MAINTENANCE MATTERS

Check the nicks of time

Your coach is designed to resist corrosion, but normal wear and tear takes its toll on protective coatings and surfaces. Corrosion can also appear where the metal has been damaged as the galvanic properties are often subtly changed at these locations, setting the corrosion process in motion. The first line of defense is to fix chipped paint and undercoating. These materials need to be maintained to protect the underlying metal.

Keep it clean

Frequently remove salt and other corrosive agents by washing not only the exterior body panels, but also the wheel wells, engine compartment, underbody, and anywhere else salt may collect. Don't forget the coach interior. Left unchecked over time, salt will find its way into almost everything. Sometimes an overlooked source of salt is the wash water itself, so be sure that your wash booth uses fresh or desalinated water.

Keep it dry

Salt crystals are fairly innocuous until they are dissolved in water. Once this occurs, however, salt reacts freely with metal. Salt trapped in snow and ice becomes more reactive when a coach is brought into a warm shop and snow turns to water. If you must wash off salt in an area that does not have adequate natural drainage, flush the area thoroughly with clean water and use compressed air to assist if necessary.

Some parts, such as electrical components, are incompatible with both salt and water. Use caution to ensure that you do more good than harm. For example, sealed connectors are not designed to withstand pressure-washing, which may simply push contaminants into the contact area. Oil and grease seals are other areas to avoid pressure-washing for the same reason.

The manuals that came with your coach are the best source of information when it comes to maintaining your coach, and you should review them carefully in conjunction with the above guidelines. Regardless of where your coach operates, a bit of preventative maintenance will go a long way to protect your investment.