RV Maintenance Without the Overwhelm

RV Maintenance Without the Overwhelm
From “This is Too Much!” to “I’ve Got This”

By: Morgan Field

I’m Morgan Field, a part-time road wanderer cruising in my 2019 Winnebago Travato 59K. My co-pilot? Teddy, my dog—equal parts mischief, joy, and professional snuggler. We love taking on all of the excitement and challenges of van life together!

One of the biggest stressors for new RVers—or even seasoned ones—is maintenance. It feels like there are a million moving parts, and the thought of keeping track of them all can be paralyzing. Here’s the good news: overwhelm is usually just a sign you don’t have enough info yet. Once you break things down into smaller, manageable steps (and set up your own system), it goes from overstimulating to simple.

Important Note: Be sure to check your Winnebago operator’s manual for maintenance tasks and instructions specific for your RV. If you are not comfortable doing maintenance yourself, be sure to make an appointment with a professional.

The Big Picture: What Needs Maintenance?

Before you can organize RV maintenance, it helps to see the main buckets it falls into. Think of it in three categories:

Chassis (Driving Side)

• For motorized RVs (Class A, B, C), the chassis is everything that makes it drivable.
• Oil & filter changes – every 5,000–10,000 miles (check your manual).
• Transmission, brake, coolant fluids – follow specific intervals.
• Brake pads & rotors – inspect for wear.
• Tire rotations & alignments – protect handling and extend tire life.
• Milestone checkups – 30k, 60k, 120k miles, etc.

Exterior (Your RV’s Shield)

Keeping the outside sealed and clean saves thousands in water and sun damage.

• Seals & Weatherstrips – Check monthly. Touch up with RV sealant anywhere it’s cracked or peeling.
• Roof Inspections – Twice a year, look for cracks, soft spots, lifted seams, dried caulking, punctures, rust (on metal), and loose seals around vents, skylights, A/C units, and solar mounts. Clear off debris like leaves or branches.
• Wash & Wax – Wash off grime, bugs, and salt. Wax adds UV protection and helps water bead off.
• Awning Care – When possible, air-dry before storing to prevent mildew. If you have an electric awning, extend and retract it monthly to keep gears moving smoothly. 
• Tires – Check PSI often (especially before travel). Uneven wear can signal suspension or alignment issues. Many RV tires need higher PSI (e.g., 65 in the front, 80 in the back) than standard gas station pumps can handle, so don’t hesitate to stop at a tire shop for air fills. While there, ask them to check tread wear—if multiple shops mention the same issue, it’s a sign to see a dealer. (I caught a needed alignment this way and it saved me down the road.) Learn more about RV tire mainteance.
• Solar Panels – Keep them clean so they can collect as much power as possible.

The House—Interior, Appliances, Tanks & Systems

Your RV’s “house” systems last longer when they’re used, cleaned, and maintained regularly. Sitting idle can dry out seals, gum up parts, or create expensive repairs.

• Generator – Change oil on schedule and run under load for ~30 minutes monthly to keep fuel from gumming.
• Fridge & A/C – Clean vents and run monthly; check fridge door seals with the dollar bill test. (Close the door on a dollar bill with half of it sticking out. Then, slowly pull the bill out and if it slides out easily without resistance, the seal is weak and needs cleaning or replacement.)
• Furnace & Heat – Switch on monthly even if you don’t need it—this keeps parts moving and helps spot issues early.
• Water Pump & Plumbing – Run water through occasionally to keep seals lubricated and prevent mineral buildup.
• Toilet & Tanks – Flush to protect seals and reduce odors. Black tank: flush after each trip and use enzyme treatment. Gray tank: occasionally flush to clear soap/grease. Fresh water: sanitize every six months.
• Slideouts (if applicable) – Extend/retract to keep mechanisms smooth. Learn more about slideout care.
• Fans & Vents – Run occasionally to keep motors and bearings smooth.
• Batteries – Monitor charge cycles and recharge to extend life.
• Deep Clean – Do a deep clean at the start and end of each season. In between, mix in weekly touch-ups and monthly heavier cleans. This prevents mildew, rust, pests, and buildup that cause costly damage. Read more tips for cleaning your RV.

Learn more about RV maintenance tasks for your Winnebago here.

Create Your System: Make Maintenance Manageable

RV maintenance only feels overwhelming when it lives in your head as a giant, fuzzy “to-do.” The secret is to get it out of your head, into a system, and make it bite-sized. 

Here’s the step-by-step way to do it:

Step 1: Take Inventory

Walk through your rig and list everything that may need maintenance: chassis, exterior, and interior.

For each, note: what it is, how often it needs care or replacement, DIY or Pro, and tools needed. Start small—just add what you know, then expand over time.

Step 2: Organize in One Place

Decide how you prefer to organize your information once collected and keep it near your RV owner manual (you can also view/print your Winnebago manual online):

• Old-school binder: print checklists, hole-punch manuals, make sections (Chassis, Exterior, House, Cleaning, etc.). 
• Digital system: folders on your computer or phone (Logs, Manuals, Receipts, Checklists). The Winnebago app is also very helpful to keep you on track.
• Hybrid: binder for grab-and-go, digital for storage.

The key is having one home for all things RV maintenance. Personally, I kept the super-cute Winnebago manual bag and also bought a beautiful lilac-lavender binder to hold everything in one place—including manuals for every gadget and appliance in the van. Having it all consolidated makes life so much easier when something comes up.

Step 3: Keep a Log

Track what was done, when, who did it, and receipts. This avoids the “wait … did I change that filter last year?” panic and helps keep your resale value strong.

Step 4: Build a Maintenance Calendar

Whether you add it to a physical calendar or on your phone (or both!), having reminders for your RV maintenance is important to stay accountable:

• Monthly – check seals, quick inspection of roof, run the generator, clean A/C filters, and check tire PSI.
• Quarterly – sanitize the fresh water system, deep clean fridge coils, and lubricate locks, doors, and hinges. 
• Annually – in depth roof inspection and care, battery test, and gasket checks.
• Mileage-based – oil changes, tire rotations, and fluid flushes.

Pro Tip: Make It a Ritual

Pick a set day for RV care. For example, I’ve started to do “Maintenance Mondays”—a fun habit where I batch related DIY tasks like roof checks, cleaning solar panels, cleaning A/C vents, researching, and updating my Maintenance Master Doc with notes and checklists.

You can also plan to dedicate one focused hour per week to research a single system—fridge, generator, water heater, etc. Add your findings to your binder or digital folder. One concentrated hour builds long-term confidence and helps you understand maintenance beyond the checklist.

Remember to Book Service Needs in Advance

Remember that good RV techs book up fast. Keep a running list of issues, then schedule everything in one visit to save time, money, and multiple trips. Just be sure there is not a limit to the number of items in one trip.

For example, when going to the Winnebago Factory Service center there is no limit if you have an appointment, but the limit is seven items for walk-ins. Learn more about taking your motorized Winnebago to the factory for service in this article.

Step 5: Lean on Community & Research

If you are unsure of how to do a maintenance task, be sure to ask in your community and do your own research before deciding to pay for it to be done. It may be easier than you thought! However, if you do feel uncomfortable doing any maintenance tasks, be sure to hire a professional.

• Tap Into Owner Groups: Join a Facebook group (or forum) for your exact make/model. Other owners have already solved most of the issues you’ll face, shared checklists you can borrow, and posted maintenance tips. You’ll also see patterns of what commonly fails so you can catch little problems before they become big ones. See Winnebago model-specific owner groups.
• Search Smarter: Use group search features for things like “maintenance,” “roof sealant,” or “generator oil change.” Chances are, the exact step-by-step directions you need are already documented.
• Save What Matters: Bookmark or save helpful posts and checklists so you have them handy when you need them.
• Fill in Gaps: Missing a manual? Google your RV’s year/make/model or look up appliance model numbers (they’re usually stamped somewhere). Winnebago has all of their RV manuals available online here.
• Ask & Pay It Forward: When you’re stuck, ask your community—or even ChatGPT. RVers love paying it forward, and your future self (and others) will thank you when you share what you’ve learned too.
• Make It Social (Optional but Fun): Host or join a Maintenance Meetup—working alongside others makes tasks less daunting and lets you pick up helpful tips.

I’m lucky to have local friends with the same make/model who have helped me immensely—they’re super knowledgeable, and I genuinely enjoy spending time with them. I also schedule some maintenance at B Haven in Hohenwald, TN, where the tech knows my exact make/model and I can stay overnight while my rig is serviced—a perfect mix of maintenance, adventure, and connecting with fellow RVers.

The Payoff for Getting Organized with RV Maintenance

Yes, there’s some upfront work to get organized—but once your system is in place, you’ll always know:

• What needs doing
• When it needs doing
• How it gets done

That clarity alone cuts overwhelm in half!

RV maintenance doesn’t have to be chaotic. With a good checklist, your manuals, and a supportive community, it becomes just another rhythm of RV life.

More confidence. Fewer surprises. Way more fun on the road.

Happy RVing!

—Morgan & Teddy, Follow along on Instagram (@themorganfield) or on Facebook.