Routine Maintenance Checks   

                The summer vacation season ending does not necessarily mean an end of use a motor home, especially for a large number of retired people who utilize “their home on wheels” to escape the cold weather in the north, as well as for all the “full-timers” out there.  For many of our customers, it actually means the beginning of their “motor-homing” season.  With this in mind, we at Parliament Coach want to mention and remind you of some important tips and checks that need to be performed periodically to ensure a trouble-free experience.  These are infrequently checked items that are often forgotten.   

                One commonly overlooked item that should be performed periodically is the tightness of electrical connections, specifically that of the battery system.  For the last year, we have been utilizing a bus bar system for battery connections, allowing for only two cables to be connected to each battery (one for battery positive and one for battery negative).  This makes battery replacement less confusing, as well as reducing the amount of current through these terminals.  As metal heats and cools, terminals can tend to loosen themselves.  As least twice a year, once during the summer heat-up and once during the winter cool-down, it is important to check these connections for tightness (as well as corrosion) to ensure proper functioning of the system as a whole.  If you are a “do-it-yourself” type of person, we can inform you of what and where to check all of these connections.  If you do not desire to check these yourself, we will be happy to check these items for you, or you can have connections checked by another qualified RV service center.  This should be performed at least once a year.                               

                Another area that seams to get overlooked frequently involves the tires/wheels.  Proper tire air pressures should be checked at regular intervals and whenever there has been a significant change in outside temperature.  It is a “law” of physics that for a closed system (like a tire) with constant volume, that changes in temperature cause corresponding changes in pressure.  The other part tires/wheels that should be checked, and for the same reason as electrical connections, is wheel lug nut tightness.  As metals change in temperature or simply from vibrations from the road, they can become loose, causing real safety problems.  This should be performed often following a tire/wheel removal or from the time you take delivery of your new coach.   

                Since we offer many options on our coaches that require air for operation, we install an auxiliary air compressor.  It supplies the air to operate television lifts, sliding step-well covers, the leveling system, Prevost’s slide-out seals, and many other options such as pocket doors, toilets, and closet swing-outs (to name just some of the possibilities).  Most people do not even realize when it is running, because it is so quiet, but nonetheless requires periodic checking of the oil level.  It is also a good idea to check the moisture and oil separators for proper operation.  You should also occasionally “blow down” the drain of each tank to remove any water that has gotten by the separators.  This should be performed on the primary and secondary brake tanks as well.  These actions help insure that when you need compressed air, for whatever function, it will be available.  Checking these items monthly is prudent, depending on air usage. 

                As the weather cools off, you may not have as much need to run your generator, but periodic checks to ensure coolant level and suspension bag air pressure are still important.  When the generator is run less frequently, it is often forgotten about.  The coolant reservoir levels should also be checked on the aqua hot heating system and the main engine as well.  This effort helps ensure that when you need the generator or heating system, that both will be available.  These items should be checked seasonally.                 

                Another item people forget to check until they notice a problem is the water system.  Most of our coaches are equipped with a softener, which utilized salt to regenerate the ion exchange resin.  There is also a sediment cartridge filter upstream of the softener, as well as a strainer on the water pump inlet, which should also be checked.  The frequency depends on your individual water usage, so plan these checks accordingly. 

                Some of the mentioned checks are very quick to perform and require only a glance, while others are a bit more involved, and may require special tools.  Some of these checks, if left unperformed, will only effect your comfort, while others can create serious safety issues.  As with any complex piece of machinery, your motorcoach requires some amount of observation and checking to ensure it will continue to perform properly and to last for years, even decades, to come.   

                This listing is not all-inclusive.  Your Prevost Owner’s Manual lists other “chassis” items, such as belts, oil levels, etc., that also need some attention.  These are just some of the things we felt often get overlooked.  As always, if you have any questions about any of the items mentioned, please do not hesitate to contact Parliament Coach Service department for recommendations.  We are always happy to assist you.  We want you to enjoy your investment to the fullest.

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