How to protect your RV Investment

When purchasing an RV, it is a major purchase second to only your home or automobile. When you own an RV, you will want to protect your investment the best way you can. After a year of living full-time in an RV, this article will give you some ideas, like simple adjustable mudflaps from Rock Tamer and other tips on how to protect your RV Investment.

Buy an Extended Warranty

One of the reasons we were attracted to RV Living is its simplicity and peace of mind. There is nothing more stressful than worrying about a potential mechanical issue or trying to get your rig fixed on the road. Buying an extended warranty can help ease some of those worries. There are many options on the market, and your dealer can help you find one (as they probably sell their own).

Before you even buy an RV, research a few extended warranty plans. Good Sam is known for RV extended warranties. A company called Wholesale Warranties sells one of the best-extended warranties you can invest in. One neat thing about Wholesale Warranties is they will negotiate on your behalf to get the service you need.

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John inspecting the roof before we leave on travel day.

Get the right Insurance Coverage

Getting insurance to protect your RV Investment isn’t just smart, it’s the law. While everyone knows you need insurance for an RV, you may not know what kind of insurance is the best. There are so many types of insurance and offers out there that it is difficult to choose the right one for you. You need to take into consideration the following:

Are you living and traveling full-time in your RV, or are you just an RVer that goes camping on holidays and weekends?
How old is your RV? If your RV is brand new and you are the original owner, you will want to ask about Total Replacement Value protection.
Does your RV qualify for certain premium plans?
How can you negotiate with the insurer so you can get a more affordable plan? (Suggest calling your current home or auto insurance carrier for a bundle discount.)

Full-time RV Insurance

If you’re a full-timer, you need additional coverage for the risks that were once covered by your homeowner policy, such as your dog biting a passerby. You need special coverage for valuables that a part-time camper wouldn’t usually have onboard, such as camera equipment or electric bikes. Does the policy cover hotel stays if you are put out of your RV? You may need to consider an umbrella policy for extra coverage.

If you are not a full-timer, consider a flexible policy, and you can turn on and off certain coverages based on your usage, such as collision coverage. If you store your rig 6 months a year, you will want a policy that allows you to suspend your collision coverage while parked. Also, check to see if they can wave storage premiums based on where it is stored. A country farm has a much lower crime rate than a downtown storage facility.

Add-on Service

Look for a policy with bonuses like Road Side Assistance and towing coverage. Adding these services under either the extended warranty or insurance policy is typically a better deal than purchasing separately. Some companies throw it into a policy, which could be a differentiator in picking a company with which to work.

Shop around, not only when you are purchasing your RV insurance but also at renewal. When it is time to renew, you will have already researched with fellow RVers to learn more about what insurance fellow campers carry. The most popular policies with Full-Time RVers to protect their investment are Progressive, National General (through GoodSam), and Blue Sky.

Check out this article for more insurance buying tips by some RV experts.

Products to help protect your RV Investment

When buying an RV, it seems the list of things to buy never ends. While these products below are not deemed essential, getting them to help protect your investment is important. We found something as simple as adjustable mudflaps from Rock Tamer have helped preserve the RV.

Trailer Lock – as soon as you unhook from your tow vehicle, you will want to put a lock on the kingpin or ball to make sure no one else gets ideas to move or steal your RV.
Water Pressure Regulator – a water pressure regulator helps control water pressure that may be too high, protecting your internal RV plumbing from being damaged.
Surge Protector – electrical surges are unfortunately common in campgrounds due to a variety of reasons. Protect your RV’s sensitive components and your electronics with a surge protector. We like the Progressive internal surge protector hard wired into our RV, so we always know our RV is protected from a power surge and won’t be stolen at the electrical post.
RV Cover – while we never store our RV, if you leave your RV parked for any length of time, be sure you get an RV cover to protect the RV from harsh elements.

Our new favorite product

ROCK TAMERS™ – We have a Dual Rear Wheel (DRW/Dually) tow vehicle that tends to kick up road grime or rocks. We started noticing little rock chips in our RV paint, and regular mudflaps weren’t doing the job. So we reached out to our friends at Rock Tamer. They have the premiere “Adjustable and Removable” Mudflap System is designed to provide the ultimate protection for your towable from damage caused by rocks and road debris. Rock Tamers fit into the trailer hitch and can be removed when not towing, but we keep them on all the time because they look cool…especially with the optional lights. The Rock Tamers mudflaps are the perfect solution for consumers who want the utility aspect of mudflaps while maintaining their vehicle’s stylish and attractive appearance.
- Check out the video of “How to” (or, in our case – how not to) install Rock Tamer adjustable mudflap system.

Regular RV Maintenance Tips

To help protect your RV investment, you will want to perform regular maintenance on your RV. We routinely do this list every long camping stay or monthly.

Things you can do quickly today

Top Off Batteries – Be sure to use only distilled water if you plan to top off your batteries’ water levels. The minerals in tap water can diminish their life span.
Care For Slideouts – If you’re traveling in a unit with slideouts, lightly re-lubricate the mechanism to help them move in and out smoothly and protect against rust or corrosion. There are also dedicated sprays (our manufacturer recommends baby powder) to help easily condition the seals as needed.
Check Your Seals – Take a look at exterior sealants and re-seal any voids, cracks, or separation. You will want to inspect seals if you have visited super hot, dry, and dusty areas.
Examine Tires – Checking tire pressure and wear and tear is a critical part of keeping your RV safe. Check out our blog for more tire safety tips.

When you have a little more time

Exercise Your Generator – Generators can be finicky. If they run on gasoline, it can grow stagnant. To keep your generator in top shape, you will want to exercise or run it monthly. You can do that by running it for at least two hours a month or using a fuel stabilizer for longer storage periods.
Clean The A/C – Get the most out of your unit’s climate-control capabilities by cleaning vents/filters inside and the coils outside.
Test Safety Equipment – It’s always a good idea to make sure your smoke, carbon monoxide, and other battery-powered detectors or safety equipment are working each month properly.
Keep Pests Out – Keep uninvited guests out by checking under the rig for any abrading, working loose, cracked insulation, or rodent access points—all they need is about ¼ inch to get in.

Quarterly RV Maintenance to protect your RV Investment

As full-timers, we don’t have to worry about winterizing or putting the rig in storage, but there are tasks needing to be done on a quarterly basis.

Things you can do

Deep Clean – If you live in your RV, cleaning is a daily and weekly event. But once a quarter, you will want a thorough interior cleaning. This means you need to inspect all nooks and crannies for the forgotten goldfish cracker or smashed M&M. Be sure to wipe down all ledges and seals for dust.
Wax On – Keep your rig looking shiny and new by waxing the exterior. There are spray versions of waterless wax and buff versions of wax with which we have had success.
Filter Your Water – Clean water is essential for you and your family and your RV’s equipment. While it may not be necessary every month, every 2-3 months, you will need to change your water filters if you have them. For freshwater tanks, you will want to pour a half cup of bleach into the freshwater tank, fill it, let it sit a day, and run it through the lines to clean all the plumbing and tank.
Check Your Roof – Take a closer look at your exterior seals every two or three months, especially roof seals. While on the roof, look for tears or cuts in the membrane or seals pulling apart.
Treat Metals – Apply lubricant to areas where metal rubs on metal like the hitch, leveling jacks, or entry steps to improve function and prevent rust.

May need to seek professional help or service

Weigh Your RV – Do you know the weight of your RV full-loaded? Even if you have been to a scale in the last year, if you are a full-timer, hop on the scales to see if it is time to get rid of stuff in case you are overweight.
Treat Metals – Apply lubricant to areas where metal rubs on metal like the hitch, leveling jacks, or entry steps to improve function and prevent rust.
Stay Cool – Just like your home, it’s recommended to have your heating and cooling systems professionally tuned up at least once a year. Many YouTube videos demonstrate how to clean your AC coils properly.
Service Brakes – While you should always watch for any wear on your trailer’s brakes, schedule a service appoint yearly to get brakes looked at by a professional and lube any zerks.
Inspect Your Propane Tank(s) – It’s also wise to have a qualified propane service representative inspect your tank and test for leaks annually. In addition, regular spot checks for connection integrity, dings, paint damage, and rust are a good idea.

Your RV is worth the investment

Whether you are a weekend warrior or a full-timer, your RV is worth the investment for all the priceless memories you will share. So do your maintenance tips and clean your rig with pride. And get Rock Tamers, as it has made our truck look bad a$$ not to mention cut down on the hours of cleaning the front of the RV? Protecting your RV investment is well worth the cost, time, and effort, leading you down many roads and many BRIGHT DAIS AHEAD!

We want to hear from you!

Let us know some of your thoughts, questions or upgrades you have made or if you own Rock Tamers.

Bright Dais Ahead

Live. Life. Differently.