9 Winter RV Storage Tips Everyone Should Know

Almost 25 million Americans traveled in RVs last summer.

More popular than ever, people all across the country are enjoying this flexible, adventurous, and fulfilling way of traveling.

If you live in a wintery climate, however, it’s important that you store your RV correctly during the winter so you’re not met with an expensive bill and a lot of disappointment come spring.

Let’s take a look at nine RV tips to keep your RV in tip-top shape for next spring and summer!

1. Drain the Water System

This is a crucial tip for storing an RV outside in the winter.

Even the smallest amount of water left in your pipes, valves, faucets, or pumps can wreak havoc on your plumbing system. Water left to freeze in your RV can expand and burst.

It isn’t enough just to drain the water lines. To purge the entire system, you can either blow out the system with compressed air or fill the system with RV antifreeze.

2. Protect Your Tires

Getting covers for your tires is an easy way to prevent the damage that can happen from sun exposure.

If your RV is going to be sitting in one spot all winter, there’s no need for your tires to be damaged.

Many of the RV covers you can purchase for the body of your RV will cover your tires too and are adequate for this purpose.

It’s also a good idea to inflate your tires before the winter begins and to re-check them before using your RV in the spring. This is because the tires will likely lose pressure in storage over the winter.

3. Save Your Batteries

It’s important to disconnect your batteries and store them in a dry, cool (but not cold) place while your RV is being stored for the winter.

By keeping an eye on the charge of your batteries every four to six weeks and charging them as necessary, you can make sure that your batteries are still good to go for your first RV adventure of the spring.

4. Prep the Exterior

It’s a good idea to take your RV to a service center before the winter begins.

They’ll be able to thoroughly look over the roof, windows, sidewalls, seams, access panels, and exterior doors. If they find any cracks or holes they can re-caulk or reseal them.

Doing this work before the winter can prevent more expensive repairs in the spring.

It’s important to make sure that the right sealant is being used on your RV. Different types of RVs in different climates will require different types of sealants. Don’t let your foresight go to waste by using sealants that don’t set properly and let water get inside your RV.

5. Park It in a Safe Place

The best place to park an RV in winter is under a roof or in a shelter.

If this isn’t a possibility for you, then choose a place where your RV won’t be hit by heavy winds. It’s also important to make sure to avoid parking it under trees that could come down in a winter storm.

If you don’t have room in your driveway or in your yard, you might be thinking about parking your RV on the street for the winter. It’s a good idea to check on your city’s code before making this plan. It’s possible the town you live in has restrictions on motorhomes parking on the street.

You also might consider one of the many options we have available for RV storage. You can even save yourself all the trouble of winter maintenance by choosing one of our climate-controlled units where you can store your RV inside!

6. Add Fuel Stabilizer

Adding fuel stabilizer can ensure that the gasoline left in your tank before storage doesn’t damage your engine.

By following the instructions on the fuel stabilizer bottle, you can avoid the buildup of the sticky resin deposits that are caused by oxidation.

7. Keep the Critters Away

The last thing you want is to enter your RV in the spring and find that a family of squirrels or mice have been making it their home for the winter.

The first thing you’ll want to do to keep the critters at bay is to make sure that there is no food or crumbs left anywhere. Clean the RV thoroughly before storage.

You also might consider playing mouse and ant traps inside your RV and around the outside. Sealing cracks and holes in the bottom of your RV before winter can make entry to your RV more difficult to critters.

8. Get a Cover For It

Purchasing a cover designed especially for RVs can be a worthwhile investment.

Protecting your RV from sun damage, wind damage, bird dropping, and tree sap, a cover can ensure that your RV is in good condition come springtime.

While many people opt to use plastic tarps to cover their RVs rather than covers designed for their RV type and climate, this is not advisable. Plastic tarps can trap moisture between itself and the RV and can also cause damage by flapping around in the wind against your RVs exterior.

9. Keep an Eye on It

If possible, it’s a great idea to check up on your stored RV every couple of weeks.

This way if anything is going wrong you can catch it and deal with it before the RV sits all winter.

Follow These RV Tips and You’ll Thank Yourself in the Spring!

Following these RV tips for camper storage will ensure that your spring RV adventures aren’t delayed by inconvenient and expensive issues. Proper RV trailer storage is a necessary task when you own your own RV.

Here in Georgia and need a convenient place to store your RV? We’ve got you covered. Check out our RV Storage here.