Additional areas needing inspection are those around the clearance
lights, tail lights, rear view mirrors, and around accessories and
windows. All these areas can be resealed using a common silicone
based sealant/adhesive. However, when sealing windows and the
base of rear view mirrors, be careful as to keep from sealing over
any weep holes. These holes are designed to drain any water that
may have found its way to the inside of a window or mirror.
Keeping up on the maintenance of your sealants will keep your RV
looking beautiful for a long time. If you are not sure what types of
sealants should be used on any part of your RV, check with your
local dealer for advice and materials.
Corrosion Protection
Your RV has been designed to withstand normal environmental
conditions. But, the sand and salt used on the highways and the
salt spray in the air near oceans can cause the metal components
on your recreational vehicle to corrode.
To protect your recreational vehicle from this corrosion, it must be
thoroughly cleaned as soon as possible after exposure to these
elements. Washing the undercarriage with a high-pressure washer
will remove the majority of the salt. But, this will not replace the
paint that is literally sand-blasted off the undercarriage by the road
salt and sand.
Sand-blasted and corroded frame components must be refinished.
This can be done with readily available rust preventive paint and
undercoating. This is necessary to properly maintain your
recreational vehicle.
We have also found generators to be affected by salt spray. Since
the generator requires air for operation and cooling, the generator
compartment cannot be completely sealed from the elements.
Therefore, whenever the recreational vehicle is exposed to salt
spray, the generator should also be cleaned.
Aftermarket undercoating processes are also beneficial in rust
prevention. But, to remain effective, these treatments must be
inspected and renewed annually as most undercoating agents can
dry and peel with age. Therefore, regularly scheduled inspections
and maintenance is necessary to protect your recreational vehicle
and its various components and fixtures from the elements and
keep it corrosion-free.
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