Part of owning any RV is to perform the obvious maintenance tasks, such as changing the oil and filters, replacing belts, greasing all moving parts, checking coolant level and tire pressures, and so on. However, let's discuss preventive maintenance on a broader scale. If you own an RV, you should consider changing or replacing components, such as alternators, mufflers, starters, wheel bearings, and drop boxes, when you do your annual maintenance. 

Just because these components may be working well, it is much cheaper in the long run to spend time and money while they're still functioning and inspect them, rather than waiting until you have a catastrophic failure on the road. Repairs made away from home frequently cost several times what you would pay by your local mechanic, whom you have been working with for years and have built up a relationship.

When I operated a bus fleet, I would keep spare components on the shelf, usually one of each, especially if my fleet was predominantly the same brand. I would, for instance, swap out the working alternator for the rebuilt one on the shelf, and have the one I pulled off inspected, possibly just needing bearings, or maybe more. I would rotate them throughout the fleet based on the mileage of each component. It was worth it for peace of mind. Of course, doing it this way, I could also send out components to be repaired or rebuilt while keeping the bus in operation.

I realize that for individuals with vehicles not in revenue service, you are probably not going to stock spare components like a fleet owner would. However, you still should take the time to remove components occasionally during routine maintenance and have them inspected while they're still functioning. By doing this, you may discover something before it fails, even if there was no indication or warning otherwise. Of course, I always based things on mileage intervals.

For example, many years ago, I was working on an Eagle for a friend and preparing it for a long road trip. I was going through the bus as thoroughly as I could, as it was going to be on the road for several thousand miles. I asked the owner when the last time his alternator was checked or changed, and he said never, to his knowledge. The reason I asked was that I noticed the dash gauge showing it wasn't charging quite to peak voltage. Having a reputable electrical shop close by, we decided to remove the alternator and regulator, have them disassembled, and inspect them thoroughly.

After pulling it apart, the shop owner said he was surprised it was charging at all, so was I after he showed it to me all taken apart. Several internal components of the alternator had to be replaced, and a new regulator was installed.

This all cost about $900, which may seem like a lot, however, compared to what he saved by having it done while he was home, versus somewhere on the road, the difference could have been significant.

Had the alternator failed while he was on tour, chances are there would be nobody close by who could rebuild it for him. So, then he would have had to locate an alternator, which would likely cost $1,500 or more. He may have had to air freight it in to keep on schedule, which would have probably cost over $1,000 in freight costs alone. 

He might have missed a gig or two and had to arrange alternative transportation during the downtime, along with hotel costs while the bus is in the shop, all of which would have cost thousands of dollars. And, of course, the labor to change the alternator is now $200 per hour in some shops. Don't forget about towing costs with certain component failures, also.

The original $900 was money well spent and ultimately gave him peace of mind. As you can see in this case, it could have cost him upwards of $10,000 if this had happened on the road while on a strict tour schedule.

A couple more examples of preventive maintenance: If you are pulling your wheels and hubs off for any reason, that is also the time to change all of your wheel bearings, races, and wheel seals. The cost of those components is less than having to pull them apart a second time, as you are working in that area anyway.

Preventive maintenance is essential and should be practiced by everyone, especially those who use a vehicle, such as an RV. Don't wait for that catastrophic failure that will break the bank. Unfortunately, lack of maintenance is what often puts many conversion owners permanently out of service.