It’s been a busy week of dodging cedar branches and navigating ranch gates here in the Texas Hill Country. While the views between Junction and Mason never get old, the repairs I’ve been seeing lately are a sobering reminder that a little bit of “RV prep work” goes a long way in the RV world.
From frozen pipes to uninvited insect guests, here’s a look at what kept me on the road this week.
Junction: The High Cost of a Hard Freeze
My first two stops were just outside of Junction, where the recent cold snap really left its mark. Texas winters might be short, but they are unforgiving to plastic plumbing and stagnant water.
- The First Call: A classic case of busted water lines. When water freezes, it expands with enough force to split PEX and shatter plastic fittings. It’s a messy, expensive fix that usually involves crawling into tight, uncomfortable spaces.
- The Second Call: This one hit the wallet a bit harder. The owner was dealing with a cracked exterior water filter housing and a cracked water heater tank.
The Reality Check: Both of these jobs were 100% preventable. A water heater tank is essentially a giant metal balloon; if it’s full of water and the temperature drops, physics is going to win every single time.
Mason: Supervised by Longhorns
Today, I headed out to a beautiful ranch outside of Mason. I had some pretty high-profile supervisors on this job—a herd of Longhorns kept a close eye on my truck the entire time.
The issue? A furnace that was blowing fuses. After some digging, I found the culprit: a massive, rock-hard mud dauber nest lodged right in the intake. These little wasps love the smell of propane and the cozy shelter of an RV furnace vent. They pack those tubes with mud, seizing the blower motor and blowing fuses.
Pro Tip: A simple $15 stainless steel mesh screen over your furnace and water heater vents would have kept those mud daubers out and saved this customer a service call.
How to Protect Your Rig (and Your Wallet)
If you want to spend your money on diesel and campsites rather than repairs, here is the “Hill Country Survival Guide” for your RV:
1. Winterization is Not Optional
Even if you’re staying in the south, you need a plan for when the mercury drops.
- Drain the Tank: If you aren’t using the RV, drain the fresh water tank and the water heater.
- Blow It Out: Use compressed air (regulated to about 30–40 PSI) to clear the lines, or run RV-grade antifreeze through the system.
- Don’t Forget the Filter: Always remove external filters and store them inside during a freeze.
2. Bug-Proof Your Vents
Texas bugs are industrious. Install stainless steel screens over: (order here)
- The furnace exhaust.
- The water heater vent.
- The fridge access panel.
Living the RV life in the Hill Country is incredible, but these machines require a bit of respect for the elements. A few minutes of prep today saves you a lot of headaches (and service call fees) tomorrow.
I hope everything goes good but if it does not,
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