Most expensive RV repairs are preventable. The trick is a simple, regular routine — not a binder full of tasks. Here is a maintenance schedule built for how RVs actually get used in Central Texas, where heat and sun do the most damage.
Before every trip
A five-minute walkaround saves a ruined weekend:
- Tires — check pressure (cold) and look for cracking or uneven wear.
- Lights and brakes — signals, brake lights, and trailer brakes working.
- Fluids and propane — levels good, no leaks or propane smell.
- Slides and awning — cycle them once to be sure they move freely.
If you tow, this is also when a wheel bearing and brake check matters most — Hill Country grades are hard on both.
Monthly (or before a long stint of use)
- Test the batteries and check terminals for corrosion.
- Run the generator under load for 30–60 minutes so it does not gum up.
- Look for water stains inside — the earliest sign of a roof leak.
Seasonally
- Spring: de-winterize, sanitize the fresh-water system, and service the A/C before the heat hits.
- Summer (Texas priority): clean A/C filters and coils, and inspect roof sealant — UV dries it out fast down here.
- Fall: check the furnace and propane system before cooler nights.
- Winter: if the rig will sit, protect the plumbing from the occasional hard freeze.
Once a year
- Reseal the roof as needed — the cheapest repair on this whole list, and the one that prevents the most expensive damage.
- Repack wheel bearings (for towables) and inspect brakes.
- Full systems check — electrical, plumbing, propane, appliances, and safety devices (smoke, CO, propane detectors).
The one rule that matters most
If you do nothing else, keep the roof sealed and the A/C clean. Those two habits prevent the two most common — and most costly — RV failures in Texas.
A once-a-year professional maintenance visit or a pre-trip inspection catches the things a walkaround misses, and you get a written report of anything that needs attention before it becomes a breakdown on the side of I-35.
