RV Winter Storage Tips
Days are getting shorter and temperatures are dropping. For RVers, this means it's time to think about putting their trailers away until next season.
We already shared a checklist for winterizing an RV that includes the more technical aspects of storing your RV for the winter. In this month’s blog, we will expand on that checklist by listing some helpful tips and tricks that will help you store your RV more efficiently.
Tire Care
Tires are one of the most important parts of the RV and you must pay extra attention to them, especially when the RV is in storage. To keep your tires intact, you’ll want to ensure that the weight of the RV is evenly distributed so that the tires do not deflate or get damaged. One way to even out weight distribution is to utilize leveling blocks to level out your trailer.
Additionally, to ensure that you are protecting the tires from the elements, you should:
- Use tire covers to protect them from UV rays or rain/snow
- Keep your RV rested on leaving blocks so that the tires are protected from anything on the ground (like water or animals) that could damage them.
Clean Before Storing
Cleaning your RV before storing it may sound like a given, but it is one of the most important tips on this list. The last thing you want to do is not clean your RV before putting it away, this is for two main reasons:
One– Not deep-cleaning your RV before storing it means you may miss some food that may be hiding in the nooks and crannies of your RV. If forgotten about for a long period of time, this could lead the RV to develop a bad smell, grow mold or be infested with insects. Make sure to clean all the hard-to-reach places, like behind the couch or at the bottom of drawers.
Two– Why would you want to leave your future self to have to deal with a dirty RV? When it’s finally time to take out the trailer next season, how nice would it be to find it already clean and ready to go? Now, imagine how annoying it would be if you had to spend days cleaning it before you could set off on the road. So, do your future self a favor and deep-clean your RV before storing it away.
Maintenance
Once you have done all that work to winterize your RV, you may be tempted to basically forget about it until you take it out in the spring. However, it’s important to still check up on it even while it's in storage. This could include looking for any signs of damage or readjusting the storage cover to ensure that the RV isn’t exposed to the elements. Remember to keep an eye out for mold, which can develop easily in an enclosed space that is not being used. When doing your maintenance checks, leave a window or the door open and let some air in to keep the RV fresh and prevent condensation.
Other tips
- Keep all cabinets, drawers, and closets open to prevent moisture
- Especially if your RV is old, you'll want to lubricate the hinges and locks and any other moving parts of your RV before storing it so that they don’t get stiffer while not in use
- Take off any bedding or couch coverings before storage so that they don’t get dusty
- Start the engine every few weeks
- You may want to cover the windows and vents with insulation to keep the cold out of the RV
We hope these tips will be helpful… If you have any other tips and tricks that we missed, leave them in the comments below!
