When rainwater moves from your roof to the sides of your RV, it doesn’t just bring itself. It brings dirt and debris, too. Though dirt easily washes off, there’s no reason that you should have to wash your RV every single time it rains. RV gutter spouts extend the range of your gutters and ensure that whatever debris the rainwater tracks ends up on the ground, not on the sides of your RV. That’s why it’s vital for your RV—and for your own personal sanity—to make sure that your gutters function as they were intended. Installing gutter spouts can help ensure that’s exactly what happens.
Installing Gutter Spouts on Your RV
Although there will be individual directions that vary depending on the gutter you purchase, there are some universal steps that we should address here:
- Make sure you’re working with clean and clear gutters. If you’ve been putting off cleaning out your gutters, you can’t put it off any longer. You may have to do some manipulation of the existing gutters, which means that you’ll have to work with gutters that are clear of obstruction. If your gutters are already in working condition, consider just giving them a quick inspection before moving to the next step.
- Take out your new gutter spouts and hold them up to your RV gutters. Even before you read the directions, you’ll want to make sure that the sizing is right. Why bother? Because if you have to take the spouts back to the store and exchange them, you want them to be in the best possible condition. Before you install anything, hold the spouts up to the gutters and make sure you have a good fit.
- Follow the instructions of your gutter spouts. For example, if your instructions say to slip the spout behind your RV’s drip rail, then that should be your method of assembly. You may choose to mark and pre-drill gutter holes to ensure that the gutter spout stays in place, but make sure that this is an option explicitly stated in the instructions. If not, you might do more damage than good.
When the spout is the right fit for your RV gutters, you might even get away with using a minimal attachment—some owners use only glue. However, to ensure that you don’t have any problems down the line, make sure that you use the appropriate attachments (such as screws or fasteners) as outlined in your spout’s specific instructions.
Keeping Your RV Clean
That’s it! With the gutter spouts in place, your rainwater will flow into the spouts and away from the RV, keeping it clean and clear of streaks. Of course, it helps to have the right RV Cleaners on hand just in case!
