I’m so excited! The weather has finally warmed up, the sun shines almost every day, the cherry blossoms are brilliant, the lawn needs mowing (the photos below are from my yard). It’s spring and that means it’s time to go camping!
My front door.
My first 2019 camping trip is planned. I’ll be heading out in just a week or so and will report everything to you when I return.
Barberry bush in the front yard.
I can’t hardly wait to go … just to be heading out on the highway, looking for adventure, and whatever comes my way, yah gotta go and make it happen … er, wait a minute, that sounds just like that old Steppenwolf song doesn’t it, Born to be Wild. Well, I’m not wild, and that tune isn’t necessarily one of my favorites (tho I sure remember it from my smokin’ college days), but I do like my own sort of adventure and I like heading up the highway, even though I’m just calmly cruising along in the right-hand lane, tapping my fingers on the steering wheel to the rhythm of the tunes that are my favorites. 🙂
Ferns, Iris, Lilies, Pansies, etc.
Happy Pansies!
I’ve forgotten what this is … help me out.
I want to go camping right now, this very moment, but I can’t go until the rig is ready … until the maintenance on the trailer is complete. So I brought the trailer to the house a couple of days ago and started in on the full list of chores. Here’s what I’ve completed:
- Check and adjust brake clearance at each of the four wheels.
- Check axle bearing lube/grease.
- Check and top off tire air pressure.
- Check wheel lug nut torque.
- Check all exterior lights (brake lights, turn signals, etc), and all interior lights.
- Defrost freezer.
- Fill the one propane tank that was partially used last autumn (the other tank is still full).
- Empty grey water tank (black water tank was emptied last fall at the end of my last trip).
- Check heater and A/C operation. Check operation of frig/freezer on AC (shore power) and on DC (battery power) and on propane.
- Check underneath the trailer for leaks or damage (though I did that last fall too before winter lay-up).
- Check battery electrolyte levels and state of charge.
- Unplug trailer from shore power and then check charging from the roof solar system.
Elephant Ear Hosta.
That was today’s work. Tomorrow, I get to:
- Flush RV antifreeze out of the fresh water tank and all water lines, add bleach/water mixture to tank, flush, then fill tank, clean the water pump filter, install the zinc in the water heater, fill and check the water heater.
- Wash the entire outside of the trailer then wax the front exterior wall of the trailer.
- Apply lubricant (using a rag) to all of the window seals, and then spray the lubricant into the door lock/latch and hinges. Lubricate the corner jacks and the step under the door.
- Clean the inside of the trailer.
- Stock the trailer for camping.
A few potted plants just off my back deck.
The Dwarf Bamboo is very healthy this year.
While checking the trailer lights, I noticed that the truck’s right rear taillight was burned out, so I replaced that bulb, and checked the rest of the truck’s lights … all A-OK. Figuring out how to remove that right rear taillight lens was interesting … two screws were obvious, but the next/final step was not obvious. With some very careful, judicious tugging and twisting, I finally figured out the proper angle and effort needed to pop that red lens off of two absolutely, completely hidden nubs … part experience, part trial and error, part magic. Since the package with the new taillight bulb had two bulbs in it, I decided to replace the left rear taillight bulb as well … that way they are both brand new.
So what else should I be doing for annual RV trailer maintenance? You folks who have or used to have RVs may have a checklist or even just ideas of what you do each spring. What should I add to my list? I’ve got several days yet before I leave so any advice will be greatly appreciated and any suggested chores from you will get done asap.
My neighbor’s Japanese Maple … and a ??? in my yard.
A closeup of the plant growing on the fence above. What is this?
Happy spring everyone … let’s go camping!