Brad Thompson
full-time RVer and developer of RVKeeper
Brad Thompson is a full-time RVer of six years and the founder of Openroad Apps LLC. He built RVKeeper out of personal necessity: keeping an older rig alive on the road means staying on top of maintenance, and there was no app that built a plan around what he actually owned rather than handing him a generic checklist. Brad does all his own maintenance and repairs, and the content on this site draws from the same sources he relies on: manufacturer documentation, industry best practices, and six years of lived experience keeping a rig road-ready. He travels primarily throughout the Pacific Northwest, where heavy rains, windstorms, and coastal salt air give him more than enough reasons to stay current on maintenance.
You can reach out to Brad at brad.thompson@openroadapps.com.
Articles from Brad Thompson
14 min readThe RV Inspection Checklist: A System-by-System Guide for Seasonal, Pre-Storage, and Post-Storage Checks
13 min readRV Generator Maintenance: Run Hours, Oil Changes, and Keeping Your Power Reliable
16 min readEssential RV Tools: What to Keep on Board for Maintenance and Repairs
Every RV tool list starts the same way: screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, a multimeter. That advice isn't wrong, but it's incomplete, because the tools you actually need depend on what's in your rig. Here's the universal base kit, the component-specific tools, and what you can leave behind.
16 min readRV Water Heater Maintenance: Anode Rods, Flushing, and Keeping Your System Running
The maintenance your water heater needs depends entirely on which brand and type you own. Do the wrong procedure on the wrong unit and you can cause more damage than skipping maintenance altogether. Here's what Suburban, Atwood/Dometic, and tankless units each actually need.
32 min readThe Complete RV Checklist: Pre-Trip, On-Site, and Post-Trip
The pre-departure step that got skipped. The roof seal that wasn't checked before the rain. The slide that wasn't secured before driving. This is the complete RV checklist organized by scenario, so you use the section you need when you need it.
18 min readRV Refrigerator Troubleshooting: When It's Not Cooling Right
Few things ruin a trip faster than opening the fridge on day two and finding everything warm. Here's a symptom-first guide to diagnosing what's actually wrong with your RV refrigerator, covering what you can fix yourself and when to call a tech.
20 min readRV Electrical Problems: A System-by-System Troubleshooting Guide
Your RV has two completely separate electrical systems. When something fails, knowing which one is affected changes everything about how you diagnose it and what it takes to fix it.
15 min readRV Air Conditioner Troubleshooting: When It's Not Cooling Right
Your RV air conditioner is the difference between a comfortable summer trip and a miserable one. When it stops working, you need to figure out what's wrong fast. Here's how.
17 min readHow to Winterize an RV: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide
Every spring, mechanics see the same story: opened up the rig, turned on the pump, heard water running where it shouldn't. Here's how to make sure that's not you.
18 min readThe RV Spring Shakedown Trip Checklist: What to Test After Dewinterizing
You dewinterized the rig in your driveway. That's not the same as knowing it's ready. Here's how a short shakedown trip before your first real trip of the season protects your investment and catches the problems that driveway tests always miss.
22 min readThe Used RV Owner's First Year: Safety Checks Every New Owner Should Do Immediately
Buying used means inheriting unknown history. Before your first overnight, there are safety checks that aren't optional. Here's the honest guide to making sure your rig is safe before you ever sleep in it.
19 min readThe New RV Owner's First Year: Shakedown, Warranty, and Maintenance
Most of what new RV owners need to know about their first year, nobody tells them. Here's the honest version: shakedown reality, dealer wait times, warranty deadlines, and the maintenance that starts on day one.
17 min readThe RV Maintenance Checklist That Could Save You Thousands
Most RV owners don't know what needs attention until something breaks. This guide covers the maintenance areas that cause the most expensive damage when ignored, so you can get ahead of the repairs that actually matter.
7 min readHow to Inspect Your RV Roof: A Seasonal Checklist
RV roofs fail silently until they don't. Here's how to inspect yours, what to look for, and when to reseal. The kind of small ritual that prevents the biggest repair bill an RV owner can face.