Small travel trailers are often prized for the lack of maintenance issues. And when small travel trailers are compared to Class A recreational vehicles or even a Class C or Class B RV, there are definitely fewer maintenance requirements. But that doesn’t mean that there are NO maintenance issues. There are definitely a few maintenance issues that should be addressed regularly.

Any vehicle is going to need to have the tires checked. For some reason, owners of small travel trailers often overlook this necessity until there is a problem. But no one should wait for a blowout before they find it necessary to check the tires. Small travel trailers will need to have the tires checked regularly; just like any RV. Checking your small travel trailers tires regularly will decrease the chances of a problem on the road. When you wait to address tire issues on the road you risk not only the hazards of a blowout, but you risk higher prices for parts and labor. It’s much easier to shop around and get a good price when you are not stranded in an unknown area in need of a good mechanic.

And the tires are not the only maintenance issue that needs to be on the list.

Any owners of small travel trailers should also check that all lights are functioning prior to departing on a trip. A light that doesn’t work may not seem like a big issue, but like anything else…it’s much easier to take care of and repair before you depart on your trip. And it could be something that could prove to be a danger on the road. If your brake lights are out you aren’t as visible as you need to be. If the running lights are out on your trailer, you’ll find that accidents will occur even if you’ve been using the same small travel trailer for years and should be very well aware where the step down should be.

Prior to departing on any trip you should also check the functioning of all slide outs. Make sure that all doors and cabinet doors are appropriately latched and that none of the mechanisms ensuring they will be secure while on the road are broken.

Check your water lines. Verify that your generator is functioning. Check any appliances that may be included in your trailer design. You may not even have time to fix any of the problems that you discover while you are performing your regular maintenance before it’s time to depart on your next trip, but you will be able to be aware of the problem and plan around it. For instance, if you know that the refrigerator isn’t working, but you don’t have time to get a repairman out to check it before your next trip, you won’t spend a lot of money stocking the fridge before you leave. Instead you will plan to eat foods that don’t need to be refrigerated or you’ll stop more often for meals. It’s as simple as that. You can’t avoid all problems, but you can avoid some. And you can be prepared for the rest!