Here comes the sun – are you ready to relax?
Julie Moore, ACIP CRM
Manager, AB & BC Commercial Property Underwriting
SGI CANADA Insurance Services Ltd, Alberta
After weeks of the sun playing hide-and-seek with us, it seems as though we’re finally going to enjoy a good stretch of warm weather. And that means it’s time to get our gear ready, so when summer comes, we can just sit back with a cool drink and bliss out!
If you plan on heading out RV-ing this year, here are a few tips:
If any bugs and/or rodents have moved into your RV over the winter months, you’ll want to do a thorough cleaning. Empty cupboards and drawers, and pull out window screens, mattresses, and cushions. Scrub down all flat surfaces, cupboards, and corners to get rid of any webs, nests, or dead insects, and launder anything made of fabric. And then take steps to prevent any more unwelcome visitors.
Check the condition of your vehicle’s undercarriage, and check the tire pressure, gauges, and all hoses and connectors to make sure they’re clean and working correctly.
Make sure your appliances, awnings, generators, and other electrical features are working. Test each outlet by plugging in a small lamp.
Check the lights (inside and out) to make sure everything is working and replace any burned-out bulbs.
Top up the oil, the fuel, transmission, radiator, and windshield wiper fluids, and double check your grey water tank is empty.
Take the vehicle out for a spin around the neighbourhood, and on a highway (if you can)
Have a Trailer? Trailer preparation and maintenance ideas include:
Inspect tire treads and sidewalls for weathering. Look for cracks in the sidewalls of the tire, which mean they need to be replaced.
Check the tire pressure on all four tires and the spare, and add more air as needed.
Look over the bearings. If they rumble or won’t turn easily, they probably need to be replaced or repacked.
Test the brake, tail, turn signal and back up lights to make sure they still work and none of the lights have burnt out.
Make sure the white ground wire is attached securely to the trailer’s frame.
Check frame for rust. Sand/paint, if necessary.
It’s time to kick back and relax