Storing Your RV? Follow This Winter Maintenance Checklist

So you’ve finished up your winter RV travels and it’s time to get back to work? Well, before you store your RV away, you will want to give it a final look and complete the following maintenance checklist. This checklist of key pre-storage tasks will help prevent unwanted damages and ensure your rig is ready to go back on the road when the dates of your next adventure finally roll around:

The Must-Do Winter Maintenance Checklist

1. Drain the water system. Draining an RV’s water system is especially important if the vehicle is being stored in a place that is subject to freezing temperatures. That’s because any water left in the plumbing system can freeze and thus break lines or fittings — expensive and messy. But draining the water system is a good idea no matter what climate you live in as leaving standing water for several weeks or several months is bound to attract in bacteria, bugs, mold, and other unwanted things.
2. Check the exterior and reseal as needed. Prevent any water and other pests coming inside your RV by doing a thorough inspection of your RV and resealing or recaulking any cracks or holes you might find along the exterior. But before doing so, make sure to consult with the RV dealer and check the manufacturer instructions of any post-purchase additions to ensure you are using the right resealing materials.
3. Inspect and protect your RV tires. Most RV owners know to use a cover over the body of their RV, but did you know that you should also get covers for your tires? Most tires are susceptible to UV damage and so covering them can go a long way in extending their lifespan. Additionally, take note of tire PSI before storing your vehicle. Inspect and inflate them as necessary when bringing the RV out of storage.
4. Disconnect and properly store batteries. This is another must if you store in cold temperatures. Even if you’re not in cold weather, this is a smart practice while storing your RV. In fact, every four to six weeks, you should remove the batteries from your RV and inspect their water levels and charges. Avoid ever allowing batteries to go below a 50% charge. If they are ever below 20%, know that they have become damaged and will never operate at normal capacity again. So, as part of your winter maintenance checklist, fill the water levels of your batteries as needed and ensure they are properly charged before storing them in a warm, indoor location. Even when stored you should use a voltmeter or multimeter to check battery charges every month and charge as necessary.
5. Add fuel stabilizer to the tank. If you have a motorboat, then you already know how quickly gas can go bad. Add fuel stabilizer to your RV’s tank before storage to expand its lifespan.

Schedule Your Post-Storage Maintenance Visit at Premier Coach Works

Before you head back on the road after a long storage, be sure to have your rig fully inspected at our premier RV shop!