The Keeper’s Notebook

The RV Inspection Checklist: A System-by-System Guide for Seasonal, Pre-Storage, and Post-Storage Checks

RV Generator Maintenance: Run Hours, Oil Changes, and Keeping Your Power Reliable

Your RV generator is maintained on run hours, not calendar time, and the schedule changes depending on whether you have a built-in, portable, gas, propane, or diesel unit. Here is what each type actually needs to keep your power reliable when you need it most.

Essential 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.

RV 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.

The 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.

RV 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.

RV 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.

RV 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.

How 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.

The 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.

The 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.

The 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.

The 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.

How 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.