One thing I’ve noticed as a certified RV inspector is that some owners forget or disregard safety in their rigs. I find non-working LP detectors, smoke alarms without batteries and fire extinguishers that are way outdated. Before your first camping trip this year, make sure to check these three safety devices. The fourth one you may find in any RV with a combustion engine is a carbon monoxide detector. Many toy haulers have these also because they are carrying gas for ATV’s and motorcycles.

Manufacturers stamp the date on the back of smoke alarms, LP detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers so you know when the product was made. It’s easy to remove LP detectors, usually just 2 or 4 screws to check the date on the back of the detector to see when it was manufactured. If it is over 7 years old, you need to replace it with a new one. For smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, replace them after 5 years, per manufacturers’ recommendations. Your fire extinguisher should have a full charge it it. If over 5 years old I would recommend replacing it also. You should have at least two or three extinguishers in your rig.

Safety is the most important thing to think about when owning an RV. Keep your family safe at all costs! Check the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide before going out on your first camping trip. If your LP detector was disconnected during winterization, connect it back up.

As always, send any questions you have our way and we will be happy to respond. Happy Camping!