RV Roof Care & Maintenance

One of the most neglected areas on your RV is the roof, out of site out of mind. The problem is if you don’t keep the roof clean and inspect the roof seams on a regular basis you could end up with, expensive to repair, water damage. Most RVs built today use some type of rubber or vinyl roofing material. If you want to get a long life out of your RV roof here are some things you can do.


Safety first! Be extremely careful whenever you are working on your RV roof. You can be seriously injured from a fall. You have to get on the roof of the RV to properly clean and inspect it for any damage or potential water leaks. Some RV roofs are more structurally sound than others. It may be necessary to use a couple 2X4 pieces of plywood or particle board to help distribute your weight between the roof rafters when on the roof. Regardless of the roofs structural integrity you need to walk lightly, and be careful.

Rubber and vinyl roofing on an RV are great products, but like everything else without routine preventive maintenance it will not last as long as it could. First, there are different manufacturers of rubber and vinyl roofs. These different manufacturers provide different instructions for cleaning and maintaining their products. What we want to concentrate on today is what applies to the majority of rubber and vinyl roofing material used on RVs.

Note: There are other types of RV roofing material used like fiberglass and aluminum. Read your roof manufacturer’s instructions for proper cleaning and sealing techniques to prevent damage to your roof and possibly void your warranty.

Rubber and vinyl roofs should be cleaned and inspected several times a year and depending on where you park or store your RV it may need to be cleaned and inspected more often. Regardless of the type of rubber or vinyl roof you have, NEVER use any cleaners or conditioners that contain petroleum solvents, harsh abrasives, or citrus ingredients. These types of cleaners can cause permanent damage to rubber or vinyl surfaces. Most manufacturers of rubber roofs recommend you use a medium bristle brush and a non-abrasive cleaner. For light cleaning you can use warm water and a mild detergent like Dawn dish washing liquid. For more difficult cleaning, and to condition and protect the roof there are commercial cleaning products designed specifically for the roofing material your RV has. Hard to clean areas like stubborn stains caused by leaves, sap, mold or mildew may require a second treatment. Use caution to prevent the cleaners from getting on the sides of the RV. Always rinse the sides, front and back of your RV before and after rinsing the roof to prevent cleaners from streaking or damaging the finish on your RV sidewalls.

Cleaning the roof is only part of maintaining it. Every time you clean the roof you need to inspect the sealants around all of the openings and the seams on the roof. Water will take the path of least resistance and if there is the smallest opening it will find it. You need to thoroughly inspect the roof sealants for potential leaks and reseal any areas of the roof seams and around openings where you suspect a leak.

Note: Check with your RV dealer for sealants that are compatible with your roofing material.

Routine cleaning, inspecting and sealing your RV roof can add years to the life to the roof and help prevent costly repairs caused by water damage. Watch the Roof Care Video

Our RV Care & Maintenance e-book is an easy to understand maintenance guide on what to check on your RV and how to check it.

Happy RV Learning,

Mark Polk
RV Education 101
RV University
RV Orientation
Go for the RV Gold
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RV Consumer

Exercising your RV Generator

Click on video player for more tips on caring for your RV generator.


When I worked at a RV dealership, every spring our service department was booked with appointments for generators that either wouldn’t start, or if they did start they had that all too familiar surging sound. This was a result of letting the generator sit for periods of time without starting and exercising it. Lack of use is one of the biggest problems with generators. In gasoline generators the fuel breaks down and gums up causing hard starting and surging problems. This can happen in as short a period of time as two months.

Running and exercising a generator is just one aspect of owning and using a generator. Let’s start from the beginning. RV generators are what truly make your RV fully self-contained. What a feature, instant electricity at the push of a button. We take electricity for granted in our homes because we don’t have to do anything to get it, with the exception of paying our monthly electric bill. This is part of the problem with RV generators, we expect the electricity to be there when we need or want it just like in our house. The problem is this magical source of electricity requires a certain amount of care and maintenance from the owner.

Safety first! Always keep in mind when you use a generator there is carbon monoxide. You should always inspect the exhaust system on the generator set before using it. Do not operate a generator with a damaged exhaust system. If you’re using a portable generator set make sure the exhaust is directed away from the camping area. Test your carbon monoxide detector for proper operation prior to using the generator.

RV generators are extremely dependable and in many cases will out last the RV if they are properly maintained and cared for. They do not require your constant attention, just some basic maintenance. The first thing you need to understand about maintaining your generator is that they need to be exercised on a regular basis. I mentioned a moment ago that gasoline generators could have fuel related problems in as little as two months when sitting idle. This is one of the biggest problems, but it can easily be prevented if you get in a habit of exercising the generator on a monthly basis.

Some people think that this can be avoided by adding a fuel preservative to the fuel tank and then running the generator long enough to get the preservative through the generator set. You definitely should use a fuel preservative whenever the unit will be in storage, but there are many other reasons to start and exercise the generator on a regular basis. Moisture build up can cause damage to your generator. When you exercise your generator it heats up the generator windings and eliminates this moisture build up. This monthly exercise regime also lubricates all of the engine seals and components and helps to prevent carbon build up.

So, what exactly do I mean when I say exercise your generator? For a gasoline generator I mean that you start and run the generator with at least a 50 percent load for at least two hours every month. It is extremely important that you run it with this minimum rated load. Generators are designed to run with a load placed on them. It’s always better to exercise the generator for longer time periods than it is for short periods. Check your generator owner’s manual for load ratings specific to your unit.

Other maintenance intervals for generators are based on usage. Your generator set will have an hour meter so you can monitor the usage. Consult your owner’s manual for maintenance intervals. The bottom line is, do not hesitate to use your generator and when you do use it put a load on it. A little exercise and preventive maintenance will keep your generator in top operating condition and provide many years of faithful service.

Happy RV Learning,

Mark Polk
RV Education 101
RV University
RV Orientation
Go for the RV Gold
Follow us on FACEBOOK
RV Consumer