generator, put it under a load with the A/C on t make sure it is working correctly. Light off all the appliances, lights, check your water system, test your batteries or take them in and have them load tested by a reputable shop with a load tester. Open up the awning, check your tires for checking or cracking and inspect your roof seals to make sure there is no sign of cracking or gaps in the factory sealant. I assure you, nine times out of ten, there will be something that will come up that was just fine last season before you put it away. If you are unable to do the full inspection yourself, contact your local reputable RV service center and make an appointment for a "Pre-Trip" inspection. Even if they call it something different, most RV service centers have packages for a full RV inspection and will give you a report of what they find, with pricing of what it will take to make it right. At this point its up to you to determine if you need to have the recommended repairs done or not to get through the next season.

The point is this, the season and time with your family is short enough. With a little planning and prep work on your part early on, you can catch any potential problems and get them corrected early on and avoid being caught up in the last minute rush!


Good luck and Happy Camping!

Michael Kahle
Murrieta Creek RV
951 698 8577

The Importance of RV Roof Inspections

Many of you who know me, know how I harp about inspecting your roof seals at least once a year. Its not that I like to nag you and see you wince and squirm at the realization that may have never done it. Its that it is critical that you do to endure the life of your rigs no matter how big or small. Repairing water damage is expensive so a little diligence and regular maintenance will save you thousands of dollars in the long run. I wanted to share a little story with you about a recent clients experience with roof seals.

A few months back one of our storage customers came to me with a concern that one of his moldings seals had a gap in it and might be leaking. I went through the explanation of how to correct the problem with him of which he did. Later in discussing the outcome, he expressed concern because in the same area on the inside, his shower and roof paneling had begun to bubble. Now being the unit is only two years old, this is unusual. We discussed opening up the corner of the roof where the seal had been cracked to make sure there had not been water damage and the customer agreed. When we removed the top cap seam molding and the front molding and pulled the roof skin back and guess what we saw? Yup, you guessed it, mold and rotten wood from the corner of the roof down into the wall of his two year old trailer.

My point here is, your RV doesn't have to be ten years old to be in jeopardy of water intrusion damage and dry rot. It only takes a few times of moderate water intrusion to cause damage. Usually by the time you see water coming into the RV, its already been seeping into the roof structure for a while and damage is probably already present. Even if your RV is brand new, you should inspect your seals because the manufacturers use a minimal amount of sealant in many cases just to get you through your warranty period then its no longer their problem. After just a few years, these seals will be in need of re-doing.

If anything remember, the maintenance of your roof is far less expensive over the life of your unit than the repair if water has its way. To see what we had to go through to repair this clients RV, click on this link for a quick slideshow


So go check your roof seams today and start down the road to recovery because I'm tired of nagging you!

Take care, and Happy Camping!
Michael Kahle
Murrieta Creek RV

Welcome to the Murrieta Creek RV Blog

Murrieta Creek RV is a full RV Service, Parts and Accessories facility located in the heart of Murrieta, California near scenic Temecula Wine Country.

Our state of the art new facility also offers over 155 paved storage spaces on 3.5 acres. We have one of the only storage facilities in town with an on site dump facility that is FREE to our members! We are centrally located between San Diego and LA in Riverside county right off the 15 and 215 Freeways in the Inland Empire.

We offer a full range of RV services like trailer hitch installations, 5th wheel hitch installations, gooseneck hitch installations, appliance repairs, plumbing repairs, generator service, body work, 12 volt and 110 volt electrical system diagnostics and repairs, all types of accessory installations, complete detailing, water leak diagnostics and dry rot repair, roof resealing and reconditioning, furniture upgrades, satellite TV installations, and so much more! We also specialize in Green RV power like solar and wind generating technologies as clean free energy for your RV.

Have an extended warranty service contract? Call us, we work with all service contracts and are an authorized Dometic,MVP/Thor CA, Tiffin, Newmar, Gulf Stream and now Outlaw Customs Trailer warranty repair center!

Our parts and accessory store is one of the cleanest and best stocked in the area. Our staff is always willing to lend a hand to answer any questions you might have. Purchase anything in our store and you can dump your tanks for FREE!

So call us or stop by and see all we have to offer, with over 22 years in the RV business, you'll be glad you did!

For more info including directions and testimonials go to Murrieta Creek RV