Author: Samuel

10 Ways to Keep Your Truck Working Like New

Posted on by Samuel

You love your truck, so here are ten ways to keep your truck working like new. 

1. Regular Maintenance: Schedule regular maintenance for your truck. Follow the manufacturer’s recommended service schedule to keep your truck running smoothly.
2. Oil Changes: Regularly change your truck’s oil and oil filter. This will help to protect your engine and keep it running smoothly.
3. Check Fluids: Check all the fluid levels in your truck, including the coolant, brake fluid, and transmission fluid. Make sure to top them off if they are low. We recommend J&G Transmissions to flush your transmission fluid every 30k miles.
4. Clean Air Filter: Clean or replace the air filter regularly. This will ensure proper airflow to the engine and improve fuel efficiency.
5. Tire Maintenance: Keep your truck’s tires properly inflated and aligned. This will help to reduce wear and tear on the tires, increase fuel efficiency, and improve handling.
6. Brake Maintenance: Check and maintain your truck’s brakes regularly. This will ensure proper stopping power and improve overall safety.
7. Keep it Clean: Keep your truck clean, both inside and out. This will help to prevent rust and corrosion and extend the life of your truck.
8. Driving Habits: Practice good driving habits, such as avoiding hard acceleration, braking, and maintaining a steady speed. Avoid Potholes and curbs. This will help to reduce wear and tear on your truck.
9. Watch for Warning Signs: Pay attention to any warning signs that your truck may be experiencing problems. Take action immediately to prevent further damage.
10. Follow Instructions: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your truck, such as towing capacity, weight limits, and recommended maintenance schedules. This will help to ensure that your truck stays in good condition for years to come.

For transmission service in Salt Lake City or Murray, UT, visit J & G Transmissions.

Fastest Way to Defrost Your Windshield

Posted on by Samuel

 

You’re late for work and you have to defrost your windshield fast. Well, please allow us to make you a defrosting ninja. Here is the fastest way to defrost your finshield:

1. Turn your heater on.
Start your engine, and using the defroster setting, crank the heater up all the way to absorb excess moisture within your vehicle. Remember: Hot air can hold more moisture.
2. Press the A/C button.
This may sound counterintuitive to the whole heater thing, but really what you’re doing is activating a setting on your car’s A/C system that helps dry the air within the cab faster with the help of the coils in your A/C system.
3. Turn air recirculation off.
You need fresh air to enter the car as well. Winter air is cold, and as it does not hold much moisture, it is dry. Bringing it into your car ups absorption capacity to more quickly dry the saturated air trapped within.
4. Crack your windows.
This helps exchange the humid air in your car with dryer outside air, speeding up the process.
5. Defrost Windows.
While the above defogging action is taking place, de-frost your windows. This is an entirely separate process that should NEVER (EVER) include hot water. Defrosting quickly takes a minor amount of pre-planning, but saves a snow-capped mountain of headache later. If you can’t stand scraping, put together a solution of 2/3 cup Isopropyl or rubbing alcohol and 1/3 cup water, pouring the mixture into a spray bottle. This solution will not freeze (rubbing alcohol has a freezing point of 138 degrees below freezing), and can be stored easily in your car, allowing you to easily spray away windshield ice wherever you’re stranded.

For transmission slipping, transmission not shifting or transmission shifting hard, call J & G Transmissions, the best transmission repair shop in Salt Lake City. 801-262-2321 www.jandgtransmissions.com
Contribution Content Providers and credits: Glass Doctor

How To Tell If Your Tires Need To Be Replaced

Posted on by Samuel

Quick Tip:

It’s important to inspect your tires every month for damage or wear. To gauge tread depth, you simply need a quarter. Put George Washington’s head into one of the big grooves of your tire tread. If the top of his head is flush with the tread, you have about 4⁄32 inch of tread left, meaning you have some grip remaining for rainy or snowy conditions. That’s the time when you should start shopping around for new tires. If you can see space above Washington’s head, you may need to replace your tires right away. If the tires are bald or you can see a material other than rubber on your tires, they need to be addressed immediately.

There are lots of good tire choices, but the right one depends on your vehicle, where you live, your driving needs and style.

If you need a recommendation for a tire repair shop, ask the best transmission repair shop in Salt Lake, J & G Transmissions. www.https://jandgtransmissions.com

 

What to Do When Your Car’s Engine Overheats

Posted on by Samuel

Want to know what to do when your car’s engine overheats? Or what to do when your temperature gauge needle jumps to 3/4 of capacity? Here are some simple tips to save you money.

 

Pull Over

 

The first thing you need to do is to pull over and get out of traffic. Move to a safe place as soon as you can. Do not try to drive to the nearest gas station because this may burn up your engine.

 

Turn Your Heater On

 

Turn your heater and fan on high. Open the windows if it is in the summer and turn off the air conditioner. Turning on the heater will transfer some heat from your engine to the heater core. This may quickly bring down the engine temperature.

 

Lift the Hood

 

If you have steam coming from the hood, do not open it until the steam stops. You could be badly burned by it.

 

Open the Coolant Overflow Reservoir Cap After 5 Minutes

 

Do not open the radiator cap while the engine is still hot. It will release steam and very hot coolant which could severely burn you. It could also hit you in the face. Once it is cool (check the temperature gauge), place a rag over the coolant overflow reservoir cap and slowly open it.

 

Fill the Radiator

 

Look over the hoses and check for damage or leaks. If there are none, add antifreeze or water – if you have it. Otherwise, you will need to call a garage for help. In the warmer months, it is a good idea to carry a gallon of engine coolant or water with you.

If your engine overheats after you allow it to cool and add coolant, contact J & G Transmissions for recommendations on engine overheat, engine overheat problems, engine overheat or transmission overheat. 

In the great city of Murray, UT, J & G Transmissions can provide service to ensure your vehicle is ready for a vacation and working properly. For more information, call us today at (801) 262-2321 or visit www.jandgtransmissions.com

Dogs Are Too Cool For Hot Cars

Posted on by Samuel

Keep your dog cool! In Utah, it can be freezing and raining in the morning and then heat up in the afternoon, making your car, yard, or patio, a dangerous place for your pet. A good rule of thumb is once it’s over 55 degrees outside, it’s too hot to leave your dog in your car.

Hot Weather Do’s & Don’t to Keep Your Dog Safe

Hot Cars: Once outside temperatures reach 70-degrees, temperatures in a car can exceed 116-degrees within 10 minutes. Even on a mild 75-degree day, cracking a window in your car or parking in the shade doesn’t make a difference. Temperatures inside the vehicle are deadly. Dogs can suffer from heatstroke, irreparable brain damage, or even death.

If you see a pet inside a vehicle, excessively panting, non-responsive, drooling, or listless, call Salt Lake County Animal Service’s Dispatch number immediately: 801-840-4000. Never break a window of a vehicle on your own to pull out a pet, you could be liable for damages. Take a photo of the pet, the license plate, and give that information to Animal Control Officers.

Hot Pavement: Dogs can burn their paws on the sidewalk in the summer. When in doubt test the surface yourself: place the back of your hand on the pavement. If you CAN’T stand the heat for FIVE seconds, it’s too hot for you to walk your dog. Walk your dog early in the morning, later in the evening, and leave them at home when heading to festivals or farmer’s markets.

Hot Balconies: Despite being covered, a balcony can get very hot, VERY fast. A dog left on a balcony may try to escape and injure themselves when they’re left alone and hot. A bowl of water is easily overturned, and the pet is left anxious, dehydrated, and in similar conditions as a hot car. If you see or hear a pet on a balcony that’s in distress call Animal Control: 801-840-4000.

For additional information please email animalcontrol@slco.org.
Thank you to Salt Lake County Animal Services for contributing article content.

J and G Transmissions supports animal safety and proper animal car.

Trailering and Towing Tips for Pick-up Trucks

Posted on by Samuel

1. Stay Within Your Limits. Review the towing capacity of your specific vehicle and ensure it’s capable of handling the weight of your trailer. Exceeding the maximum towing capacity can result in dangerous handling, insufficient braking performance, or serious damage to the vehicle’s suspension, engine, transmission and drivetrain. In addition to ensuring your vehicle’s towing capacity is sufficient for your trailer, also make sure your trailer hitch is capable of handling your trailer’s loaded weight. Your hitch should be labeled with the maximum trailer and maximum tongue weights it can safely support. Depending on the weight of your trailer, you should also follow your owner’s manual’s recommendations regarding the use of weight carrying or weight-distributing hitches.

Don’t assume all versions of a certain model line share identical tow ratings. Towing capacities can differ by body styles, bed lengths, transmissions, engines, drivelines, and other equipment installed on the vehicle. Likewise, different hitch designs can handle different weights, and certain designs may be required for trailers over a certain weight. Always check the owner’s manual for the vehicle’s towing capacity.

If you plan on also carrying extra cargo or several passengers, you should also ensure you’re not overloading the tow vehicle itself. Refer to the gross vehicle weight (GVW) issued for your particular vehicle and ensure your loaded vehicle does not exceed the manufacturer’s rating. Likewise, ensure your loaded vehicle and loaded trailer do not exceed the gross combination weight rating (GCWR) set by the manufacturer.

2. Pack your trailer properly. Not only is it incredibly important to stay within the trailer’s maximum load capacity, but it’s also important to ensure any cargo is properly positioned. Not only do you want roughly 60% of the trailer’s load placed over the front half of the trailer, but you also should load it in a way that results in a tongue weight on conventional hitch trailers that is between 10-15% of the total weight of the loaded trailer. Ensure weight is evenly distributed on the left and right sides of the trailer. Once the load is properly distributed and the ideal tongue weight is achieved, all cargo should be secured to prevent the load from shifting.

3. Check your tires. This goes for both your tow vehicle and your trailer. Tires that are not properly inflated can negatively affect handling. Further, underinflated tires can create more rolling resistance, which not only forces the engine to work harder and consume more fuel, but also increases tire temperatures and may contribute to a blow-out. Refer to the tire pressure label placed in the driver’s doorjamb for proper inflation pressures for the tow vehicle. Additionally, check the speed rating on the tires for both your tow vehicle and trailer, and ensure you never exceed that speed while on the road.

Preparing for a long trip? Check the tire pressures of the spare tires provided for your vehicle and your trailer and ensure they’re inflated up to spec. Additionally, consider allowing more time to inspect your trailer’s hub bearings before towing, and ensure they’re in good order and properly greased.

4. Check your lights. The taillights and marker lights on your trailer may seem superfluous, but they’re quite important. Large trailers or loads may block the view of the tail lights on your tow vehicle. If the lights on your trailer aren’t illuminated, other drivers may not see your vehicle, especially at night. Accidents can occur if the tail lights are not working. Have someone stand behind the vehicle while it is in park to check the turn signals, tail lights and brake lights function properly.

5. Check Your Brakes. Smaller, lighter trailers may not need trailer brakes of any kind, but heavier trailers, or those designed to carry heavier loads, will usually incorporate a trailer brake system. Most truck manufacturers have trailer brake requirements above varying weights.

Regardless of trailer brake type, make sure the emergency “breakaway” cable is properly attached to your tow vehicle. In case your trailer somehow disconnects from the hitch, this cable is designed to trigger the brakes on the trailer and quickly bring it to a halt.

6. Adjust Your Mirrors. Before taking off, make sure your side-view mirrors are adjusted to create a clear view that extends to the end of the trailer. Many manufacturers offer mirrors specifically designed for towing that extend in order to expand the mirror’s field of vision.

Special thank you to GMC Life for the article content

Visit the J&G Transmissions official blog for more how-to’s for your pickup truck.

How to Tell if Your Transfer Case Output Shaft Seal is Going Bad

Posted on by Samuel

Being able to shift on the fly from two to four-wheel drive without having to get out and lock the wheel hubs is a luxury that most of us take for granted, especially during a nasty Utah winter storm. A number of newer vehicles are equipped with part-time four-wheel drive systems, that will engage either manually when the driver selects a two, four low or four high mode. Or, automatically when the onboard computer senses that wheel traction is reduced by weather or road conditions if the vehicle is engineered to do so. The physical part of the vehicle that activates this action is the transfer case, which has an output shaft that delivers power to the drive axle. As vehicles age, the seals that connect these components together can dry up, wear out, or break. If this occurs, they will have to be replaced sooner rather than later to avoid further damages to the vehicle’s drive system.

Where and what is the transfer case output shaft seal?

The transfer case output shaft seal is located on the transfer case of four-wheel drive vehicles. The transfer case physically changes between two-wheel drive neutral, to low four-wheel, and then to drive high four-wheel. Inside the case are a series of gear reductions and chain drives that work together to supply power to the drive axles, giving the vehicle the option of four-wheel drive.

The transfer case output shaft is what connects the driveline to the rear differential or front differential.

The transfer case output seal prevents fluid from leaking out of the transfer case, keeping the internal metal components properly lubricated.

If the seals leak, fluid escapes and cannot properly lubricate the internal components of the transfer case. With time and use the parts inside will wear out and overheat. This can render the transfer case useless and the vehicle will no longer be able to shift into four-wheel drive.

Possible signs your transfer case needs replacement:

Vehicle jumps in and out of four-wheel drive

Sometimes the loss of fluid will cause the vehicle to jump in and out of four-wheel drive without driver activating the switch. This is often caused by broken parts inside the transfer case. If you have a leaking seal, you may notice transmission fluid under your vehicle. More often than not, the vehicle only leaks when it is driving. In this scenario the shaft can siphon and fling the fluid, leaving the driver unaware of the worsening condition. If this is the case, the seal needs to be replaced as soon as possible.

Vehicle has difficulty shifting gears

The seals that keep fluid inside the transfer case and also the transmission, are vital for your vehicle’s ability to shift properly. When fluid leaks from a broken seal, the fluid volume working inside the transmission is reduced. This causes a drop in fluid pressure that is vital for proper operation in an automatic or manually shifted transmission. If you notice that your transmission is having difficulty shifting between gears, you should bring your vehicle into a transmission repair shop for diagnosis as soon as possible. The earlier shifting problems can be diagnosed, often times the lower the cost of the repairs.

Your vehicle makes grinding noises underneath the vehicle

A broken or worn output shaft seal can cause noises under the vehicle. Many times these noises are caused by low levels of lubricants inside the transfer case or metal-to-metal grinding. If you hear noises like this, it’s time to bring the vehicle in for diagnosis.

We are happy to offer a free diagnosis of transfer case or transmission repair issues in our Murray, Utah location.

How to avoid Transfer Case problems

Be vigilant in checking fluids. Even if you do not change the fluids on your vehicle yourself, we still recommend checking the fluids yourself. This practice can save you a lot of money over time.

J and G Transmissions is the best transmission repair shop in the Salt Lake Valley. We are located at 4782 South 500 West, Murray, UT 84123. Call us at 801-262-2321.

 

Other topics: How to tell if your transfer case is bad

How to Winterize Your Car

Posted on by Samuel

Winter is coming to Utah, so let’s talk about how to winterize your car. 

Keep powered up:

Check your battery. Cold weather is tough on your car’s battery. The chemical reactions required to generate power in a car battery slow down in extremely cold temperatures. At 5 degrees F, a fully charged lead-acid battery has only half its rated amp-hour capacity. On top of that, during cold weather, your engine requires more current from the battery in order to get the engine started. Combine less power output with more power requirements and you get a car that won’t start on a cold winter morning. So have a mechanic run a battery load test to see if you need to replace the battery. Even if you don’t, he’ll check for and clean up any corrosion he finds on your posts and connections. The mechanic might also fill your battery with distilled water if needed.

See clearly:

Change your wiper blades and refill your wiper fluid. You need to see the road to drive safely, but the build-up of winter precipitation and salt on your windshield can greatly reduce visibility. Working windshield wipers and a solid supply of wiper fluid will ensure that you have a clear line of sight even in the nastiest snowstorm. Wiper blades are only good for a year. Replace yours if they look frayed or worn. If your neck of the woods gets hit by hard winters, you might consider buying wiper blades designed for winter weather. Top off your wiper fluid reservoir with a brand that has a lower freezing temperature.

Get a grip:

Consider getting snow tires. If you live in an area that’s covered with snow for most of the winter, you should swap your regular all-season tires out for snow tires. Snow tires are made of a softer rubber than all-season tires which allows them to retain flexibility in the bitterest of cold. Snow tires also have tread patterns specially designed to grip into snow and ice. Don’t get the wrong idea about snow tires. They won’t magically remove the chance of you slipping and sliding in your car, but they do provide more traction than the regular variety.

Under pressure:

Check your tire pressure. If you don’t replace your regular tires with snow tires, at least keep them properly inflated during the winter. Cold weather causes air pressure in your tires to drop. For every 10 degree drop in temperature, your tire’s air pressure will drop about 1psi. A properly inflated tire ensures the best possible contact between the road and the tires which is essential for safe traction when driving in wintry conditions.

4X4:

Check your four-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive can provide better traction when driving on snowy and icy roads… that is if it’s working correctly. Have your 4WD checked by a mechanic before winter weather sets in. They’ll ensure the system engages smoothly and that the transmission and gear fluids are at their correct level. Also, if you haven’t used your vehicle’s 4WD in a while, now’s a good time to review how to operate it.

Freeze tag:

Check your anti-freeze mixture. The mixture of anti-freeze and water in your radiator should be about 50:50. (We recommend 100% antifreeze because this is Utah.) This will prevent the coolant in your radiator from freezing. If you want to check the composition of your radiator’s fluid, you can pick-up an inexpensive anti-freeze tester at your local auto parts store.

Stock up:
Stock your car with emergency supplies. You never know when you’ll get stranded on the side of the road in a hellacious blizzard. Be prepared by having your car packed with emergency supplies. Read the article we wrote last year on 13 things you should keep in your car. It could save your butt one day.

Change is good:
Change the oil and adjust the viscosity. In order for your engine to run, it needs proper lubrication from oil. Unfortunately, cold weather reduces the oil’s effectiveness. The colder it is outside, the thicker the oil gets, and thick oil doesn’t circulate through your engine as easily as thin oil. Consequently, your engine doesn’t get the lubrication it needs during start-up and you’re left with a car that won’t start.

To be on the safe side change your oil to one that is thinner to begin with. To find out the proper viscosity (that’s the thickness or thinness of a liquid) of oil you need in the winter, check the owner’s manual for your car. They usually have information on proper viscosity levels for different climates.

Old belts fail at the worst times:
Check your belts and hoses. Cold temps can weaken the belts and hoses that help make your engine run. Check them for any signs of wear and tear and have them replaced if needed. If a belt snaps while you’re driving, you’ll have to wait for a tow truck to come pick your cold, grinchy self  up.

 

Watch and Learn:

Watch our video on How NOT to Burn Up Your Transmission in the snow. https://youtu.be/KxA-4XWT4Go

TYPES AND BENEFITS OF TRANSMISSIONS

Posted on by Samuel

Most vehicles driven in the United States are equipped with an automatic or manual transmission. There are, however, other variations of the automatic transmission that are used today in vehicles such as the CVT (constantly variable transmission) dual-clutch transmission.

Manual Transmissions are the oldest of the four types of transmissions we are talking about. They are also called “Standard Transmissions”. With a manual transmission, the driver has to manually change the gears for the transmission to shift gears to optimize a mix of speed and power. This is predominantly done with a shifting lever located near the center console on the driver’s right. The driver foot pedals will also have a third pedal, known as a clutch pedal. Both the stick shifter and the third pedal are indicators the vehicle has a standard transmission.

Automatic transmissions shift themselves automatically between neutral and other gears based on driver input from the throttle, brake, and automatic shift lever or button. The central computer controls the automatic transmission. Automatic transmissions have some advantages over their manual transmission cousins. They have the potential to be more fuel-efficient when driven under normal conditions. They offer smoother shifting and allow hands-free operation and are more convenient in traffic. Automatic transmissions do not offer the same degree of control as a manual transmission, so you won’t find manual transmissions going away anytime soon.

A Dual Clutch Transmission would best be described as a “hybrid” of the manual and automatic transmissions. Sporty vehicles with dual clutches are quite popular in the United States and especially Utah. Dual-clutch transmissions and popular because it uses two clutches and switches gears faster than a manual or automatic transmission. This combination allows for faster acceleration and slowing.

The RV Preparation Checklist

Posted on by Samuel

The RV Preparation Checklist
• Check the RV batteries and make sure they have a full charge
• Flush the RV water system and refill with potable water
• Check for any water leaks
• Check RV Appliances
• Check RV Tires
• Check Fluids in Engine and Generator and Change As Needed
• Inspect The Seams & Seal
• Perform A Full Safety Check

1. Check the RV batteries
Batteries are a great place to start your spring spruce up. Batteries lose up to 10% of their energy per month when in storage and not in use. It’s important to make sure your batteries are fully charged your batteries and have the correct water levels (check your battery manual). If the batteries were removed for storage make sure they are reconnected correctly. Remember! Batteries can be dangerous. Take every precaution, and if you aren’t comfortable messing with them have a service engineer do the process for you.

2. Flush The RV Water Tank, check for leaks and sanitize
• Connect one end of your drinking hose to city water and the other to the RV.
• Run the water continuously through the entire system. You want to remove every trace of the non-toxic RV antifreeze you used to winterize.
• If you have an outside shower hose, be sure to flush that as well.
• If for any reason your freshwater tank had antifreeze added to it you will need to drain off any remaining water from the tank.
• Next, add fresh potable water and turn the water pump on. Open every faucet in your RV and keep the water running until the water runs clear.
• Once clear water appears you can turn off the pump and close the faucets.
• Fill the water heater tank with potable water and flush that system out with fresh water. There should be no remnants of antifreeze in the system.
• Once the system is completely flushed you can replace your water filter cartridge if you have one.

Now it’s time to check for leaks.
Grab a flashlight and turn on the water pump. Wait until the sound of the pump stops. Once the water pump stops and the water is pressurized you can turn the pump off and begin your search. Look underneath your sink cabinets, around the toilet, and inside your basement compartments. Anywhere water might flow you want to watch for potential leakage. Take your time with this process. If you locate a leak be sure to have it repaired before you leave on your first trip of the season.
• Close all the drains and make sure drain plugs are in.
• Use a quarter cup of household bleach per 15 gallons of freshwater (if your water tank holds 30 gallons you will need a half cup of bleach). Combine the bleach with fresh water in a gallon container and then pour it into your partially full freshwater tank. Fill the water tank completely.
• Turn the pump on and let the water run through the faucets.
• In a short time, you will begin to smell bleach. Close the faucets and let the tank sit overnight.
• In the morning, drain all the water from the tank and fill it with fresh water.
• Turn the pump back on and let the faucets run and run until you no longer smell bleach.
• If necessary, you may want to repeat this process over the next couple of days.
Completing this process will give you peace of mind knowing that your water is clean and fresh every time.

3. Check the RV Appliances
If your RV uses propane (Also called LP gas) you need to check the tanks, the connections, the valve, and the firing operation. Propane is often used to operate the hot water, the fridge, and the stove. If something isn’t working correctly have your system checked by a professional. Make sure to have a leak test and a gas pressure test each year. You want to be sure that this highly important system is working safely.

If you have refillable propane tanks check the dates on the tanks. Most people are unaware that their propane tanks expire and must be re-certified for safety. Check yours annually.

Once your propane appliances are in compliance spending some time checking your microwave, air conditioner, fridge, or any other electric appliance in your rig. Make sure you plug into a solid source of 30 or 5- amp power. Many people choose to park their RV at an RV park while they test out their systems each spring.

4. Check the RV Tires
Tires are a hot topic in the RV industry. Some companies say RV tires should be fully replaced every 5 years. Others claim that if properly cared for they can last 10 years. Either way, you must check your tires to be sure they are ready for the season. Your entire home relies on the safety of these wheels, so give them the attention they deserve.

First, check the air pressure. While in storage tires loose pressure. Check your manual and fill each tire according to the recommended PSI. Inspect each tire for tread wear and cracking especially in the sidewalls. If you have any concerns, be sure to have a professional inspect the tires prior to leaving on a trip.

Don’t let a blow out happen to you. Check those tires!

5. Inspect the RV Engine and Generator
Now we are ready to tackle the engine! Yes, the all-important parts that get you where you want to go deserve some attention too.
Start by checking all of the fluid levels and make sure they are full and fresh. If you don’t know what your coach uses look in your owner’s manual or contact your dealer. Here are the fluids you want to check:

• Transmission
• Power Steering
• Engine Coolant
• Engine Oil
• Windshield Washer
• Brake Fluid
• Generator Oil

If you have low fluids in one area this may indicate a problem or a leak. Take some time to figure out what is happening to the fluid. You will want to service your engine and the fluids on a regular basis. If you have been doing that and you have an issue, be sure to take it in to be looked at before you leave on a trip.
Now check all of your gauges. Are they giving accurate readings?
Check all your lights. Check the lights on your trailer and the connections between your RV and your trailer.
Check your registration, insurance and vehicle emissions sticker. Is everything up to date? If not, stop what you are doing and go get it done!
Your generator has been off for a long time and will need to be served according to the manual. Make sure the oil level is correct before you attempt to start the generator. If you didn’t store it correctly, you may have trouble restarting it. Inspect the exhaust area before starting. Do you see any problems? If not, start the generator and plan to let it run for a couple of hours. It doesn’t have to be on full load, but it needs to run for a while to get the engine ready for the season. The last thing you want is to travel without a generator.
Take the time to make sure everything is working properly.

6. Check the RV Seams
Most people forget about their RV seams. This is a mistake you don’t want to make. Each and every seam has leak potential. If you inspect and reseal the seams one or two times a year you are less likely to have a leak.

Start by inspecting the roof and moving down over the body of the rig. Look for any openings, cracks or forms of damage. Is there any separation? Is there a specific area that shows wear? Use RV compatible sealants and research which type of sealant is best for the material you want to repair. If your roof shows wear you may want to consider having it professionally resurfaced and sealed. Ask your local RV dealer for their personal recommendation. If you plan to work on the roof yourself, please be careful.

7. Explore Your Safety
With the outside complete, it’s time to move back in the RV. You will want to check the following devices and update their batteries or have the items inspected and recharged

• Smoke detector
• Carbon Monoxide Detector
• PL Gas Leak Detector
• Fire Extinguisher

These 7 steps are an essential part of preparing for a safe road trip. Don’t skimp. Take the time to inspect each part of your RV’s system. If you are unable to do the work yourself, book a spring session with a recommended RV technician.
If you’re feeling energetic, consider a spring cleaning in the inside of your coach as well. Here are a few things to freshen up:

• Bedding and Towels
• Rugs
• Blinds or Curtains
• Floors
• Inside the fridge and freezer
• Wipe the pantry and the drawers
• Wipe the shelves
• Wipe cabinets inside and out
• Blankets
• Lawn Furniture
• Wash All Pots, Pans and Dishes
• Clean under the sinks
• Wash the windows inside and outside
• Clean the mirrors
• Toss old toiletries and add new

You may not have time to do every step listed, but this list gives you an idea of what may be needed. Every RV will be different. The key is to set time aside to prepare for the RV season. Don’t wait until the last minute and skimp on your safety. If you’ve completed this simple RV preparation checklist you know you have done everything necessary for a great trip.

What about you? Do you have certain items that you think should be placed on the RV preparations checklist? Are there items that you check on your rig that are not listed above? Share your best tips and tricks to help others.