RVs are mainly used from spring through fall, with a majority of owners using them for camping and road trips. However, they are expensive pieces of equipment and how it is maintained has a major impact on its lifespan. So, how can you make sure that your RV doesn’t acquire any extensive, lasting damage whilst it is unused during the winter months?
Here are some steps you can take to prepare your RV for winter, ensuring that it is as good as new when you fire it up again for your first spring road trip.
Keep your RV in appropriate storage
Leaving your RV outside without any shelter is a sure-fire way to cause lasting damage and greatly reduce its lifespan. Without a shelter, your RV will be exposed to the elements and the extreme weather conditions that accompany the winter season in many climates, for instance, extreme cold and heavy snow fall.
As a result, your RV will experience weather damage; for example, mildew and mold can build up on the surface of the vehicle due to moisture, or faded surface paint and cracked interior plastic caused by unprotected exposure to UV rays. RVs suffering from weather damage are costly to repair, if indeed repair is possible. To prevent weather damage to your RV, a good option is to purchase an RV canopy. Constructed from a strong steel frame and rip proof, UV resistant polyethylene canopy, this will protect your RV from rot, UV rays, and moisture, providing robust protection for your RV throughout the winter months.
If you are lacking in space at home, magnified by having a large unused vehicle on your driveway, another option is to place your RV in storage during the months. A storage facility ensures that your vehicle is completely out of the elements, being enclosed in a garage, removing the risk of damage by weather or vandalism, and theft. RV storage facilities are available throughout the U.S. to suit a range of budgets. However, while some like their unused vehicles to be stored away from the home, you might prefer to have your RV close by in order to keep an eye on it and carry out any repairs and remodels yourself during the off season.
Prepare your RV for winter storage
Whether your RV is in a storage facility or in your yard under an RV canopy, you will need to carry out certain maintenance and chores before its period of disuse. Remove any food and defrost the refrigerator and freezer compartment. If your RV has covered air vents, leave these open to allow some ventilation (this will help prevent the “stale” smell that builds up with disuse). Ensure that your battery is fully charged, then remove it and store it where it won’t freeze. There are many other ways to prepare your RV for disuse, these are just some of the most obvious tips to ensure that your RV will be like brand new when it comes out of hibernation in the spring!
