One of the most important habits you can form
RVing Women

Nothing is more important than taking two minutes to walk around your RV every time you stop.  Every Time.

Get in the habit of starting the walk-around at the same place; for example, at the door of the coach, work your way to the rear, then back around the co-pilot's side.

While performing this brief evaluation, rely on your senses of sight, sound, touch and smell.  Look for obvious things such as open compartment doors.  Look under the RV for a fresh water system leak, a holding tank leak, a step not retracted, a drain cap not in place.  Don't forget steps and TV antenna.

Check the roof of the RV for anything that is not normal, such as open or missing vent covers, antennas not in proper position, loose or damaged air conditioner covers, etc.

Take a look at the window awnings.  Be sure the hold-down straps are properly rolled up so they won't flutter.  Check the patio awning to be sure it's completely retracted and the arm locks are engaged with locking pins in place.  An awning that unrolls and breaks loose while you're driving, besides providing a good scare, can rip itself apart and may even punch holes in the RV's sides or roof (or a passing vehicle).

Check for loose or missing fasteners or hardware, broken lights and missing marker light covers.

Check tires for proper air pressure.  The best way to do this is to use a tire pressure gage, but let's face it - most of us are not going to drag out the gauge every time we stop.  You can also "thump" the tires with a piece of pipe.  A tire with sufficient pressure will have a higher pitched "ringing" sound and more bounce as you hit it.  A low-pressure tire will have a duller thump and less bounce.  After a time, you'll get used to the "regular" sound of the tire and notice a change in pressure.  At the very least, get in the habit of looking at the sidewall bulge where the tire meets the pavement.

Another check is to touch the tread or sidewall to see if it feels unusually hot after you've been traveling.  No matter which method you use, once you get a little experience, you'll be able to tell if a tire is low.   With dual tires, if one is low, the other will be carrying most of the load, which will certainly shorten its life.  In addition to reducing tire life, improperly inflated tires will reduce fuel economy and affect the RV's ride.

Lightly touch the wheel hubs to make sure they are not excessively hot.  This can be a sign of improper bearing adjustment or lack of lubrication.  If you have oil hubs, it's easy to pop the rubber caps off to check the oil level.  If you have bearings that are packed in grease, you won't be able to check them until you get to a service facility.  If the hubs are not, you can continue at a lower speed,  but look for a place to fix the problem as soon as possible.

Unusually high tire temperatures are usually caused by excessive sidewall flexing due to low air pressure or overloading the tire's rated capacity.  High tire temperatures also can be caused by extreme road surface temperatures and driving at high speeds.    Excessive heat will eventually cause the plies of the tire to separate or come apart.  One sign of this problem is usually a bulge in the sidewalk or tread.   A compete failure usually results in a "thrown" tread, or a blowout.   Both are extremely dangerous.   Tire failure also can cause considerable damage to fender wells, plumbing, mud flaps, etc.  One other thing to be aware of is any abnormal tire wear patterns which may indicate out of balance or improperly aligned tires.

Moving on toward the engine compartment, check underneath for any signs of fluid leaks.   Transmission fluid is usually reddish in color.  Engine oil is usually very dark, and the spots may have a glossy look if they are fresh.  Radiator coolant is usually a shade of green and may also be foamy.  If you see anything suspicious, look at the underside of the engine, transmission, radiator, etc. to find the source.

If something is leaking, the airflow will usually splatter the leaking fluid onto the rear of the coach, so check that area also.

Listen for signs of other potential problems, such as air leaks, leaking exhaust systems, squealing belts, hissing radiator overflow tubes, unusual engine sounds, vibrations, etc.  Your nose will easily pick up the sharp acid smell of overcharging batteries, the smell of  hot brakes, and the stink of hot wiring or burned insolation caused by electrical problems.

If you have a towed vehicle, it's important to visually check the towing equipment to ensure that all of the locking pins for the hitch are securely in place.  If you have a tow dolly, make sure the wheel tie-down straps are secure.  Double-check that the wiring connector is firmly plugged in and that the safety chains are connected and not dragging.

Check the front of the towed vehicle for signs of fluid leaks that may have splashed onto it from the coach. Check the tires just as you would the RV tires.  Thump, or at least check for sidewall bulge and temperature.  Be really thorough and leave the RV's four-way flashers operating during your walk-around and make sure the lights on the back of the towed vehicle are operating.

A regular two-minute walk-around is worth making into a habit.  If you notice anything out of the ordinary, this is the time to take care of it, before it gets more serious, expensive or possibly hurts someone.