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Every week during Tech Tip Tuesday, we get questions from RV owners who are actually out there using their rigs—not theoretical “what ifs,” but real problems that come up on the road. This week, three solid questions rolled in, covering solar panels, wheel bearing safety, and gray tank maintenance.
Let’s dig into them.
1. Damaged Solar Panel: Replace It or Run It Alongside the New One?
A viewer wrote in with a good problem to have. One of his 400-watt solar panels was damaged and only producing about half its output. The manufacturer honored the warranty and sent a replacement panel that was slightly larger.
The question was simple:
Should the damaged panel stay on the roof and the new one be added, or should the bad panel be replaced entirely?
Here’s the straight answer: replace it.
While it’s tempting to leave the partially working panel in place and just add more capacity, that damaged panel is already compromised. If it fails completely a few months from now, you’re right back on the roof—scraping sealant, pulling tape, removing mounts, and patching holes all over again.
Pulling the bad panel now means:
- You clean and reseal once
- You eliminate future roof work
- All panels on your system are producing efficiently
- You reduce the risk of water intrusion later
If a panel is already damaged, odds are better than zero that more damage is coming. Solar systems work best when every component is healthy, not limping along.
2. Can You Use Hydraulic Leveling Jacks to Lift the RV for Bearing Service?
Another question came from a full-time traveler who does the right thing—having wheel bearings repacked every year. Without standard jacks on board, the idea was to use hydraulic leveling jacks to lift one wheel at a time for service.
Is it possible?
Yes.
Is it safe?
That’s where the answer changes.
Most leveling system manufacturers do not recommend using their hydraulic jacks for tire changes or bearing service. The reason is simple: hydraulics can drift or leak down. Even a slow loss of pressure can be dangerous when you’re working around wheels and suspension components.
If bearing service is done outside of a shop:
- The RV must be supported with proper jack stands
- Hydraulic jacks alone should never be trusted as the sole support
- Safety backups matter more than convenience
This isn’t about whether it can be done—it’s about whether it should be done. From a safety standpoint, jack stands are non-negotiable.
3. Gray Tanks: They’re Not as “Clean” as People Think
The last question of the day was a big one:
How do you properly clean gray tanks?
Here’s the truth that surprises a lot of RV owners:
Gray tanks can be dirtier than black tanks.
Most RVs don’t have gray tank flush systems, and many owners treat gray tanks casually because they’re “just soapy water.” In reality, gray tanks collect:
- Food debris
- Grease
- Coffee grounds
- Soap scum
- Bacteria
- Black mold
- Thick sludge over time
They go rancid. They grow things. And they absolutely need attention.
Some basic best practices:
- Limit what goes down the drains—water only when possible
- Use tank treatment products in gray tanks, not just the black tank
- Dump gray tanks regularly
- Don’t assume they’re self-cleaning
Even with good habits, gray tanks eventually need professional cleaning. When they’re serviced properly, what comes out can be shocking—thick buildup, mold, and debris most people never realize is there.
Final Thoughts
These questions all point to the same theme: doing things right the first time saves work, risk, and money later.
- Replace damaged equipment instead of stacking problems
- Don’t trade safety for convenience
- Take care of systems you don’t see before they become bigger issues
That’s how you keep an RV running reliably—on the road, season after season.
And that’s this week’s tech tip.
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