By BRVR Staff
May 2019
This article reviews the top 10 books about RV maintenance available online.
New owners should read the best books about RV maintenance before setting out on their first camping adventure. Whether Class A, B, or C, recreational vehicles are big beasts that bring all the amenities of home on the road. Since the 1950s, RVs have grown increasingly popular for traveling far and wide without hotel reservations. According to the RV Industry Association, 10 million American families now own a recreational vehicle. If you’re among them, understanding how to operate an RV properly and safely is essential. Driving and maintaining an RV is much different than standard cars. Since RVs currently have an average price of $40,000, you’ll want to protect your expensive investment. Fortunately, bookstores are filled with how-to guides to get started. The following are the top 10 books about RV maintenance written by knowledgeable authors to prepare novices for getting behind the wheel.
1. Best RV Tips from RVTipOfTheDay.Com
Best RV Tips from RVTipOfTheDay.Com is a 212-page paperback published by full-time RVer and Escapees Club member Steven Fletcher in 2013. Its 16 easy-to-read chapters are filled with tips shared by camping experts with years of experience. The nearly 400 tips cover wide-ranging topics, such as battery repair, electrical system wiring, and toilet tank installs. Best RV Tips from RVTipOfTheDay.Com promises to save newbies money and madness.
2. RV Repair and Maintenance Manual
The RV Repair and Maintenance Manual is a 390-page resource guide authored by Trailer Life magazine’s CCO Bob Livingston in 2002. This technical guru breaks down complex vehicle mechanics into simple terms to troubleshoot RV issues. Valuable charts and step-by-step checklists are included to fix anything from the air conditioner to the ice marker. The RV Repair and Maintenance Manual promises to protect drivers from costly mechanic visits.
3. RV Electrical Systems: A Basic Guide
RV Electrical Systems: A Basic Guide is a classic 272-page McGraw Hill publication written by Bill and Jan Moeller in 1994 to cover the fundamentals of wiring. It simplifies the unique components of the 120-volt alternating current and 12-volt direct current design. Readers learn to diagnose and remedy problems like blinking taillights or defective brakes. RV Electrical Systems: A Basic Guide will transform your circuit breaker from feared foe to friend.
4. The RV Handbook: Essential How-to Guide for the RV Owner
The RV Handbook: Essential How-to Guide for the RV Owner is an exhaustive 304-page reference penned by Bill Estes for Trailer Life Books in Spring 2001. It’s written for first-time buyers or renters to avoid common pitfalls and potholes in their journey. Crisp photos help illustrate helpful tips, including preventing dangerous propane leaks. The RV Handbook: Essential How-to Guide for the RV Owner is an excellent companion to pack on any expedition.
5. RV Living: The Ultimate Guide to Motorhome Living for Beginners
RV Living: The Ultimate Guide to Motorhome Living for Beginners is a digestible 172-page book bundle released by Matt Jones in 2018. The three-part manuscript is filled with practical suggestions for individuals seeking the freedom of a full-time RV residence. Topics addressed include the best campgrounds, cooking recipes, and packing lists. RV Living: The Ultimate Guide to Motorhome Living for Beginners even devotes a section to boondocking.
6. RV Living Full Time
RV Living Full Time is a 60-page quick read written by Kevin Moore and published by CreateSpace in Fall 2015 with 100+ important tips for transitioning to motorhome life. It begins with “The Initial Phase” that breaks down what to look for in recreational vehicles. Following short chapters dig into food prep, budgeting, travel safety, laundry, and more. RV Living Full Time helps outdoor enthusiasts throw caution to the wind and explore the world every day.
7. Woodall’s RV Owner’s Handbook
Woodall’s RV Owner’s Handbook is a premier 338-page, do-it-yourself fourth edition volume authored by experienced technician Gary Bunzer in 2009. The famed “RV Doctor” will prepare you for repairing common glitches and doing preventive maintenance. Each chapter has visual diagrams depicting the heating, towing, plumbing, and other systems. Woodall’s RV Owner’s Handbook aims to keep drivers moving along instead of broke down.
8. The RVer’s Bible: Everything You Need to Know
The RVer’s Bible: Everything You Need to Know is a humongous, 523-page tome presented by Kim and Sunny Baker in 1997 to welcome beginners into the lifestyle. Its three major parts examine how to choose, use, and enjoy a recreational vehicle. From winterization to weight management, readers learn the dos and dont’s of RV ownership. The RVer’s Bible: Everything You Need to Know features many funny notations that will keep you interested.
9. Airstream Life’s (Nearly) Complete Guide to Airstream Maintenance
Airstream Life’s (Nearly) Complete Guide to Airstream Maintenance is a trusted, 219-page paperback put together by Alumapooza co-producer Rich Luhr in 2015. Its 17 comprehensive chapters explain how every major system in Airstream RVs works. Solutions to prevalent problems like awning rips and flat tires are written specifically for this brand. Airstream Life’s (Nearly) Complete Guide to Airstream Maintenance can make your RV last forever.
10. RVing: The Idiot’s Guide
RVing: The Idiot’s Guide is a 352-page, easy-to-understand installment to the Alpha series penned by Brent Peterson and April Maher in 2018. This fourth edition is fully stocked with RV connoisseur advice to make your wildest travel dreams come successfully true. Key topics, such as route planning and insurance coverage, are simplified into terms even dummies get. RVing: The Idiot’s Guide brings newbies up to speed on how motorhomes function well.
Overall, don’t gas up your brand new RV for an exhilarating getaway without reading some primers first. You’re only ready to kick the dust up after some education in RV systems and mechanics. Add the above top 10 books about RV maintenance to your library to learn the ins and outs of your vehicle from bumper to bumper.
Related Reviews:
Top 10 Best Books About Boondocking
Top 10 Best Books About RVing in State Parks
Top 10 Best Books About RVing with Kids
Top 10 Best Books About RVing in State Parks
50 Most Amazing National Parks in the World
