Safety First: Key Repairs and Upgrades for Your Travel Trailer or RV

It is all the rage to upgrade trailers and RVs to look cute and feel cozy, like tiny homes on wheels — but the upgrades that most trailer owners truly need are rarely seen on social media. Repairs and upgrades that focus on safety and security should be your top priority, as they will prolong the life of your vehicle and trailer while keeping you and your investment safe from harm.

Whether you are a proud new owner of an RV or you have been hauling your travel trailer around for years, here are a few upgrades you might want to consider before you plan your next big trip.

Upgrading Your Trailer

On the road…

Trailers and RVs are designed and built to withstand a good amount of wear and tear on the road, but there are ways to upgrade critical systems to increase longevity and safety. Advanced braking systems on your trailer can increase your feeling of security while towing, as they will help you bring your entire rig to a stop with greater ease. If you frequently travel on icy or wet roads, you might also invest in better tires, which can maintain traction on slick surfaces, as well as anti-corrosion coatings, which will prevent rust.

As important as upgrading these systems is maintaining them. At least once per year, you should have your trailer professionally inspected. Trailer mechanics know what types of damage to look for and fix to ensure continued safety on the roads. Then, every time you use your trailer, you should perform certain checks, like coupling security, tire pressure, electrical connections, and functioning brakes, so you won’t have any unhappy surprises while you are driving.

At your destination…

Safety should also be a primary concern when your trailer is parked. Many people take trailers and RVs to camp in wild, natural places. While campers’ culture is usually one of hospitality and generosity, and crime rates are generally low, there have been incidents of crime in campgrounds. Therefore, you should take precautions to keep you and your belongings safe.

To start, you should consider replacing the locks of your doors, windows, and exterior storage. Most RV and trailer locks use a universal key, which makes it easier for you to find a replacement if your key gets lost but also makes it easier for any other trailer owner to break into your stuff. You might also place locks around valuable components outside your trailer, like batteries or propane tanks. New locks tend to be relatively inexpensive and easy to install yourself.

It might also make you feel more secure to install bright lights around your trailer. Especially when you are dispersed camping, visibility around your campsite can be low. Bright lights will help you navigate around hazards in your campsite, like rocks and logs, and deter potential troublemakers, like animals and criminals.

Upgrading Your Car

If your car is small…

It’s a common misconception that only enormous pickup trucks can haul trailers. Most small compact cars can tow between 1,000 and 2,000 pounds, which accommodates a surprising number of small campers and tent trailers. However, there are a few small car upgrades you may want to make to increase your car’s towing capacity and improve the safety of your vehicle and trailer while you tow.

For example, you almost certainly want to upgrade your braking system to include heavy-duty parts, so you can stop your heavy load quickly when you need to. You might also want to install high-performing axles and a stronger suspension system, both of which will improve your steering control and reduce vehicle damage from towing long distances.

If your car is large…

If you have a truck or SUV, you might assume that your vehicle is already equipped with all the essentials for towing heavy loads like trailers — and you aren’t exactly wrong. Indeed, large cars designed for hauling usually come with enhanced systems designed to keep towing capacity high, such as larger engines, stronger suspensions, and better brakes. You can upgrade these systems further, but if you are towing a moderate-sized travel trailer, you probably don’t need to.

However, there are still a few upgrades you might make to your truck or SUV to ensure that it is as safe as possible, both while you are towing and not. For example, some highly recommended aftermarket upgrades for vehicles hauling heavy loads include:

• Upgraded hitch receiver, which will distribute heavy weights more evenly across the vehicle’s frame.
• Performance tuner, which optimizes a vehicle’s transmission settings to improve engine efficiency.
• Transmission cooler, which helps dissipate excess heat in the transmission, reducing failure risk.

Conclusion

When you invest in a travel trailer or RV, you suddenly realize how much more enjoyable it can be to travel slowly. When you are traveling with your home, you get the opportunity to spend real time in each destination, immersing yourself in the local culture and connecting more meaningfully with your new surroundings. You can keep your travel costs low and your quality experiences high.

Still, there are potential downsides to living in a trailer — namely, security and safety. Literally a mobile home, your trailer will be subjected to all sorts of potential harm while on the road, from bumps and scrapes to traffic accidents to grand theft auto. Plus, trailers aren’t quite as secure as a traditional home, so to keep your belongings and yourself safe, you might need to put some time and money into upgrading your space.

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