Before Storing An Recreational Vehicle, Use These Suggestions
Even if you've decided to store your recreational storage vehicle inside a secure covered RV storage facility, there's more to winterizing the RV than driving it to the facility and locking the doors. Should you plan to venture out with the RV again as soon as the weather allows, it's vital that you engage in some of the actions below first:
1. Fill Holes
Rodent protection is important and should start as soon as your last RV trip for the season ends. Removing food is, of course, the first step in rodent prevention, but more must happen. In particular, sealing any of the gaps and holes that would allow rodents to nestle in the RV for the winter is vital. Rodents could chew wires and otherwise damage the RV. Expanding foam is just one product to keep with you as you seek and identify possible entry points.
2. Remove Liquid, Gel, and Foam Canisters
Once you're reasonably certain mice won't get through to the cabin of your RV, you might forget about taking out other containers, such as shaving cream and lotion, thinking that these items will be fine if they stay in the RV. However, if the temperature heads down so far that the containers themselves freeze up, that could present a problem on warmer days.
You may drive over to the facility to retrieve your RV only to discover that lotion or gels have oozed out of their containers and made a mess. To prevent that, seriously consider removing everything in the RV, no matter how trivial or unimportant it appears.
3. Empty Water Tanks
Just as containers could freeze, so too can RV pipes. Walking into an RV that has a big water mess because of busted pipes can be a disappointing way to kick off next year's RV season. Mold and other water-related problems could be somewhat expensive too.
For that reason, it's smart to empty any and all RV water tanks. Open faucets to relieve pressure and keep pipes intact.
4. Remove Battery
Unhooking and removing the battery from your vehicle is also advised. Cold weather could affect the piece; so you don't need to worry about functionality for a while, you can just keep the battery in a time-controlled, separate place.
The RV you've had so much fun with is ready and able to head out whenever the temperature goes up. These suggestions protect the vehicle and prevent any trouble.