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RV Troubleshooting:
W“HEN THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS
Expect the best, plan for the worst, and prepare to be surprised.”
– Denis Waitley
It’s important to have a positive outlook and to welcome surprises when they come. However, as we’ve all learned, nothing is for certain and
we need to be prepared for anything. RVers are folks who are used to being prepared, who are used to being flexible and have a contingency plan. But even the most prepared RVers have incidents that “just happen.”
How we react makes a big difference in how we get through these unplanned, unexpected situations. When things go awry, we don’t need to stew. We can take action and make the best of things.
THERE’S A FLAT TIRE.
This can be one of the worst things to happen, mainly because of the risk of fire and the risk of losing control of the RV
or tow vehicle. Since a flat tire on an RV puts stress on the carriage, it’s important to fix that tire immediately, whether that’s changing the tire roadside or getting a tow to the nearest service provider. An experienced RVer knows where the extra tire is located, how to reach it, and has the tools on hand necessary to make the
switch. If you experience a flat tire, it’s important to react calmly and quickly. Checking the tires for wear and tear routinely, and keeping them properly inflated, will help reduce the risk of a blowout happening on the road.
THE SLIDE-OUTS WON’T WORK.
Sometimes, those slide-outs just don’t co- operate, and that can be very frustrating. You can’t travel with slides that are stuck out, and you can’t enjoy camping with the slides crowding the interior space of the RV. The simple reasons for the slide- outs not working properly are (1) you’re not plugged into shore power and the house batteries aren’t fully charged; (2) the path for the slide-out is obstructed, such as something wedged in the slide- out; or (3) the slide locks haven’t been removed.
Your slide-outs work either mechani- cally or hydraulically. This information is readily available in your owner’s manual.
For mechanical slide-outs, follow these steps to troubleshoot: check for blown
fuses or any disconnects in the wir-
ing; check that the house batteries are completely charged; push the button for the slide-outs and if you hear the motor running but the slide-out doesn’t move, the shear pins may be the culprit. If the RV passes all these tests, then the control board may be faulty, which requires
the assistance of a professional service provider.
For hydraulic slide-outs, check the lines for leaks; check the pressure of the pump; check that the hydraulic valve
is good. Be aware of any noises when trying to extend or retract, which could be an indication of a problem with the hydraulic pump.
Although it varies from RV to RV,
you may be able to manually extend or retract slide-outs. It’s important to do this carefully so as to not strip the gears in the system.
THE BATTERY IS DEAD.
RV batteries are expensive to replace, and sometimes it’s overlooking the simplest
56 • 2022 MICHIGAN RV & CAMPGROUNDS
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