Maintenance & prevention
Give it a shakedown before the first big trip
A trailer that sat all winter has surprises waiting: wasp nests in the burner tubes, mouse damage in the belly, a soft seam, a dead battery. An hour of looking before the season beats a breakdown three states from home.
Look where the pests hide
- Check the appliance flues Wasps love the open tubes of the furnace, water heater, fridge, and burner assembly. A clogged flue keeps an appliance from lighting or runs it unsafe. Clear the nests and run each appliance before you depend on it.
- Drop the belly pan if you can On an Airstream the underbelly hides the wiring, plumbing, and tank runs. A look up there catches a chewed wire or a rub-through before it strands you. Check for droppings and gnaw marks anywhere a mouse could have gotten in.
Wake the systems up
- Sanitize the fresh system After winter storage, flush and sanitize the fresh-water tank and lines before you drink from them, and pressure-check for any seal that let go over the cold months.
- Test batteries, brakes, and bearings Confirm the house batteries hold a charge, the trailer brakes engage, and the wheel bearings are greased on schedule. These are the three things that turn a trip into a tow.
Helps to have on board
Product links are Amazon affiliate links, they help fund the trip at no extra cost to you.
Use this tip