RV Seasonal Maintenance - Wax, Caulk and More

#ilovervlife #rvmaintenance #waxrv There are several forms of maintenance that should be considered for your RV. There are tasks that should be considered yearly as well as RV seasonal maintenance. I place tasks in RV seasonal maintenance that should occur in 2 to 3 year increments. This time period isn’t exact and depends on the environment and how an RV is stored. For those that live in harsh climates with no storage option, these tasks may need to be performed sooner, in milder climates and covered storage option, a more extended timeframe.
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[@gonecoastaljk6913]

I also use the flagship wax but that goes back to when I had boats and it is pretty good. I have recently switched to a product that blocks out the uv rays. The chalk you are seeing is oxidation and your coach looks great but if you want that extra pop get some 3m oxidation remover and use the wool pad and you will be blown away by how much ox come off and then the shine really starts to come out! Same pad at about 1500rpm or 3 on most machines! Good day sir!

[@iLoveRVlife]

Thanks a bunch. Wanted to cut it first, but time was an issue. Fortunately, oxidation was minimal and the I got a decent shine. Next time though...

[@thomasm.7058]

Thanks Jerry, you and Joan are great and it's always a pleasure to watch your really friendly and well made videos...

[@iLoveRVlife]

Thanks. Always glad to share.

[@CCaudits]

Good morning, Jerry. I bet doing all that waxing did suck especially in the heat. I personally think you did the right thing too by changing out that tire and preventing a catastrophe down the road. I love watching your videos and can't wait until you post the next one. Hope you have a great day and tell Joan hi. :)

[@iLoveRVlife]

Thanks a bunch Ty. Cool mornings were my friend on this one. Even on the shady side, we are getting into the GA heat and humidity season. Wasn’t going to risk the tire. Safety first for road travel, plus with a 110 lbs of tire pressure, it wouldn’t have been pretty if it blew on the road. Joan sends a wave.

[@capnkids]

I can't thank you enough for the work you put into your first class videos. They inspire confidence to do the job myself. I know my rig is in better condition because of your coaching. Thank you very much.

[@iLoveRVlife]

Thanks so much. Great to hear you’re enjoying the channel.

[@PapaRomeo068]

Thanks Jerry for another great maintenance video! Wow how that wax really brings back the colors! Question for you.... have you or could you do a video of a/c unit maintenance? Would really like to see your steps of cleaning the coils. Anyways, thanks again! Happy camping from MN!

[@iLoveRVlife]

Thanks Pat. I’ll be glad to add an AC video for the near future.

[@toddsoutsideagain]

Another good video Jerry! We are finally back on the road in Colorado! The first trip of year was a long one 14 hr drive. This video was actually what I was sitting here thinking of as we prepare to head back to Illinois today! 👍👍

[@iLoveRVlife]

Thanks. 14 hours. That’s a bruiser. Safe travels.

[@brichter4669]

I really enjoy watching your videos, especially your maintenance videos. You seem to research products well before using them and are satisfied with the results. I trust your knowledge and expertise about doing various maintenance functions of an RV. One maintenance function I've not seen is how to maintain slide seals. If you do that type of maintenance, would you do a video for that? Thank you so much and safe travels to Joan and you during your upcoming trip.

[@iLoveRVlife]

Thanks so much. I shared a number of tips a while back with slide out seal protection as one. See if this video helps kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKKyppiMbNKMl6s

[@danmeade2950]

Next time you wax, try that new ceramic spray on wax. I did mine a few weeks ago. Spray it on a wet surface, rub it in, and rinse it off with a hose.

[@sohappytosew1082]

What is the product you're referring to?

[@danmeade2950]

@@sohappytosew1082 Turtle Wax Ice Seal n Shine. Did a fantastic job and took me way less time!

[@iLoveRVlife]

I’ve seen the F11 and others on cars. Haven’t seen any used on an RV. Wondered how it worked.

[@sohappytosew1082]

@@danmeade2950 , thanks! I have a 30' Lazy Daze, and the thought of waxing it is about as enticing as getting a tetanus shot.

[@toddspencer5926]

Fantastic information Jerry! You're informative videos are more than just information, there a wealth of knowledge and information to help all us out here in this RV community! We love y'all, Blessings to you and your family Jerry and Joan!

[@iLoveRVlife]

Thanks a bunch. Always glad to share.

[@johnsinoracki7618]

Boy! That’s making a big difference. Looks good my friend. Good to see you again. I’m camping now as we speak. You and Joan have a great one.

[@iLoveRVlife]

Thanks John. It’s nice and shiny here at the beach.

[@colleenherr4268]

Just finished buffing and waxing my 35' fifth wheel. YES it is a lot of work, but it sure looks nice when done. I used Griot's products. Perfecting cream buffing compound and Best of show past wax.

[@iLoveRVlife]

I bet it looks great. Nothing like a fresh wax.

[@mikeg1593]

Good video Jerry. I just finished the front cap on our OUTDOORS RV Mountain Series 32’. I used Meguiar’s “Mirror Glaze” and got great results then finished with a coat of F11. Hopping it would mitigate bug juice removal. We have a short trip planed to Coeur d’ Alene next week. We’ll see how it goes. Safe Travels.

[@iLoveRVlife]

Thanks Mike. Sounds like a good plan. Big fan of Meguiar’s products.

[@Chrisa197088]

I love your attention to detail Jerry, safe travels.

[@iLoveRVlife]

Thanks a bunch Chris.

[@mssixty3426]

Great information, as always, thank you! I'll be replacing my rv tires soon, I like to hear what brand/type of tire others have switched to. I also appreciate learning about how you circumvented tire failure by checking carefully how much damage that rock did. Cheers!

[@iLoveRVlife]

Thanks! We’ve had a couple brands. These Goodyear tires have served us well. Others have shared Michelin’s are very good. Both are a little pricey, but worth it for safety on the road.

[@mssixty3426]

@@iLoveRVlife Many thanks!😊

[@IndianaFr0g]

Hey Jerry, thanks for the video. I'll be doing mine this spring. Wondering why you didnt use an orbital buffer?

[@iLoveRVlife]

I should have. This was all I had working. The orbital does give a much better finish.

[@4everlandrv988]

Always enjoy watching you, especially your maintenance videos. I learn so much. Thank you! Chief

[@iLoveRVlife]

Thanks a bunch. We'll have some more of these later this summer.

[@MissyAnn1992]

Thanks for the great tips Jerry. I've been debating on which caulk to use and you answered that question.

[@iLoveRVlife]

That super Carol. Glad I could help.

[@pigybak]

i keep a set of knee pads on board just for tire maintenance/repairs.

[@iLoveRVlife]

Good tip. I had some somewhere. Ended up using the trusty shop rag 😏

[@timmurr1672]

Your RV looks great. I use your videos a lot to help me with my Motor Home. Thanks

[@iLoveRVlife]

Thanks Tim. Great to hear you’re finding our RV tips helpful.

[@rebeccadufrene4225]

Awesome as usual. Thanks for the maintenance list.

[@iLoveRVlife]

Thanks

[@mattisaac2217]

Really good tire upgrade Jerry Goodyear's are American made no China bomb's my tt has 14" going to upgrade to 15" and goodyear endurance tire little expensive but peace of mind is worth every penny

[@iLoveRVlife]

Absolutely on the peace of mind Matt. Haven’t worried about a China bomb exploding under the 5th wheel in some time.

[@ourreallifeescape9794]

Awesome video I need to wax my rig. I’m going to try it your way. Thanks

[@iLoveRVlife]

Have fun!

[@ronkolacek9645]

Hey Jerry... some day would like to meet you.....Arizona is our home and we camp all over the west and southwest.....

[@iLoveRVlife]

Hope so too Ron. We’ve had the southwest scheduled 3 times and something caused us to change our plans. C-19 was the latest culprit. We haven’t given up and will try again next year.

[@davidcochran934]

Another great video. Glad I found your channel. On the caulk do you ever remove the old caulk first? A lot of my caulk is old and fairly thick. I am worried if I go and put new right on top that it will look very bumpy and even thicker. Hope that makes sense.

[@iLoveRVlife]

Thanks. I do. Just depends on thickness and overall condition. If it’s dried out with lots of separation or very thick, I’ll carefully remove with a painters tool amzn.to/3Q4t6LV These are dull and helps prevent tearing the roof. If you haven’t removed the lap sealant before, gently run the tool flat along the sides or roof. Don’t dig straight down.

[@kevinsrvtipsandtrips4361]

Great video!

[@iLoveRVlife]

Thanks Kevin.

[@scrub175]

Great channel and videos. I skimmed the comments and didn't see it asked or discussed, did you purchase road hazard insurance from the tire place when you had the tires installed? When we purchased our camper we also purchased road hazard insurance and man it's been a life saver so far. The waxing and finished results were amazing. I just finished the Meguiar's 3 step fiberglass restoration with my old porter cable dual action polishers and it was a two day event.

[@iLoveRVlife]

Thanks a bunch Rick. I didn’t purchase. Know those who do. Just one of those things I’ve not seen the value in. Maybe different in the north where pot holes are abundant. That wax job is a bit of a task, but worth it.

[@JDEALYT]

You need to go to carolina pines in Conway SC

[@iLoveRVlife]

I've heard this is a nice campground. We'll add to the list.

[@darlenevaughan2719]

Thanks, Jerry. Your info helps so much because I trust you and have observed that you will do it right or not do it at all. Being solo, I like recommendations for others I can depend on. Can you share who does your maintenance In Byron? I can tell if you want to just put abbreviations to not advertise since I’m from Macon as well TIA

[@iLoveRVlife]

Thanks so much. I don’t mind sharing. We use Mid State RV in Byron. They have always treated us fairly.

[@hayyarbrough]

Thanks !!

[@iLoveRVlife]

You bet!

[@ajlove6969]

Nice video how long did it take you to buff it?

[@iLoveRVlife]

To long, about a day and a half. My least favorite task.

[@LanceMcCormick]

Nice Job! I despise waxing! haha. I pay a guy!

[@iLoveRVlife]

Would have too, but needed the exercise after being couped up from staying in place since March. It’s a workout for sure!

[@NewBeginningswithBudhiandCyndi]

Jerry we just washed our camper down yesterday and it has been stored out in the elements for the last year and we notice that although we took the pressure washer after it, the white areas look like it has very light mildow spots on the white area, do you know what we can use to clean those. We don't want to bleach out the decals so we only used water. Any recommendations.

[@iLoveRVlife]

An easy fix. I've become a fan of Meguiar's Boat and RV wash. amzn.to/3dAwZF3 Then a little scrubbing with a soft car brush usually does the trick. Something like this amzn.to/2NFXi1L so you can reach the high spots. Some the main issue it to wash small spots and give it a good rinse. Also, these rubber roofs will cause white streaks. Give it a good scrub first, the the camper sides. Hope this helps.

[@bobhewlett3633]

Good content. Converting to LED bulbs?

[@iLoveRVlife]

All the bulbs are LED. In a video a few months ago, I added Haloview side marker cameras and replaced the bulbs to give the cameras a little more power.

[@johnnyyarbrough9716]

Waxing the front cap. Do you use a ladder in the back of your truck or are you working from the ground ?

[@iLoveRVlife]

Hi Johnny. I use a folding adjustable ladder. That way I can straddle and have full motion.

[@rogercasner6950]

where can I find your maintenance list

[@iLoveRVlife]

See the Helpful Links section at the end of the blog www.ilovervlife.com/7-big-rv-travel-mistakes/

[@billdennis2993]

ILRVl thanks for an informative video with great content, like you I tow a 40'TH 5ver and have had great service from my GY G614 commercial grade tires which I monitor with TTS brand TPMS which on my previous 38'TH let me know I had a rapid air loss and gave me enough time to get to the shoulder out of harms way, The tire was still holding some air so never road on rim to sidewall directly and was reuseable saving t$$$ = to the price of TPMS not including what would have been extensive rv repairs had the tread seperated and beat the underside of the slide. The culprate turned out to be the cheap Chinese rubber gromets used to seal the Wall Mart installed metal valve stems failed probably a 50c item almost cost me and my insursnce thousands of $s in repairs or possibly my G'kids and my life if the rig (26k#) went out of control . I intalled my serviceable spare in 110deg heat with G'kids assistance as I'm 67 and we were between towns on 395 with no Onstar or cell service. Drove to Wally World in Gardnerville and had valve stem replaced then on to destination Lake Tahoe to get out of heat. On return trip in Reno had all 5 valve stems replaced with commercial grade (120psi) @ GY commercial truck tire center. FWIW The US has let the Chinese saturate our lives with imitation poor quality goods that comprimise the safety of our love ones and our lives, remember when buying Chinese products the initial low price might have repercussions that may put you and your loved ones at risk. God bless America and Make America Great Again. Happy Camping and stay safe.

[@iLoveRVlife]

Thanks so much Bill. Great to hear you’re enjoying the channel. I’m amazed at tire dealers putting rubber stems in high pressure tires. Just a few cents more for that needed safety factor. Looking at TMS for the 5th wheel. Maybe later this year.

[@billdennis2993]

@@iLoveRVlife just to clarify the valve stems installed by Walmart whre I ordered the LT614s that failed were steel 110psi rated but had rubber bushings/gromets where the steel valve stem passed thru the rim. New ones had threaded nut on outside and clamped washer rubber seal on inside of rim no problems with that type.

[@richardburns8181]

My RV is painted aluminum will the McGuire wax still be a good choice

[@iLoveRVlife]

Richard, it’s formulated for fiberglass and gel coat. I’d try a small corner and test first. Anytime I use a new finish product, I make sure of the results before I hit one of the larger, more visible surfaces.

[@djnottttt]

Im confused, you waxed over the white chalk on the finish? Did you clean the surface first? Did you buff the surface with a compound to clean it up?

[@iLoveRVlife]

Didn’t have to. The oxidation was minimal, plus this wax removes minor oxidation and buff gives a good deep shine. If it was a heavy oxidation I would have cut before the wax, but try not to let the RV get that bad.

[@djnottttt]

My finish is bad. I was told that my gel coat was bad. I buffed it off last year than sealed. its as bad or worse than before. I'm ready to blow it up.

[@garyroman1702]

We purchased a new RV fall of 2019, and had a clear coat put on the exterior. Should I still apply a wax? If so, how often? Thank you

[@iLoveRVlife]

Hi Gary. Depends on your environment. After a year or 2 you'll see the finish starting to dull. That's a good time. You don't want it to get dull, then twice the work cutting the oxidation the a wax.

[@davidkendall6801]

Do you have a tire pressure monitoring system? Have you used Sailun?

[@iLoveRVlife]

I don’t David. Understand why others do. We always do a tire check when we pull over at rest stops or getting fuel. A trucker shared a back of the hand on tires and hubs. If all have the same feel and same height, ok. If something feels hotter, I shoot with a laser temp. Understand this isn’t the same as a TMS, but serves well. Plus, I’m running out of dash real estate for another “thing” 😏

[@davidkendall6801]

@@iLoveRVlife I understand dash real estate. I dislike the clutter. TPMS saved me twice, first time only 40 miles after I installed it. I was driving on Interstate near Peoria explaining to wife how the TPMS works. While I was explaining, the pressure on one tire dropped 1 pound. I immediately suspected a problem. Another mile, it dropped another pound. Consulted Next Exit Book and found truck stop 8 miles away. Changed it myself. Saved my butt and the RV. Tires were great when I left. Deck screw.

[@henryzoch1505]

Hi, I have a question , are you removing the old caulk? or just going over the original caulk. Thanks

[@iLoveRVlife]

Depends. If the chalk is heavy in places, I take the corner of a painters tool and peel out. If it’s very thin, I’ll add a second layer.

[@bradmiller3557]

I super enjoy this channel, it’s one of my favorites. Caulking: I own a structural engineering business and we get into waterproofing issues too. I’m not necessarily disagreeing with skimming over an existing joint, but it’s always best to remove all of the old caulk, clean the caulk’s bonding surfaces, and apply the new caulk. When skimming, the caulk may not be compatible and/or the side bonding surface may be too small to hold well once it’s stressed with movement in various directions. Love the channel and sorry for butting in with my two cents.

[@iLoveRVlife]

Thanks Brad. No problem. Great to hear from the pros.

[@danielevancho2274]

my fifth wheel has 1/2" studs and torque is 100 to 110 ft lbs, 65 seems low

[@TC-tw5zk]

I heard not to wax the decals...what's your thoughts

[@iLoveRVlife]

I do. Helps protect. Unfortunately, decals will start to fade and crack over time regardless of wax or not. I have one that had a high gloss, metallic look and everyone has cracked and discolored.The others are holding up well.

[@TC-tw5zk]

@@iLoveRVlife thankyou...

[@SL-vw9pm]

Yeah don’t wax the graphics, the adhesive 3M uses to stick those graphics to the RVs breaks down when the petroleum distillate’s from the wax works its way through. You can read all about it on the 3M website. But that kind of failure would take a long time so I guess if you’re worried about what they look like 10 years from now , I wouldn’t wax them, but if you want short term shininess .......

[@iLoveRVlife]

Thanks.