Whether you’re spending the last stretch of 2023 in a sunny campground or in a winter wonderland, December is a time for happiness and cheer. That can mean different things to different people, and for you, it may prompt you to start thinking about your 2024 trip plans and projects. RV chassis maintenance is often overlooked, so Steve Froese’s Tech Topic article dives into a few things to consider. And while you’re at it, check out these products and sites to keep your brain busy and avoid cabin fever.

Safe travels, and happy holidays!

The FMCA Team

By Steve Froese, F276276

I often emphasize the importance of RV maintenance. Most of my columns in Family RVing magazine have focused on “house” systems, with topics such as seal maintenance and propane system upkeep. Here, I will provide some insight into chassis maintenance. It’s as important as taking care of other systems and is sometimes overlooked by RV owners. You won’t get very far in your RV if you don’t maintain it.

Let’s start with towable units, including travel trailers and fifth-wheels. Among the most important tasks when it comes to towable RV chassis maintenance are annual brake inspections and bearing repacks. While some modern trailers have self-adjusting brakes, this historically has not been the case. Some owners neglect the critical task of repacking bearings and adjusting the brakes. Bearing repacking is a messy but fundamentally important job. Neglecting this for too long can result in damaged bearings, usually from a lack of fresh grease, causing them to fail.

Damaged wheel bearings may result in a failure at the hub, which happens while driving. This can result in an accident, potentially causing vehicle damage, injury, or even death. It is outside the scope of this article to discuss how to perform a bearing inspection and repack, but if you are not comfortable doing this, please take your trailer to a qualified RV or axle shop annually to have this done. Since the wheels are removed for this procedure, a brake inspection and adjustment should be performed at the same time. In addition to checking the brake hardware, this also is a good time to check the brake shoes for wear and to adjust the brakes, drum, armature, and magnet. I rate bearing repack and brake adjustment as a 3.5 out of 5 in terms of difficulty, so many RV owners opt to have this professionally done at a dealership or axle shop. Do not neglect this important annual procedure.

Camping off the grid can be a great way to escape busy campgrounds and connect with nature, but the concept may be intimidating for those looking to start. Luckily, it doesn’t require thousands of dollars of fancy solar technology or high-end batteries. Jason and Abby from RV Miles show that you can boondock with the RV you currently have. Lots of commonly asked questions about boondocking are addressed in their video, such as safety and legality concerns, how to source electricity, and ways to conserve water. Check out the video here.

A discussion of new products on the market to enhance your RV lifestyle.

The Overlander Solar Kit allows you to enjoy the peace and quiet of your surroundings without a generator and to avoid worrying about draining the RV batteries while off the grid. The Go Power Overlander is a single 12-volt solar charging kit with 200 watts and 9.6 amps of power charging capability. This battery charger is great for maintaining the charge in all types of batteries and is ideal for extended RVing or dry camping. The Overlander kit includes a 200-watt solar module, a 30-amp single-bank Bluetooth PWM solar controller, 25 feet of red solar output cable, 25 feet of black solar output cable, and mounting hardware. Price is $755.

gopowersolar.com

If you’re having trouble parking your towable in a tight spot, consider Parkit360’s motorized Force Trailer Dolly. The Force 10K has a maximum weight capacity of 10,000 pounds and a tongue weight of 900 pounds. Its Intelligent Speed Control operates on high or low, and the smart brake controls the trailer’s electric or surge brakes via a 7-way power plug. The dolly is compact enough to fit in the trunk of a small sedan. Each package comes with the standard 20-inch ball-mount adapter and 2-inch and 2 5/16-inch hitch balls. Even if you’re on grass or gravel, the 6.5-inch-wide tires provide plenty of traction on varied terrain and on a maximum grade of 6 percent. Price is $2,400.

parkit360.com

FMCA's picks for tips you need now.

If you’re looking at purchasing a flat-towing brake system, knowing how to install it is half the battle. This post on Blue Ox’s blog provides a step-by-step guide on how to install the Patriot Brake — a versatile flat-tow brake system for full-size SUVs, pickups, compact cars, hybrids, or multiple vehicles with different floor plan configurations. The guide covers how to set up the towed vehicle and motorhome, how to operate the locking brake claw, installing the breakaway system, and connecting the breakaway switch to the Patriot Brake.

As you travel across the United States, you’re bound to be impacted by various road and weather conditions. Safe Travel USA is a website that directs you to each state’s real-time traffic alerts, weather conditions and hazards, construction alerts, and more. When you click on a state, you’ll be redirected to that state’s respective 511 site or to a commercial webpage displaying traffic information. Safe Travel USA focuses on all major roads and highways, so you can utilize this site to help plan your trips or if you need to make a detour.

December is a great time of year to take a look at your RV’s running gear. Winterization is a key part of preserving its components and systems, and that starts with a thorough check. MORryde recently published a blog post about what to inspect and what to look for while winterizing. The post also suggests various upgrades you might want to consider. Some of these include wheel bearing and disc brake upgrades, or even a heavy-duty shackle.

Unexpected repairs can add up. First-time and seasoned buyers alike often believe that the factory warranty will cover everything on their new RV. The reality: A laundry list of things can — and do — go wrong with an RV that may not be covered by a factory warranty. And if you are purchasing a used RV, they generally won’t have any factory warranty coverage at all. 

To combat this, FMCA members are able to purchase a DriveQuest vehicle service contract. It not only offers mechanical coverage but also includes 24/7 emergency roadside assistance, RV technical assistance, trip interruption, towing and winch-out service, concierge service, substitute transportation reimbursement, mobile mechanic service calls, and road hazard tire protection. Repairs can be completed at any licensed repair facility, and coverage is renewable and transferable to new owners. To learn more, visit fmca.com/drivequest.