Boat Insurance Mechanical Breakdown
Be prepared for temporary repairs on the RV road
Keep on Rollin '
Be prepared for temporary repairs on the RV Road
No one wants a smaller allocation RV to stop them cold in their tracks. It's frustrating to hear the clock Vacation out of scale because an injury "just" creates a long delay. But he does not have to happen. Chances are a temporary repair can get you on the road again, without disrupting their plans. Just a few preparations and precautions can help correct many types of minor damage that may otherwise ruin your trip. Sound too complicated? Do not know which items to take to repair, as do the simple on-site repairs, what to expect assistance in road and how to keep your RV going until you can get it repaired properly at home.
Just about any RV owner can easily make temporary repairs, depending on how handy you are and the nature of the repair. But if you do not feel comfortable trying to repair a minor, you can tell with a RV mobile service that will come to your location to replace the broken windshield or make other small repairs.
Convenient Things to Carry
In order to make temporary repairs, take these items with you on every trip: jumper cables, flashlight, battery trickle charger, flags, adjustable screwdriver, various types of screwdrivers, hammer, pliers, knife and duct tape to repair the quick fix. Take some spare parts, especially for long trips. Include some spare belts, hoses, fuses and headlights. Even if you check these items before leaving, they can break at any time during the trip. Bring along a variety of screws, staples, nails, rivets and other fasteners. Also bring your RV common fluids used, for example, oil, transmission fluid and antifreeze.
Make a monkey, solid and stable the number of a tire-changing equipment, then add an easel and wheel blocks. A hydraulic jack is easier to use than the kind that is usually supplied with RVs. Or, one can also take leveling be used. larger equipment should take a 3/4-inch breaker bar with a socket that fits your vehicle lug nuts or lug bolts. You can get great leverage when you use the breaker bar to loosen or tighten nuts or bolts.
When you change a tire, make sure you are well off the road and on a surface flat. Set up some flares or reflectors triangular if it is dark, then lock the rear wheels before you start. Place a stand under the RV in case the connector gives way. Once your RV is raised, do not get underneath it. Use flat tire spray only as a last resort. Can only temporarily fix your tire and can cause the tire difficult or impossible to repair mid-afternoon.
You will also need two, easily accessible, 5BC, Extinguisher 2 1 / 2 pounds fire. Check them out before leaving to make sure they are charged and usable. So get comfortable with their operation before his trip. If an engine fire occurs, too late to learn to use the extinguisher. Another important piece of equipment is an air compressor. It takes up little space and allows you to temporarily repair a leak tire slow. An air compressor only costs about $ 25, and you can also use it to inflate rafts, toys and other items, without making a special trip for the season service.
Shop big, strong garbage bags and cloth a slight drop of polyethylene painter in his van, along with a lot of tape. Say a sudden windstorm damage your RV roof. You can use the trash bags, plastic or cloth and duct tape to keep the water leaking out from inside of your equipment. You can also reduce water damage by placing vent caps, as soon as possible. The idea is to keep water out of your RV to prevent they hit the walls or damage the carpet and padding.
An Ounce of Prevention
Experienced RVers know the value of preparation emergency or temporary repairs, and also take precautions to avoid damage to the road. For example, plan to make a stop every few hours to cool the brakes of your equipment and tires. At the same time, look in your motor home for leaking oil, transmission fluid or antifreeze. Inspect your system and couplers travel trailer suspension. Look at the tires, then put your hand along with the tires to see if they are hotter than they should. Be careful not to put your hands on a hot tire. That can hurt! This is also a good time to check the radiator hose to crack, but be careful – it's hot inside.
If your RV is overloaded, it can overheat under certain driving conditions. Overheating can occur in very hot weather or when climbing a grade. When the temperature gauge rises, turn off air conditioners and switch to a lower gear if the minimum speed limit allows. You can also help lower the temperature, if you pull off the road, put the gearshift in park, set the parking brake, leave the engine, lift the hood and rev up the engine a little to get air through the radiator.
Also, consider adding a transmission cooler before the trip to help keep your transmission from overheating.
In Case of Accident
Every RVer needs a pencil and a pad of paper that lists what to do immediately after an accident. The pencil is the best since the ink of a pen dries more time and a regular pencil can break or wear out easily. Keep pencil and paper in a plastic bag inside the glove box all the time.
List critical information about your insurance company, as the policy number and telephone number, and whom to contact in case of emergency. Write these questions in your notebook: How can I contact the police department? Who is the insurer of the other driver and what is your number Policy? What is the number of the other driver's registration, full name, address and phone number? The notebook and a disposable 35 mm camera help to clarify the facts about the damage of a collision.
After an accident, body parts, RV insurance if they are loose and keep all the pieces fall. Never throw them away, because many parts are difficult to replace. This is especially true for siding fiberglass and fiberglass with front and rear lids. Many pieces of fiberglass RV take six weeks or more to get. And sometimes they are not available to everyone. If you look at the NADA RV book, you see that some manufacturers went out of business and parts of glass fiber can not be readily available for these units.
Never leave an installation Repair throw away pieces of fiberglass front cap or other areas in a motor home. Fiberglass is easier to repair than replace. When is replaced, the factory seals may be disturbed. Just as a boat hull, the repaired section will be the strongest area of the cover after its completion.
When small parts end up on the sidewalk after an accident, pick them up and put them in a plastic container covered with grease and dirt so no will stay on your carpet. Ideally, your repair will be better and faster when you are able to save or protect all the good parts. It's a good idea to bring extra plastic containers or empty coffee cans. Not only will they come in handy if you're in an accident, but you can also store small pieces or tools themselves, however.
Avoid Rip-Offs
After an accident, call the police first, then your insurer. Do not commit for major repairs, unless you first check with your insurance company. The insurance regulator sites can help you find the right type of repair service in a hurry. Be aware that the main source of RV repair rip-offs is the road filling station / garage, which depends on transient business. Many operators are completely honest, but some RVers rogue trapped in a crisis.
Finally, remember that there is no substitute for preventative maintenance. Before your next trip take your RV for service to make sure all the mechanical aspects and systems are in good shape. And always be prepared for temporary repairs – just in case.
About the Author
The author, Bill Pinchak, is an RV Claims Consultant with the Foremost Insurance Group. Recreational vehicle insurance is a Foremost specialty. The article may be found on Gilbert RV Insurance.
