Community Forums

taigarazz · 11-05-2013, 08:50 AM

Where/ how is the best way for me to learn how to do the routine maintenance on my RV? I am looking forward to picking up my new Itasca Sunstar 30T in a few weeks. I don't live very close to a place that can do routine stuff, so I would like to learn how to change the oil, take care of grease joints (whatever they are), etc. anything that could be done in the driveway with basic tools

sswilson · 11-05-2013, 08:56 AM

Lot's of info on this site. No such thing as dumb questions. There are plenty of videos on www.youtube.com just search for your topic and someone may show you exactly what to do.

Good luck with the new rig

Spinner · 11-05-2013, 09:02 AM

I wish more people would ask this!! I would be happy to mentor anyone on RV maintenance. We could do it at my place or yours. Or we could meet at a CG and spend some time going thru it. Unfortunately, here in the north woods, snow is forecast today and my RV is tucked in for a 4-5 month slumber. The offer stands, though. I have owned TT, 5er and DP so I'm comfortable with most systems.

Ray,IN · 11-05-2013, 09:08 AM

One great place to begin is RV Education 101 video library. rverscorner is another.

malexander · 11-05-2013, 01:19 PM

I enjoy working on my own RVs. I've always done my own maintenance on all of my vehicles, mainly because I didn't have the time to take them someplace to have it done. And then too, part of me didn't fully trust anyone else to do it to my standards.

As far as maintenance and repairs on the RVs, it's really sort of fun. The sad part is, you know how much you paid for the silly thing, and in some of the "hidden" places, you see some REALLY crappy workmanship/materials. But the cool part is you can fix stuff you don't like.

I had to "fix" the mounting of the right hand mirror on my 2000 Southwind motorhome. I couldn't believe how it was actually mounted. There was hardly any backing behind the outside skin, then they had used, what looked like, a hollow wall anchor. It'd shake loose within 50 or so miles. So I cut some plywood blocks for backing (all of this is behind & under the dash) larger than the "footprint" of the mirror. Epoxied the blocks to the inside of the skin. Then used bolts, fender washers, and nyloc nuts on the inside. It doesn't shake or rattle now. Took me almost a week to do this.
I may have screwed up, because now there's no "breakaway" feature. The entire side of the rig will probably come off now before the mirror turns loose.

One little area inside the coach on the wall, I had to "tear" the wallpaper a bit. I cut apiece of 1/8" Masonite, radiused <sp> the corners, then covered it with contact shelf paper. Just like covering a model airplane. Then used white painted screws to hold it in place. It all looks almost factory.

Mr_D · 11-05-2013, 01:36 PM

It's not really that hard if you've worked on cars at all.

Tha_Rooster · 11-05-2013, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taigarazz

Where/ how is the best way for me to learn how to do the routine maintenance on my RV? I am looking forward to picking up my new Itasca Sunstar 30T in a few weeks. I don't live very close to a place that can do routine stuff, so I would like to learn how to change the oil, take care of grease joints (whatever they are), etc. anything that could be done in the driveway with basic tools

I'd say you are at the right place to learn,a grease joint as you say is also called a zerk.

mothgrey · 11-05-2013, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

One great place to begin is RV Education 101 video library. rverscorner is another.

Thanks for this link!!!!!

Oldme · 11-05-2013, 06:26 PM

Two references:

RV bookstore - the world's largest online RV bookstore

RV Travel - News, information & advice for RV enthusiasts

vsheetz · 11-05-2013, 07:13 PM

Books, Google, pose questions here - just get in there and do it! Experience is the best teacher.

sam-3 · 11-05-2013, 07:31 PM

Our local Boces/vocational school teaches night classes in auto mechanics. This would include hands on training at a reasonable cost.

taigarazz · 11-06-2013, 07:06 AM

And I guess I will get to buy some new tools!

Sky_Boss · 11-06-2013, 08:00 AM

I'm not technically challenged. I'm pretty good with the electrical stuff but not so much with anything in the engine compartment or more complicated chassis systems. It isn't that I can't learn, but need hands on training.

I suppose I am more concerned about starting something and running into a problem I can't handle. This sill sound silly but I'm afraid I could screw up a caulk job without getting some OJT!

Once I get my hands on a system and get familiar with the ins and outs, I can adapt but getting familiar enough is the key.

deandec · 11-06-2013, 09:13 AM

Cost & logistics of shop services and time on my hands drove me to learn the basic stuff.

A Cummins engine owners manual and the Chassis Manufacturer's Owners manual that came with the rig have been extremely valuable in my learning curve.

For instance, I had never lubed any kind of chassis before.

By reading the RV forums, searching on the web and watching YouTube type videos, I learned where the main zerks were, what they were, what kind of simple grease gun to use, and how much grease to install. Then I found a basic grease zerk diagram in my Chassis Owner Manual. The first time took me two hours. Now it is about 30 minutes, not including the shower.