When owning a pop-up camper or preparing for an upcoming trip, it’s important to go through a routine maintenance checklist. This way, you spot any issues or things that need to be done before heading out for the open road. Here’s a quick overview of things to put on your pop up camper maintenance checklist:
- Lubricate the cable system that raises the camper
- Check the air pressure in the tires
- Look for any wear marks on tires
- Verify that all exterior towing lights work
- Grease the wheel bearings
- Take out and clean your AC filter
Now, let’s dive into the details.
1. Lubricate the cable system that raises the camper
Easily the largest mechanical operation on a pop-up camper is the cable system and rollers that raise the camper. It’s a core element of the trailer, and important to lubricate the system with grease on a regular basis.
Make sure to get into the fittings on the rollers and glide it through for full coverage. You’ll typically hear a bit of noise or feel some tension if it’s too dry.
2. Check the air pressure in the tires
This is one thing you do not want to slack on. Without proper air pressure in your tires, you could potentially have a blowout on the highway barrelling down at 70 miles per hour. Each time you plan to travel with your pop up camper, use a tire pressure gauge such as this one:
In order to know what your tire pressure should be, check the sticker label on the inside of the camper, owner’s manual, or on the wheels. If your tire pressure is too low, it’s quick and easy to fill up at a local gas station or at home if you have an air compressor.
3. Look for any wear marks on tires
Pop up camper tires aren’t built like regular car tires. Since they’re only designed to be on the road for short periods of time heading to and from a campground, they don’t last for miles and miles of travel. With that in mind, you’re going to want to check for wear marks. These thin tires can tend to bald much faster and need replacement every 3 to 5 years depending on how much you use your camper.
Of course, your mileage may vary, based on terrain, climate, and a variety of other wear factors.
4. Verify that all exterior towing lights work
Police officers will pull you over and give you a ticket without functioning trailer lights according to the laws in your state. Not only that, but it’s also a danger to other drivers on the road! With the electrical outlets that plug into your tow vehicle, make sure everything is in the right spot, your blinkers work, and the lights are on and visible.
5. Grease the wheel bearings
Inside of the wheels, over the axel of the trailer, there will be wheel bearings. You’ll want to grease and keep these lubricated as well. If they’re a bit old or worn out, you may even want to replace them. In some cases, the wheel bearing caps can even come off. If this happens, you’ll want to find a replacement set to keep the bearing protected from dirt and debris on the road.
6. Take out and clean your AC filter
One of the only interior pop up camper maintenance areas is your air conditioning unit. Inside there will be an AC filter, like the one you’d find in a typical home. These filters are a bit smaller and need to be cleaned whenever it gets dirty, which isn’t too often. You may only need to do this once or twice.
Conclusion
In general, there’s relatively low maintenance with a pop-up camper. With only a small trailer box on wheels, and no trailer brakes (due to its low weight), there isn’t much too much to worry about. The minimal maintenance is a plus when considering a pop-up camper vs a travel trailer or other RV options on the market.