Every spring, we get a wave of calls the week before Memorial Day. Slides that won’t extend. Air conditioners that haven’t been tested since October. Refrigerators that technically run but can’t hold temperature. In almost every case, the issue was there weeks earlier — it just hadn’t been caught yet. If you’re planning your first big trip of the season, this checklist exists to make sure you’re not one of those calls. Run through these 10 items now, while there’s still time to handle anything that comes up.
Why Pre-Season Inspections Matter (and Why Most People Skip Them)
The scenario plays out the same way every year. A family loads up the RV the night before Memorial Day weekend. They’ve been looking forward to this trip since February. They pull out of the driveway at 6am — and by mile 40, the AC isn’t keeping up. Or the slide won’t extend at the campground. Or the refrigerator that “seemed fine” is running but not cooling.
The repairs are almost always fixable. But not in 24 hours. Not before a holiday weekend. Pre-season inspections aren’t about being paranoid — they’re about catching small things while there’s still time to address them calmly, before your trip is on the line.
The 10-Point Checklist
1. Roof Seals and Seams
Walk around your RV and look at the roofline from the ground. Any visible cracks, separations, or areas where the sealant has pulled away from vents, AC units, antennas, or the front and rear caps are potential water entry points. Lap sealant degrades in 2–4 years. If yours hasn’t been touched since you bought the rig, it’s due for inspection. Water damage from a failed seal is silent — it hides behind wall panels and saturates wood framing before you ever see a ceiling stain.
2. Air Conditioning System
Turn your AC on and let it run for at least 15 minutes. Is it actually cooling the space? Does the compressor kick on? If the fan runs but the compressor doesn’t, or if it’s running but not dropping the temperature, you likely have a capacitor issue. Capacitors help the compressor start under load, and they weaken over a winter of sitting unused. This is one of the most common AC service calls we get every June — and it’s a quick, affordable fix when caught before your first hot-weather trip.
3. Slide-Out Operation and Seals
Extend your slide fully and then retract it. Any hesitation, grinding, or clicking sounds deserve attention. Also inspect the rubber seals — top, bottom, and sides. Seals that are dry, cracked, or have debris embedded in them won’t create a proper barrier against water or drafts. Wipe them down with a damp cloth and apply a seal conditioner (303 Protectant works well). A slow slide that’s ignored today often becomes a stuck slide at the worst possible time.
4. Refrigerator Performance
Turn your refrigerator on 48 hours before any trip — not the night before. This is especially critical for absorption-style refrigerators, which need time to reach proper temperature. Also make sure your rig is parked on level ground when you test it — absorption fridges use gravity as part of their cooling process and won’t work correctly if the RV is significantly tilted. If it’s running but not getting cold within a few hours, that’s worth a service call before your trip.
5. Propane System
Check that all propane connections are secure and that there’s no smell of gas at the regulator or connections. Turn on a stovetop burner and confirm it ignites cleanly and burns with a blue flame. Run your water heater on propane to verify ignition. A soapy water test on fittings (bubbles indicate a leak) is a quick way to check connections before any trip.
6. Brakes and Wheel Bearings
This is the safety-critical one. If you’re towing a trailer, verify that your brake controller is communicating properly with the trailer brakes. Test the breakaway safety battery. After a short drive, carefully feel near each wheel hub — any unusual heat can signal a wheel bearing issue. Grinding, pulling, or longer stopping distances when braking are all signs that a brake inspection is overdue.
7. Water System
If your fresh water tank sat unused all winter, sanitize it before the season. A simple bleach flush takes care of bacteria that build up in stagnant water. Also test your water pump — it should run briefly, pressurize, and stop. If it cycles on and off constantly without anyone using water, you have a pressure leak somewhere in the system.
8. Electrical and Battery
Test your 12V house battery — a fully charged flooded lead-acid battery should read around 12.6V. If it’s reading below 12V, it may need a full charge or replacement. Check your shore power cord for any cracking or damage to the insulation. Test GFI outlets. Verify the converter/charger is functioning while plugged in.
9. Awning
Extend and retract your awning. Check the fabric for tears, UV cracking, or areas where it’s pulling away from the roller. Inspect the arms and brackets for any bent or loose hardware. An awning showing wear is worth addressing before the season — a damaged awning that catches wind mid-trip can cause significant damage to the arm hardware or the RV’s siding.
10. Tires
RV tires lose pressure over winter — check cold inflation pressure against the placard on your rig. Also inspect the sidewalls carefully. Even if the tread looks fine, tires older than 6–7 years should be replaced regardless of mileage. A blowout on a loaded RV at highway speed is a serious safety event.
What to Do If Something Doesn’t Pass
Most of what comes up on this list is fixable. The key is catching it while there’s still time to address it properly. A small issue caught in May is usually a quick, affordable fix. The same issue discovered on a Thursday before Memorial Day weekend is a much harder problem to solve in time.
Can’t Do It Yourself? We Come to You.
Pull Through Sites is a mobile RV repair service based in St. Louis, Missouri. We handle pre-season inspections, mechanical repairs, and diagnostics right at your location — your driveway, your storage facility, wherever your rig lives. No hauling across town. No shop queue.
We serve the St. Louis area within a 60-mile radius. If you find items on this list that need attention — or if you’d rather have a professional run through it — we’re a call or text away.
📞 314-907-0937 | pullthroughsites.com
