PRVCA Explore Magazine PRVCA Explore PA 2019 | Page 18

Do It Yourself
RV Repair?
Alas, this discussion is not about
the types of RV service, but about
whether or not you should even
attempt some of the maintenance
items yourself.
Can we as owners control our own
RV repair destiny? Is that possible
or feasible, or should we simply
leave all types of service up to
the professionals? I, for one, have
always been in favor of owner
involvement in the technical arena
concerning motorhomes “to a
certain extent.” I’ve devoted a
large chunk of my time over the last
50 years educating the RV owner
specifically in some of these areas.
But you did notice I had a quasi-
disclaimer tacked onto the end
of that earlier sentence. Unless
properly trained and prepared, I do
believe RV owners should simply
not attempt to make repairs or
perform service on any RV, product
or component. This is especially
true during any factory warranty
period of a new RV. All repairs
should be performed by certified
technicians only during this time.
In some cases, warranties may
even be voided or manufacturer li-
ability lessened if unauthorized re-
pairs are performed (In the context
of this article it is assumed your RV
is not under a warranty situation).
But some maintenance items,
though mandated by the product
manufacturer, may not be covered
by new or extended warranties.
Some items are simply destined to
be the sole responsibility of the RV
owner. Maintenance items are usu-
ally never covered under a warran-
ty. In such cases, and in instances
of out of warranty RVs, certain
owners will actually enjoy delving
into the technical aspects of their
coaches. The key is knowing when
to actively participate and when
to simply make an appointment at
the local service facility.
18 | EXPLORE Pennsylvania 2019
Are you qualified?
So just who among us should even con-
sider performing maintenance tasks and
minor servicing on our rigs? An informal
survey taken at one of my recent owner
maintenance seminars revealed that the
RV owner who actively performs routine
service typically:
• is mechanically inclined, or has past
experiences in the trades.
• has an impressive assortment of hand
tools and testers.
• has a keen interest in the technology
of the RV.
• travels and camps in remote areas,
far from regular RV service centers and
has no choice but to learn to become
somewhat of an RV service tech.
• has as much or more of a technical
aptitude than the average professional.
• is now, or has been a full-time RVer.
If you recognize yourself in these listed
characteristics or are wondering whether
or not you should even attempt a mainte-
nance task, here are a few considerations
for you to ponder. Keep in mind, however,
this list is not all-inclusive and all items
may not apply evenly across the board.
These are just a few thoughts to explore.
Review your own mechanical/technical
aptitude
The important thing here is to realize
your limitations. As you ponder a task,
ask yourself, can I physically perform the
steps necessary to do this? Many items in,
under, on and around RVs require physical
dexterity. Physical limitations may prohibit
some of us from performing certain main-
tenance items. Sort of like when the brain
says “yes,” but the ole ‘bod says “no way!
Realize and admit it when the subject
at hand is truly over your head. There is
no need to be a hero. You definitely do
not want to risk converting a simple
maintenance task into a costly crisis
repair! Cha-ching! It will cost substantially
more to undo an error than to simply make
an appointment with a service center if the
subject is beyond your scope.
You aren’t expected to know absolutely
everything about your RV, but you should
be able to honestly recognize the point at
which you do not understand something.
This maxim is true even with professional
service technicians as well. Foolish is the
RVer who trusts his coach to a service shop
that proclaims its technicians know all there
is to know about recreational vehicles.