6 Ways To Increase The Value Of Your RV

When you’re driving off the lot with a new, or new-to-you RV, it will always be a great feeling. Planning out the trips , customizing the interior and spending time out on the open road are all ways to make the RV your own. The miles spent in the RV with your family or on solo trips will provide memories for a lifetime. While using your RV is important, finding little ways to protect your investment and increase the value of your RV is important as well.

Providing proper care and maintenance throughout the duration of ownership will not only be good for the present day, but it will also be laying a good foundation for the future of the RV.

When the miles start adding up and you begin thinking about a trading in or selling outright, you will want to get the highest amount possible. What you might not know is just how much work goes into making an RV sales-worthy of your dream price tag. Spoiler alert: While surface cleaning is important, the process goes well beyond that.

Here are six ways to increase your RV’s value.

Maintain

Keep the routine maintenance up to date.  Perform oil changes at the right odometer reading and keep fluids full and filters clean. Also, swap out spark plugs regularly to keep the rig running smoothly. An RV with no mechanical trouble is going to be more valuable than one that needs a bit of work.

Other steps to maintain good working order include:

• Clean and treat slide outs
• Check battery often
• Ensure electrical connection from RV to towing vehicle is properly working
• Check brakes often and change pads as needed
• Take steps to ensure wastewater system remains in proper working order

Clean

This likely goes without saying, but a clean rig will be appreciated by everyone. Plus, traveling in hospital quarter-cleanliness will always be a plus. Not only that, but a clean and cared for rig will decrease the possibility of damage caused by a rodent infestation.

Keeping surfaces and floors clean and free of crumbs or other debris is important. But, deep cleaning is also an important step to take. Shampoo the carpeted areas and use a mopping agent that provides a shiny appearance to the tiled floors.  As far as the exterior, keep dirt, mud or snow washed off and keep the underneath cleaned off as much as possible, too.

Maintenance starts with keeping your RV clean. One of the best thngs an RV owner can do is keep their RV clean and clutter-free. 

A leaky roof is an RV owners worst nightmare. Ensuring your RVs roof is sealed properly will save you headaches down the road. 

Seal

Take care to ensure windows and door openings remain sealed properly. Pesky leaks and water damage are two difficult problems to repair. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, they say. Stop water damage before it occurs by having inspections conducted at least twice a year. Another way to test for external leaks is to hire a professional to do a blower door test. This process will pressurize the rig to identify any leaks.

For the DIY’ers, survey all locations that possess a sealant and inspect these seals periodically. Early detection of even the smallest leak is crucial in preventing water damage.

Upgrade

Each year, new appliances and apps become available. The same is true in the RV world. The newest, top-of-the-line stoves, microwaves and dishwashers are good investments to have in place before listing your RV for sale.

Buying newly marketed appliances will add value to your rig. Additionally, accessories such as remote-controlled lighting, a doorbell camera and even updated electrical outlets that feature USB plugs can increase the value of your RV.  LED lighting, lithium batteries and improved roof seals are some suggestions from RV Share. Appliances or lighting that is tied to a phone app is always a good investment.

Replace

Just like the milk in the fridge, tires also have an expiration date. When purchasing new tires, be sure to check the expiration date and opt for ones made less than one year ago. And a good rule of thumb is to replace tires six years from the date they were manufactured. Add a reminder to your phone or calendar a few months before new tires should be purchased.

When purchasing new tires that were manufactured less than a year ago, they should provide five years or more of travel time. Some ways to get the most life out of your tires:

• Check tire pressure before each trip and keep air topped off
• While not in use, cover the tires to prevent sun damage
• When traveling, avoid driving through areas with heavy debris in order to prevent a tire from being punctured.
• Move RV once every three months to prevent tire cracks and flat spots, especially if the RV isn’t placed up on jacks.

Protect

Keeping your rig stored properly can help prevent sun exposure and tire rot, along with other damage from the ever-changing weather elements.

Storing your rig could be as simple as a 5-layer RV cover or as elaborate as renting a monthly indoor storage space that can be heated or unheated. Covering your rig with a cover and leaving it in the driveway is one option of storing, while some park the RV in a garage on their property. Any of these options will work, as the goal is to block the sun’s harmful rays, rain sleet and snow, or any other weather Mother Nature chooses to send our way.

Whether you are preparing to upgrade to a newer model or just taking steps to enjoy your current rig for as long as possible, these six steps are good ways to improve the life, and the value, of your RV.