The Necessary Winter Maintenance Steps for RV Storage

While some people prefer to travel during the winter, packing away their snow gear and driving south to enjoy the warmer weather, others choose this time to hang up their driving cap and settle in. Many adventurers choose winter to work, send their kids to school, and plan for summer-oriented travels. If you fall into this category, then one important step to take before you drive the RV to the storage facility is to ensure proper winter maintenance.

Winter maintenance steps are important regardless of if you live in a cold or warm winter climate. This is because long-term storage brings about certain risks to your RV and preparation is the best way to avoid those risks. Therefore, it is important to keep the following winter maintenance steps in mind before you commit your RV to long-term storage:

The Necessary Winter Maintenance Steps for RV Storage

• Prepare the exterior. Before you ever leave your RV for a long period of time, and at least once a season, you should inspect the full exterior. The biggest cause of both water and pest damage is a damaged exterior that leads to a gap between the inside of your RV and outside. If you leave your RV without sealing up those gaps, then you let standing water and pests do unchecked damage while you’re not available to intervene. Thus, it is a good idea to work with a local service center to inspect and properly seal the exterior as part of a holistic winter maintenance plan.
• Disconnect and store your batteries. RV batteries should be disconnected and placed on a wooden pallet when stored for a month or longer. Placing them on wood will help reduce self-discharging and thereby improve their lifespan. It is also important to make sure that you’re placing them in a temperate location, as both extreme cold and heat can cause irreparable harm to RV batteries.
• Drain the water system. Draining the water system is most important for those who live in colder areas, as it prevents water from freezing and causing cracks in fittings and lines. However, this winter maintenance practice can be helpful everywhere, as it reduces other risks like mold growth and pest infestation.

Get Professional Winter Maintenance Help at Premier Coach Works

Need help with any of the above winter maintenance steps? Contact our team at Premier Coach Works today.