Before you get your camper ready for your first trip after a long winter, you should know that you can’t just take your fifth wheel straight from storage onto the open road. The storage process can take its toll and you’ll want to ensure your RV is ready for travel long before the first vacation of the season. We’ve created the following guide to getting your fifth wheel ready for spring. If you have any questions or want to explore fifth wheels for sale, head over to Trailer Source. We have three locations in Colorado and proudly serve those in Colorado Springs and Denver.
1. Inspect Your Fifth Wheel’s Exterior Integrity
The first step is to make sure there are not any cracks or holes in your fifth wheel’s exterior. You don’t want to wash your fifth wheel if it’s compromised and end up getting water inside!
Glance over the roof for any cracking seams or worn-away sealant. Look over the sidewalls and corners for any holes. If you notice any structural issues, get them fixed as soon as possible.
2. Wash Your Fifth Wheel
When your fifth wheel sits in storage, it can accumulate a layer of grime. If you leave this gunk on, it’ll be harder to wash later and can even start to damage the RV’s finish. Give your fifth wheel a good wash and get it ready to shine for the first trip of the season.
3. Air Out Your Fifth Wheel
Odds are, the air inside your RV is going to be stale from storage. It won’t be a pleasant smell on your trip, so you will want to get rid of it beforehand. Simply open up all the doors, windows, cabinets, slide-outs, and awnings to let the fresh air flow in. As you open doors, listen for squeaky hinges and get those fixed.
4. Scope the Area for Pests
Sometimes pests will make a fifth wheel into their winter home. After all, the fifth wheel offers some protection and warmth from the elements. Walk around your rig and be sure no animals or insects are lurking inside.
5. Test the Appliances and Lights
Make sure your refrigerator and other appliances are all working without issue. You don’t want to run into a problem during your vacation that you could have solved in advance. Test all the lights as well and replace any burnt out bulbs.
6. Check the Tires
Look over your fifth wheel’s tires. Are they all inflated to the right air pressure? Is there enough tread to grip the road? Are the tires free of any cracks or other damage? When it gets closer to your vacation, you’ll want to inspect your tow vehicle’s tires as well.
7. Tend to the Water System
It’s important to fully drain the freshwater tank and give it a good rinse. Refill the tank with clean water and run the water pump. This will get clean water back into the lines and flush out any antifreeze.
8. Inspect the Fluid Levels
Look over your fifth wheel’s fluid levels, such as the brake fluids, windshield fluids, antifreeze/coolant fluids, and so on. If you notice anything that’s low, top it off now.
We hope you found this guide useful! If your fifth wheel needs professional maintenance, take your RV to the experts at Trailer Source. Our parts replacement and service department can get your rig repaired in no time. We also offer a range of fifth wheels for sale. Whatever you need, you can find with us. You’ll find our dealership throughout Colorado and we welcome all our patrons visiting us from Colorado Springs and Denver.
