How To Find The Best And Cheapest Motorhome Or Camper Trailer RV Parts
74The Search For RV Repair Parts
As many RV owners eventually find out, repair parts for your travel trailer or motorhome can be very expensive if you get them through an RV sales dealer. If you are not concerned with the expense of repairing your RV, then this article will be of no interest to you.
But to those of us who enjoy saving a few bucks and are hands-on types, this article may save you quite a bit of money.There are several options for finding the best deals on RV or camper trailer replacement or repair parts.
These will be discussed in this article to give RV owners more than one choice for finding the particular RV repair parts they are searching for. Some RV parts may even be found in your local Lowe’s or Home Depot stores which makes repairs to your camper easier than you thought.
Keeping your RV in great shape
Obtaining RV Parts Locally
There are quite a few RV repairs which may be made using regular home type materials normally found at your local building supply dealers and hardware stores. Examples of this are electrical and plumbing repair products, roof sealants and coatings, and wood materials for replacement projects such as floor, wall, and ceiling repairs.
Even though many motorhomes and camper trailers use special breaker boxes with small specialized breakers, these breaker boxes may be replaced to use the more common, less expensive, house-type electrical breakers. This goes for the wiring and outlets too. Even if the walls are very thin there are shallow outlet boxes available which will work just fine in your RV.
Many motorhome or travel trailer plumbing repair parts may also be found locally. For waterlines and connections, flexible waterlines are now available in Lowe’s and Home Depot stores. These modern and easy to install products assure that no leaks occur because of the movement experienced during trips to your camping destination. These new plumbing products are great for modernizing old RVs and camper trailers.
The RV type toilets cannot be replaced by standard house-type toilets because of their weight and propensity to leak during travel. Replacing the special motorhome or camper trailer toilet will be addressed later on in this article.
Getting RV Parts Online
Finding RV Repair Parts Online
Ordering repair parts for your Motorhome or camper trailer online seems like a simple process. But like many other internet related searches this can be a frustrating experience because of the many false leads one has to wade through. There is no alternative but to check the availability of RV parts and prices with different online RV repair parts providers.
You will find that prices and shipping charges vary considerably from dealer to dealer. Try to check the RV parts dealers closest to you first for savings on shipping and for promptness of delivery. You may even find it necessary to order from a more distant location in order to save the most money.
In some cases it is not necessary to replace the particular RV part with the exact same type or make. This is true of many common parts which may also be used in a household situation. Starting capacitors used in RV AC units only need to have the same electrical properties as the malfunctioning capacitor to work well. The same can be said for switches and other common RV parts.
The Amazon backed repair parts linked on this page are usually among the best and most economical of online parts in my experience. This, plus having Amazon’s reputation for reliability, makes ordering online RV parts through Amazon links one of the best places to shop for replacement parts for your motorhome or camper trailer.
Checking Auto Salvage Yards For RV Parts
How To Find Used RV Parts
Because of the many RV’s and camper trailers involved in accidents on our highways, there are usually quite a few wrecked or damaged motorhomes and travel trailers in the junkyards. Since some of these RV units were used very little before being damaged, they are an excellent source for finding great deals on replacement or repair parts.
It is possible to find a barely used rooftop RV AC unit for less than half price at an auto parts salvage yard. This is also true in the instance of windows, doors, appliances and even furniture. Even finding a good toilet is not out of the question if you are not of the particular type.
Since many different makers of camper trailers and motorhomes use the same furnishings and materials, the make of the RV may not be critical to the particular replacement part. Simply contact the salvage yard and ask if you may inspect the wrecked camper or motorhome for parts you may need. They will be happy to assist you in any way.
Finding RV Parts At Auto Parts Stores
Auto Parts Supply Stores
Besides the engine and drive train parts for your motorhome, there are other handy items found at an Auto parts store which will help you in your RV repairs or maintenance project. Epoxy kits for repairing plastic radiators or water reservoirs may be used to patch a black or gray water holding tank. The auto parts stores also have a wide array of adhesives and epoxy glue kits for different applications.
With most motorhomes and camper trailers using a form of 12 volt DC electrical current to operate some systems in your RV, it is helpful to know the fuses and switches found at these auto parts stores may work well as replacement parts. The prices are usually very much lower than those bought from RV dealerships and RV parts suppliers.
So don’t be discouraged by the prices quoted for repairing your camper by a dealer or RV repair service. Many repairs may be accomplished by yourself or an ordinary repairman at great savings if you can get the RV repair parts form other sources. Look around at these different options for obtaining replacement parts for your motorhome or travel trailer and you will understand how much money there is to be saved.
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Readers, I can vouch for this guy. He knows what he's talking about when it comes to RVs and campers! Just don't ever take his advice about women or horses. lol. Thumbs up on a very useful article!
And you can lead a man to water, but sometimes it's difficult to hold his head under long enough!
Useful tips on rv repair, I like the DIY approach, it almost always means that you will learn something new and interesting.
thanks for the advice used to travel with my parents when I was a kid in our RV some of my greatest memories
This is great stuff Randy. Down to earth. I rent right now. I often consider what I'll do when my landlady goes to that great housing in the sky. I may leave the country. May go to Belize. May do something completely different. Happy trailers!
We have a travel trailer that is 12 years old, time has taken its toll but it is still in good condition and we try to do all of our repairs DIY, it is amazing the money you can save and what you can learn.
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Hello, hello, 23 months ago
I love Motorhomes and I think the best are the Americans. They are beautiful and especially ao practically fitted out. Your hub gave great advice about maintenance. Thank you.