If you’re planning on storing your RV for an extended period of time, it’s important to properly prepare it to ensure it stays in good condition while not in use. From protecting the exterior to maintaining the interior, there are several steps you can take to ensure your RV is ready for long-term storage. By following these tips, you can help prevent damage and keep your RV in top shape for when you’re ready to hit the road again.
Fridge
The first step is going to be powering everything down. After all, there’s no point in paying for something you’re not using. Most of your appliances will simply need a little cleaning before you walk away, but when your fridge powers down, it defrosts. All of the ice inside the unit is going to start melting. This is a good thing, so to accelerate the process, leave the doors open to let warm air in (don’t forget to empty the fridge, too). Also, the water is going to run out of the unit and onto the floor, so make sure you have towels laid down to catch it.
Water Tank
If you’re storing your RV during the cold months, you’ll need to prepare for freezing weather. If there’s water in your RV’s plumbing system, it’ll start to freeze, and water expands when it freezes, so you risk damaging your pipes if you don’t winterize the whole system. At the very least, you’ll need to purge all the water, but it’s better if you also add antifreeze to the system, which has a much lower freezing point.
Once you start pumping antifreeze through your water system, go to the nearest faucet and turn it on until you see pink liquid. Repeat this at the next nearest faucet and so on and so forth until the chemical has made its way through the entire system. Don’t forget your toilets and your showers and make sure the water heater bypass is on to avoid wasting gallons of antifreeze. For any appliances that use water—ice machines, dishwashers, etc.—refer to your owner’s manual for instructions.
How and Where to Store your RV
Once you’ve finished preparing your RV for storage, you’ll want to put it somewhere out of the way and unexposed. Ideally, you’d want to use something enclosed or covered. This could be a large garage or barn or simply a covered area. Even storage units can house RVs for the winter, but all these options aren’t practical or financially feasible for everyone.
An alternative you can try is pulling it into your backyard, if it’s accessible, or simply leaving it in your driveway (assuming you’re willing to give up precious parking space). If your storage strategy doesn’t naturally have a cover, you’ll want to cover your trailer with a special RV cover or tarp. Don’t leave your vehicle out on the street. Not only is this illegal in many areas, it can leave your RV vulnerable to theft.
Don’t forget to thoroughly inspect your RV before you place it into storage. Look for any problem areas that may need to be addressed before you store it away. Hopefully, you won’t run into anything serious, but if you need help from one of our professional technicians, contact our service department at Windish RV. We offer several convenient locations for you to visit in Longmont, Lakewood, & Fountain, CO.
