OTTUMWA, IA – September 02, 2026 – PRESSADVANTAGE –
Bowling RVs is reminding recreational vehicle owners that seasonal preparation should begin before the first freeze, as service departments across the Midwest typically see rising demand for winterization, inspections, and storage-related work once Labor Day passes. The dealership’s service team handles both in-shop maintenance and mobile seasonal prep for motorhomes, travel trailers, and fifth wheels.
The reminder follows a familiar pattern in Iowa and neighboring states, where overnight temperatures can drop quickly in September and October. Industry guidance commonly advises owners to winterize plumbing before the first night that temperatures fall below freezing, because water left in lines, tanks, water heaters, and fixtures can expand and cause damage. Bowling RVs lists de-winterization and seasonal prep among the tasks its technicians perform at the dealership and through its mobile service unit.
Adam Bowling, Sales Manager and Vice President, said timing is the issue most owners underestimate. “September is when many households put their last trips behind them, and that is when plumbing, roof seals, batteries, and furnaces should be checked rather than after the first hard freeze,” Bowling said. “The service department schedules seasonal work because demand increases once storage season begins.”
The dealership’s Ottumwa service center works on Class A, B, and C motorhomes as well as towable units. Technicians handle routine maintenance, electrical diagnostics, roof inspections, and more involved repairs. The mobile unit can travel to a home, campground, storage lot, or lake site for selected jobs, including furnace and air conditioning work, water heater troubleshooting, plumbing and electrical issues, slide-out and awning repairs, preventive maintenance, and seasonal prep. Parts support is available through the dealership’s parts department.
Seasonal preparation typically focuses on several systems. Plumbing protection is the most time-sensitive, because freeze damage is preventable when tanks are drained and lines are protected before cold weather arrives. Roof and seal inspections are often paired with storage prep, since leaks that go unnoticed in summer can worsen during freeze-and-thaw cycles. Battery condition, furnace function, and appliance readiness also affect how a unit fares in storage or during late-season travel. Bowling RVs notes that its technicians work on major RV brands and models rather than limiting service to units sold at the dealership.
Adam Bowling, Sales Manager and Vice President, said the goal of the reminder is practical rather than promotional. “Owners who store a unit for the winter and owners who continue using it through fall have different needs, but both groups benefit from having systems inspected before temperatures drop,” he said.
Bowling RVs traces its history to 1959, when George Bowling opened Bowling Motors to sell late-model used cars and trucks. The business later operated on Church Street in Ottumwa for four decades. Motor homes were added in 1975, followed by travel trailers and fifth wheels. After George Bowling’s passing in 1988, Randy Bowling and Betty Bowling continued the company. The business incorporated in 1998 as Bowling Motors and RV Sales Inc. and moved in fall 2000 to its present site near Ottumwa Airport, where inventory of new and pre-owned motor homes, travel trailers, and fifth wheels expanded. The dealership also offers delivery of purchased units and financing assistance through its sales operation.
Service leadership includes Victor Quintana as Service Manager and Les McConnell as Shop Foreman, with additional advisors and technicians assigned to shop and pre-delivery work. The company states that its local team has more than six decades of service experience in the region. That continuity is relevant heading into storage season, when appointment calendars fill as owners shift from travel to winter preparation.
Bowling RVs serves southeast and central Iowa and draws customers from surrounding communities. Its service offerings exist alongside new and used RV sales and a parts department intended to support owners after the sale. The current seasonal reminder is directed at owners who need winterization, inspections, or related maintenance before cold weather arrives, whether they bring a unit to the shop or request mobile service at another location.
Bowling RVs operates as a full-service recreational vehicle dealership offering new and pre-owned inventory, parts, and service. The company has been active in the RV market since the mid-1970s and continues to provide maintenance and seasonal preparation for owners across its service area.
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For more information about Bowling RVs, contact the company here:
Bowling RVs
Randy Bowling
641-682-5497
rbowling@bowlingrvs.com
14270 Sycamore Rd, Ottumwa, IA 52501
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