RV Leak Testing

Regular maintenance is the key to ensuring your RV is going to continue to provide you and your family lots of great experiences and fun camping trips. So catching a maintenance issue while it’s still small and unassuming is going to be a primary focus for you as you’re checking over your rig periodically. One of the most damaging small problems is leaks. Leaks can occur all along the seams of your camper and even in place you would assume were more solid. But finding these leaks can be tricky. 

That’s why Golden Gait Trailers has provided you with some tips on checking for and fixing (basic) leak problems. But we also have an experienced service staff who can help you with more complicated repairs, so stop by our location in Concord, North Carolina, near Charlotte and Raleigh, and let us know how we can help you.

When to Inspect your RV

Inspections should probably become a pretty regular habit for you. Of course, as you’re buying your next RV, you should do your own thorough inspections of every rig you look at, especially if you’re looking at used RVs. Once you’ve chosen an RV--or if you’re looking at an RV you’ve had for quite some time--you’ll want to get in the habit of simply paying attention to your rig so you know when something is clearly not working the way it should. The faster you catch a problem, the less damage it’ll do to the rest of the trailer. 

When it comes to more thorough inspections, where you carefully examine every inch of the rig, you’ll want to perform these at least twice a year, probably once right before you put your RV in storage and once as you take it out again. However, we also recommend doing this before and after extended road trips.

Inspecting your RV

When you’re performing these inspections, you’ll want to make sure they cover your whole RV, especially if we’re talking about the more thorough checks. You’ll want to put your back into it and physically feel some of the more vulnerable parts of the rig, like the seals. Sometimes you won’t spot the leak, but you’ll see what the leak is doing to your RV. Signs of water damage might indicate you’ve got a problem. 

Leak Detectors

Even if you’ve got 20/20 vision and you’re particularly focused, small holes in the seals and leaks in the frame can be difficult to spot. That’s why many owners use a leak detector. It’s a machine designed to help you locate leaks in a way that makes them easier to spot. Basically, the machine pressurizes the interior of the trailer. You’ll need to seal off every opening so no air can escape, and then cover the trailer in a bubble solution. This way, if there is a leak, the solution will start to bubble as the air escapes where the problem area is.

Basic Repairs

If it’s a big leak, then you might just want to contact a professional to talk about more durable solutions. However, if it’s a fairly small leak, you may not want to pay someone else for such a basic repair. For these issues, consult your owner’s manual to get an idea of what kinds of chemicals and materials are going to help you repair your vehicle without damaging it. Odds are, you’ll be able to find an RV-specific product that will help you out. 

As we mentioned, sometimes the problem is big enough that it’s better to contact a professional to fix it and prevent the problem from happening again. If this happens to you, contact the service department at Golden Gait Trailers and we’ll set you up with a skilled technician to help you get your rig fixed before your next big trip or before the long winter. We welcome all current and future RV owners from Charlotte, Concord, and Raleigh, NC.