This year, summertime comes to us as a mercy after a long, dark winter. More people than ever before are dusting off their RVs for summer vacation. As seasoned RV pilots know, towing and driving motorhomes and camper trailers can be pretty dangerous if you’re not careful. Make sure to start with one of the most important parts of traveling; properly inspecting your RV tires before shoving off. 

Make sure to double-check your RV tires 

RVs – whether motorhomes, camper vans, or camper trailers – tend to have long periods of time in which they aren’t being used. This typically means tires, fluids, and other aspects of these RVs run the risk of spoiling during this time. 

Bad fluids, dry tires, and spoiled gas aren’t small things; on rigs like these, any of these elements can quickly turn dangerous. So, not only do you have to remember to check them, you have to know how to assess their conditions, especially tires, properly. 

For every vehicle, tires should be at the top of the maintenance list. When dealing with something as cumbersome and heavy as an RV of any kind, tires become even more important. A blowout in a normal vehicle is dangerous enough. 

A blowout in a motorhome or travel trailer can be catastrophic. This is why proper RV maintenance is an absolute must before heading out for summer vacation. Keep a keen eye out for cracked or lumpy tires after sitting for extended periods of time. 

Do RVs need special tires? 

There are many different types of RVs, and they tend to require specific tries depending on what they do. For instance, a camper trailer, camper van, and motorhome all need different and weight-specific tires. 

According to RVShare, due to the weight variation of RVs, tire size and rating really matters. “RV trailer tires are going to be different from motorhome tires. And if you’ve got a truck camper, RV truck tires will be different from motorhome tires. In addition to the tires, you have to pay attention to RV rims and RV wheel sizes. 

When it comes to buying the right RV tires, it pays to be patient, do the research, and don’t be cheap. This is your summer vacation mobile, after all. The right tires will go a long way. 

How to take care of RV tires? 

According to Consumer Reports, taking care of your tires is just as important as buying the right ones in the first place. CR suggests cleaning your tires regularly.

Since RVs are often traveling far from home and for extended periods, scrubbing your tires can keep harmful chemicals and other materials from prematurely wearing your tires out. 

Another silent killer for your tires is the sun. Since RVs are often parked outside for long periods of time, the direct sunlight can slowly break down the materials of the tires. Extended time in direct sunlight will weaken the sidewalls. Make sure to cover your tires so that direct sunlight won’t bake them. 

RV maintenance is a must

We know how important tires are, but sometimes we need a friendly reminder. Like with normal passenger vehicles, RV tires should have the proper air pressure to help them last as long as possible.

Over- and under-inflated tires can both prematurely ruin tires. It is always a good idea to check tire pressure before a long trip. Also, make sure you have a good tire pressure gauge in the RV at all times. 

All these small steps may not feel like that big of a deal, but when you add them up, you get a much safer shot at traveling for a summer vacation.