Owner Resources
Practical material for owners, written from what we see come through the shop rather than from general advice. The most valuable thing here is the inspection interval guidance, because almost every large repair we do started as something small that was missed.
Inspection intervals that actually matter
In Southern California UV, these intervals are shorter than the national guidance you will read elsewhere.
Roof, every six months: Walk it and probe for soft spots. Check every sealant bead at vents, the AC shroud, skylights, and the perimeter. Expect to reseal every four to five years here.
Slide seals, every six months: Press the bulb seal and confirm it springs back. Look for daylight at the corners with the room closed.
Window and door seals, annually: The single most common delamination entry point. Look for staining on the interior wall below the frame.
Awning fabric and arms, annually: Check for arm alignment and fabric wear at the roller. A bent arm racks the rail and opens a leak path.
House batteries, annually: Load test rather than voltage test. A bank that reads 12.6 volts can still fail under load.
LP detectors, every seven years: They expire. The date is on the unit and almost nobody checks it.
What to do immediately after damage
The first 48 hours shape an insurance claim more than anything that follows.
Photograph before moving anything. Wide shots, close shots, all four sides, and the interior.
Get it out of the weather. Water entering after the incident complicates causation and can get reclassified as maintenance.
Report promptly. Delayed reporting invites questions about when the damage occurred.
Do not authorize repairs yet. Work done before the carrier has a documented scope is hard to get reimbursed.
Choose your own shop. You are not required to use a network shop, and on an RV that choice matters a great deal.
Documentation to keep on file
If you have modified your vehicle at all, keep receipts and photographs somewhere that is not inside the vehicle. Solar, lithium, appliances, interior work, and paint are routinely valued at zero on a claim unless you can prove they exist.
This is the single largest source of underpayment we see on conversions and modified coaches, and it is entirely preventable with a folder of receipts.
Last reviewed by the OCRV Center shop team.
Ready to get it looked at?
Bring it in for a written estimate. We bill your carrier direct and handle the documentation.