For anyone who’s just now getting their RV into storage for the winter, you’ll need to take a moment to prepare your camper for the off-season when you won’t be using it. Especially in Indiana, where temperatures can drop below freezing, there are essential steps you’ll need to take to protect it this winter.
That’s why we here at Pete’s RV Center Indiana have provided some tips for getting started. Whether this is your first time or your tenth, make sure you’ve got the basics down and that you’ll be ready to roll when the weather starts to warm up. You can also contact us with additional questions at our location in Schererville, serving Indianapolis, as well as those in Champaign and Decatur, Illinois.
Locate Your Owner’s Manual
Before you get started, review your owner’s manual and look for specific winterization tips for your model. Most of the information we’ll provide should work in general, but your manual should also have a guide related to your make and model of RV that you might find more helpful.
If you don’t know where your owner’s manual is, head to the manufacturer’s website and look for a copy you can download.
Clean Your RV, Inside and Out
The best thing you can do to prepare your RV for winter is to clean it. This won’t just protect it from festering dirt and grime, but it’ll also look nicer when you come back to it. It’ll also give you an opportunity to inspect the camper from top to bottom, looking for signs that it might need some TLC before you walk away from it.
Remove all items you don’t want to leave in the RV over winter, including all food items, and clean every room, surface, floor, and wash the exterior to properly prepare it for storage.
Preparing for Pests
If you happen to notice some cracks that could let pasts in for hibernation, fill them with expandable foam or silicone sealant. This should at least prevent an infestation of larger critters, although setting traps may be the best choice for insects.
Shutting Down Appliances
Things like defrosting your fridge should also be on your list of things to do. Your manual will be the best place to learn more about how to prepare your appliances for the cold months, so check there for more information.
Protecting the Tires
If you leave the entirety of the RV’s weight on one part of your tires for months on end, you could damage them or wear them down faster in one spot than in others. To prevent this, you’ll have two options:
- Plan to move your RV slightly once a month, at least half a tire rotation, to relieve the pressure off of one spot on your wheels.
- Drive your RV up onto blocks to elevate the entire rig off the ground and avoid excess pressure on your tires altogether.
Where to Store Your RV
The bigger the RV, the harder it is to find a spot suited for storage. But if you happen to have a large garage, barn, or other covered area on your property that can accommodate the vehicle, use that. It’ll be the most secure and convenient option.
Even if you don’t have a covered area for storage, pulling it onto your property–either in the driveway or your yard–can be a sufficient way to set aside for winter.
If you don’t have room on your property, there are special storage facilities that you can pay to house your RV until you’re ready to hit the road again. This will be more costly, but it’ll also be protected from the elements and sticky fingers.
Whatever you decide, do not leave your RV on the street. Not only does this put it at risk for theft, but many local ordinances forbid leaving a personal vehicle on public roads for lengthy periods of time.
As you’re preparing your camper for storage, you might encounter a maintenance concern that’s a bit too much for you to handle. If that happens, contact Pete’s RV Center Indiana and we’ll set you up with one of our experienced technicians so they can help you address the problem quickly and efficiently. We’re happy to help all those from Schererville and Indianapolis, as well as Champaign and Decatur, Illinois.
