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HOW TO VIDEOS

Refresh Your RV Operation Skills. See Why We Have Over 2.5 Million Views On YouTube!

Check this space for our tips and suggestions on how to properly maintain your RV. If you don’t see your topic addressed here, please call our Service Department at (989) 684-3123. We will be happy to answer your questions.

How to Videos

Open an RV awning
Close an RV awning
Level an RV
Light an RV stove and oven
Work an RV refrigerator
Operate an RV power converter
Light an RV water heater pilot
Use an RV TV antenna
Use an RV antenna booster
Operate an RV shower
Use an RV toilet
Operate an RV monitor panel
Reset an RV circuit breaker
Operate an RV air conditioner
Operate an RV thermostat
Hook up an RV sewer hose
Hook up an RV power cord
Hook up cable/satellite to an RV
Fill water tanks in an RV
Operate an LP gas regulator
Dometic Slide Topper

Basic Troubleshooting

Most RVs built today have at least one slideout. The most important thing you can do to protect your slideout is to keep it covered when it is extended. Slide Topper Awnings are an affordable way to protect the roof, exterior seals, and moldings on the slideout room from direct exposure to the elements. Slide toppers keep debris, such as sticks and leaves, from accumulating on the roof of the slide. Over time, sticks and leaves can puncture or tear the roof membrane. Toppers also eliminate the need to sweep off rooms before sliding them in. We inspect hundreds of potential trade-ins every year. The first area we inspect is the interior and exterior of slideouts. Often, we find water penetration or damage to slideout rooms. When the slideout isn’t covered or properly maintained, tears in the roof membrane and damaged seals are common. Such damage dramatically reduces the value of your RV.

To avoid this problem, we strongly recommend that all new RV and used RV purchasers install slide topper awnings over all slideouts. This ensures that the slideout rooms are protected. The awnings also increase the value of your unit when you decide to trade or sell your RV. The bottom line is this – the cost of installing slide toppers on your new RV pales in comparison to the cost of RV service repairs related to slideout room deterioration.

Ask your sales associate at Tri City RV to install Slide Toppers on your next RV purchase. Call our Service Department to get slide toppers installed on your current unit.

Are you asking yourself “How do mice get into my RV”? You may not notice holes or gaps in the underbelly, tiny openings where pipes enter the RV or even a skinny gap in a door. A mouse can fit into a dime size hole, which means they can pretty much fit into any hole they want. Intrusions often occur while your RV is stored over the winter. When living in a cold climate state, rodents have a bigger incentive to find a warm home to survive the winter.

Common Places for Mice and Rodents to Enter an RV:

  • Cracks around doors
  • Poorly sealed slideout rooms
  • Gaps around plumbing or wiring
  • Corners or cracks where walls meet
  • Access panels for plumbing, electrical, etc.

Identifying entry points in your RV can prevent any mice or rodents from entering your camper when it’s not in use. Crawl under your RV to spot any gaps or holes from drains or wiring. Even the smallest gaps are often large enough for a mouse. Inside your RV, open cabinets and closets to look for signs of sunlight. Check access panels in the bathroom and other areas. Remove the panel and take a look inside for potential entry points. Any gaps or holes that you find need to be sealed with either spray foam or RV Caulk.

No one likes the thought of these rodents taking up residence during the colder months. Damage from a mouse can require hefty repair work. Upholstery, cushions, wiring, plastic, and rubber lines are just a few of the items a mouse will damage.

The next questions to ask yourself is “How do I keep mice and rodents out of my RV”? Everyone has tried the home remedies. Below is a list of some in-home solutions that have been effective for some RV owners:

  • Fabric Softener sheets: Some RV owners spread dryer sheets all over their RV when it’s in storage to keep mice out.
  • Irish Spring Soap: Surround the outside of your RV with Irish Spring Soap shavings. Mice supposedly hate the smell.
  • Peppermint Oil: Soak cotton balls in peppermint oil and leave them in infested areas. The cotton balls have to be refreshed often.
  • Mouse Free Lubricant: This is the most effective mouse repellent we have found. Apply the lubricant to the undercarriage to repel mice. Mouse Free contains a high concentration of menthol, which rodents find offensive. The lubricant also creates a thin protective coating that mice and even insects can’t travel across. Our Service Department can apply Mouse Free for you. We also carry do-it-yourself Mouse Free kits in our RV Parts Department. Contact Tri City RV Service today and make an appointment to become “­Mouse Free”!