Here in Texas we jumped from really cool spring weather to hot 90+ temperatures overnight! While this really kicks camping into high gear there are some things to keep in mind before you travel. Plus, I want to offer a word of caution as it relates to this Hot Weather.

My Floor Child Eva

There are a few things to really be concerned about when the weather turns on a dime like this. First and foremost if you travel with a pet, please get a pet temperature monitoring system. We use the MarCELL unit, and are able to offer a $20.00 discount if you use the code TTN20 at checkout. We feel it has some major advantages to it including the fact that you can pair it with the MarCELL water sensors for extra protection. However the reason we like it is that we don’t need to worry about a power outage if we leave Eva in the Trailer for a short time. Should something happen to our power supply or if the temperature should rise above the setting we entered in our App; we get notified immediately. If you want to read more about our experience with the MarCell unit click here. To visit their web site click here.

Frankly, We don’t care what temperature monitoring system you purchase. However, if you travel with any Pets, please get a system so your pet is protected.

Now there are a few other things you will want to check before you go out on your first trip of the season. Some of these are very easy to do and some are more complicated. There is no shame in having your unit serviced by a reputable RV Repair facility. Never attempt to repair anything on your travel trailer that you feel is outside your abilities. Attempting repairs or even routine maintenance (like roof cleaning) that you are not qualified to do can result in damage not only to your RV but to you as well … or worse. I’m not saying this to scare you, just to protect you. Anyway, enough said about that, now on to some things to check:

Tire Pressures – Low tire pressure (as well as high) can lead to overheating and blow outs. Also, if you have a Tire Pressure monitoring System on your Travel Trailer, the beginning of the season is the best time to replace those batteries. The last thing you want to do is get an alarm for a low battery on your trip. Always visually inspect your tires before any trip.

Smoke Detector Batteries – Change these yearly.

Fire Extinguisher – Check to make sure it is still fully charged. I would recommend having a second one that is larger than what came with your trailer. Also, in the event there is an emergency, have an evacuation plan for the whole family. This would include how to get out of the trailer, and where to meet outside. Make sure everyone knows how to open and exit out of the egress windows etc.

Wheel Bearings – Also, remember wheel bearing maintenance is a yearly requirement. This type of maintenance isn’t extremely difficult but it requires some mechanical ability. It can also be dangerous since it involves lifting the tires off of the ground to do the work. If any of that makes you nervous, you really need to let the professionals do the work.

A/C system – Hopefully you have checked your AC system. There are a number of things that can interfere with your cooling including but not limited to dirty filters or mud daubers building a nest inside the unit. I saw a video on-line a few days ago where an AC unit would not turn on. The issue was due to a birds nest which had been built around the fan on top of the unit.

Water and Electric Systems – Make sure your water system and electrical systems are all working before you leave. Nothing ruins a trip faster than a water leak, or no power inside the travel trailer.

Propane System – Make sure your appliances are in working order with no leaks.

Hitch System – Make sure everything is adjusted to the manufacturers specifications. Every hitch system that I am aware of requires the owner to periodically check those settings.

Now hopefully you have maintained all your seals and the roof so in the even it rains, you will stay nice and dry.

A travel trailer requires regular maintenance. As mentioned above, if you don’t feel it is something you can do; find a reputable dealer that can perform it for you. While it is sometimes hard to find a decent repair facility, it is not impossible.

Also, remember to take your time in route to your destination. Your fellow travelers are counting on you to travel safe and not put them at risk. As a side note, going slower is going to save you some serious money at the gas pumps. In addition, traveling at slower speeds causes much less damage if you have a blow out. Traveling slower also gives you more time to react to any emergency.