RV Maintenance for Canadian Camping

Roof Maintenance: The Most Important Annual Task

Water infiltration through a failed roof seal is the single most common cause of major RV damage. A small crack in lap sealant around a vent or skylight can allow hundreds of litres of water into your walls and subfloor over a single wet season, causing structural damage, rot, and mold that can total an RV. Inspect your roof at minimum twice per year — spring and fall — and after any significant weather event.

Most RVs have an EPDM rubber or TPO thermoplastic membrane roof. Check the membrane for bubbles, punctures, and UV degradation (the surface should be uniformly grey/white, not chalky or discoloured in patches). All lap sealant — the butyl or Dicor sealant around every roof penetration, seam, and edge — should be continuous, fully adhered, and free of cracks. If you see any separation, reapply immediately with Dicor Self-Leveling Lap Sealant (for horizontal/roof surfaces) or Dicor Non-Sag (for vertical surfaces).

Slide-Out Maintenance

Slide-outs are one of the most mechanically complex and failure-prone features of modern RVs. Regular maintenance is essential:

• Clean the slide seals/wiper seals with a rubber conditioner (like 303 Aerospace Protectant or slide-out seal conditioner) every month or two during camping season
• Inspect the slide room floor seal and wall seals for tears, warping, or gaps that could allow water infiltration
• Lubricate the slide rails or rack-and-pinion mechanisms according to your manufacturer's specification (some require dry lubricant, some grease — wrong product can cause damage)
• Check the slide topper (awning over the slide) for tears and debris accumulation — a water-laden topper can apply enough weight to damage the slide mechanism
• Test slide operation on level ground — unusual sounds, hesitation, or uneven movement indicate a problem to address before it becomes a failure

Battery Care

House batteries in RVs come in two primary types: flooded lead-acid (FLA/AGM) and lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4). Maintenance differs significantly between them.

Lead-acid batteries: Check water levels every 3–4 weeks during heavy use — add distilled water (never tap water) to maintain plates covered by approximately 3mm of water. Keep terminals clean and free of corrosion (baking soda and water neutralizes acid corrosion; rinse and dry thoroughly). Store above 50% charge — lead-acid batteries damaged by deep discharge will never fully recover. In Canadian winters, bring batteries inside if storing below -10°C — a fully discharged lead-acid battery can freeze and crack at surprisingly mild temperatures.

Lithium batteries: Essentially maintenance-free — no water checks, broader temperature tolerance, and better cycle life. Keep terminals clean. Do not charge below 0°C if your battery management system (BMS) doesn't include low-temperature cut-off. Most quality lithium batteries have integrated BMS that handles this automatically.

Tires: The Most Dangerous Failure Point

RV tire failures — blowouts, sidewall delamination — cause serious accidents and thousands of dollars in damage each year. RV tires age out faster than car tires due to UV exposure, long periods of stationary storage, and heavy loads. Follow these practices:

• Check cold tire pressure before every travel day — RV tires require specific inflation based on load, listed on the tire sidewall and in your RV's weight documentation
• Inspect all tires for sidewall cracking, tread wear, and bulges before every season and before any long trip
• Replace RV tires at 5–7 years regardless of remaining tread — UV and ozone cause internal structure degradation that isn't visible from the outside
• Use tire covers when parked for extended periods to protect sidewalls from UV
• Carry a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) — loss of pressure is a precursor to blowout and TPMS gives you warning before failure
• Never exceed the tire's maximum load rating — know your RV's weight and distribute load properly

Generator Maintenance

RV generators are internal combustion engines that require the same service discipline as any engine. Key intervals:

• Oil change: Every 150 hours of runtime under load or annually, whichever comes first — idling with no appliances running does not meaningfully accumulate load hours and can gum carburetors or injectors; run with AC, microwave, or multiple outlets active
• Spark plugs: Every 300–500 hours
• Air filter: Inspect annually, replace when dirty
• Exercise regularly: Run the generator under at least 50% load for 2 hours every 30 days during storage to keep fuel fresh and seals lubricated
• Fuel stabilizer: Add to the generator fuel system before any storage period over 30 days

Mold Prevention in Canadian Climates

Coastal BC, Atlantic Canada, and Ontario cottage country all present high-humidity environments that accelerate mold growth in RVs. Key prevention strategies:

• Run roof vent fans during all cooking, showering, and on rainy days — create a cross-flow by opening one window and exhausting through a vent fan
• Use a portable dehumidifier during storage or in high-humidity camping situations
• Place desiccant packs (DampRid or similar) throughout the RV during storage
• Seal any window, door, or roof penetration water leaks immediately — mold follows water
• Leave overhead cabinet doors open during storage to allow air circulation
• If mold appears: clean with a diluted tea tree oil solution or commercial RV mold treatment — never paint over mold, which will reappear through paint