Photos and story by Perry Mack
40
S N O W B I
R D S
&
R V T R A V E L E R S
at the age of 54, was that time is our most precious commodity. We can’t buy more and what’s even crazier is we don’t know how much we have to begin with. Which is why I like saving time,
O
as much or more than saving money. When I can do both it makes me happy. And when it’s related to making sure my time off is truly ‘time off’, I’m ecstatic. Making sure my RV is properly
maintained is more important to me than maintaining my daily driver. If the car breaks down on the way to work, oh well, I’m late for work. If the RV or tow vehicle breaks down while I’m on vacation – that’s a different story. My work only allows narrow windows of opportunity to escape on vacation and like you I spend hard earned money to get away. So mechanical breakdowns are frustrating to say the least, and
ne of the many things my dad taught me before he passed away
lost vacation time is lost forever. Add to that the serious safety hazards of tire blowouts or RV fires and you can appreciate why we need to take a really good look at our rigs. Getting through my check
list typically meant making a few appointments and running around town - take the truck into the service shop for a tune-up; take the truck into the tire shop; take the trailer into the RV dealership to get all the systems inspected; when I had my Class A motorhome I had to go to a special tire shop because most tire shops could fit inside my motorhome not the other way around. Te whole process usually took a few Saturdays but the piece of mind and the trouble free vacations were worth it. If you’re a do-it-yourselfer who
has the equipment and the know- how here’s your ‘pre-flight’ check and ‘to-do’ list; - A/C service, appliance/ accessories, awning, electrical system, exterior maintenance, tire
check, furnace service, generator oil change/air filter check, rubber roof preventative maintenance, slide-out maintenance, wheel bearings, water heater service and water system check. Ten there’s a separate list for you engine/power train in your Class A, B, C or tow vehicle.
Here’s my number one tip of the season that will save you time and money. Firstly I’ll point out that I’m not an RV tech. I can turn a wrench but I’d rather be pouring a drink while I watch my son cut the lawn. And while I can replace a spark plug and change a tire, I’m not an expert in electrical, gas, plumbing & A/C systems. Fortunately for me the Fender’s
shop in West Kelowna is absolutely as good as it gets. It’s the Disney World of RV/truck service. People come from a hundred miles away or more to get their vehicles serviced here. I can tell you why I do. I can drop off the truck
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