DIY RV Repairs: 5 Essential Skills Every RVer Should Have

We have been full-time RVers for over five years.  I have learned way more about RVs and repairs than I ever expected!  You would be surprised at what you need to know even if you only get away for the weekend.  There is a good set of skills that will get you through unexpected events no matter how long you stay.  The most important skills RVers should have are ‘intangible’ skills.  That means these skills don’t necessarily have a physical presence.  Think of concepts like self-confidence, goodwill, and common sense.  Here are some of the basic skills that are essential for every RVer to have.

Online Research Skill

You may be new to RVing.  Did you rent one for your vacation?  Or you may have been RVing for 10+ years.  Even the most experienced RVers will admit they don’t know it all.  There is always something new to learn.  In our five years of RVing, we have fixed many items in our rig and saved thousands of dollars.  We have fixed everything from refrigerators and microwaves to broken frames and bent fenders.  We didn’t have all these skills or did not know how to fix things unique to our rig.  But using our online research skills, we found what we needed.

Another key thing to keep in mind, even if you don’t care to do your repairs, a mobile tech or repair shop may not always be available.  Or, even if they are, the wait time will permanently knock out your vacation time.  Sometimes even the tech or repair shop must do their research – which costs you.  If you ‘roll up your sleeves’ and get the job done yourself, it will not only keep you on the travel track, but the satisfaction is immense.

Anticipate Repairs

You should be familiar enough with your rig (or an RV you are renting) to know what items you regularly have issues with.  If you are new to the rig, research the brand to find out what features tend to be faulty.  It is important to anticipate what things can go awry with your rig.  If you know in advance, you can bring replacement parts.  You can also have the tools on hand to do the repairs.

Finding out you need a part while on the road can be hellish.  It may be hard to get items in demand, it also could take months to order and get them onsite.  (That does not even count installation time).

Can you Do it?

It is wonderful if you are a handy person.  Willing to jump in and fix anything that goes wrong.  It is important that you can acknowledge your limitations.  Starting RV repairs beyond the scope of your skills can be dangerous.  Sometimes, electrical, plumbing, or technology is outside of the basic skills for the everyday person.  Know when you need to call in an expert.  Knowing your skill limitations IS a skill.

Maintenance VS Repairs

You can avoid critical RV repairs by adopting the skill of maintenance.  We all know the saying, ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’.  For full-time RVers, you should have a regular maintenance checklist and perform it faithfully.  If you are not full-time in your rig and do not take it out regularly, you should check your rig before your trip.  Have everything inspected months before your adventure if possible.  This will give you time to make necessary repairs that will not interfere with your getaway.

Prioritizing Repairs

What if you find yourself with an insurmountable number of repairs?  It is time to triage.  Don’t give up on your travels yet.  A good repair skill for an RVer is the ability to rank your RV repair needs.  Some will be minor so schedule dates in your calendar to address those when you return.  These will be repairs that will not prevent you from enjoying your trip. 

Other repair types will be on your DIY repair list you can do while you are on the road.  These repairs require few tools, minor parts, and little teardown or rebuild time.  You also do not need the item immediately, but it may be nice to have it.  You can do these repairs in under an hour.

There are the ‘show-stopper’ repairs.  No one is going anywhere – nor would you enjoy your trip without these repairs.  These might be items like an air conditioner or a working refrigerator.  It depends on what items are critical to your wants and needs for a successful RV travel.

When you take off on that RV road trip, your life, vacation or travel, rig, and maybe even work are all tied up in one experience.  It is important to keep an open mind and be flexible.  Dig deep into your bag of intangibles for your first set of skills.  Then add tangible tools you have researched, stocked, or brought along for the best results.  These essential RV skills will take you a long way.