Preparing Your Coach For A Long Winters Nap
11-06-2015
By Tammy Daly
Winter is here and it is time to prepare your coach for the season. Although a lot of people are full time RVers, those who are not, need to store their vehicle safely to prevent issues in the spring. There are several steps to follow when storing for the winter months. Depending on the climate and where your coach is stored, you may not need to follow every step but it is a good idea to know what steps may be needed.
First and foremost, take care of some of the basics: clean your refrigerator and cabinets of all perishables; do a thorough cleaning of entire coach inside and out; clean all tanks and store hoses; park on level surface and stabilize coach with wheel chocks; and disconnect all electrical including batteries.
Proper winterization of your water heater is mandatory. Drain all water from your coach and fill pipes with antifreeze. Then drain your water heater and leave valve open during the winter months. To save money it is best to use a water heater bypass. Filling your water heater with antifreeze can be expensive. When a bypass is used correctly you do not damage your water heater and then you do not have to pay to fill it with antifreeze. Bypass kits can be purchased at your local RV Parts store.
Roof and seal inspections are needed to keep your coach from future water damage, especially if you are storing outside. Check to see if you have any damage to the seams of your coach and the sealant used around the vents and skylights. If needed, re-caulk any area that could allow water to penetrate the roof and cause water damage. On the roof you can use a self-leveling sealant and around the vents use non-sag sealant to build up a barrier around your roof. Also, check the window and door seals and use silicone to reseal if needed or replace rubber seals completely. Check all roof vents and skylights for cracks and replace if required. Some roofs will need to be replaced eventually. It is a good idea to take your coach to a shop that has a good reputation for roof inspections and have it looked over before you store it, if possible.
All appliances should be checked and cleaned. Your refrigerator, stove, and microwave should be cleaned and properly stored according to the service manual. It is a good idea to have your furnace, air conditioner, water heater, and other major appliances serviced and inspected before you remove the coach from storage to start camping again next year.
Winter is a good time to have your coach repaired. Since you will not be camping much, it will not disrupt your schedule to have your coach in the shop. A lot of shops offer inspections and winterization specials during the winter months. During winter RV and trailer manufacturers are not as busy so your wait time on parts will be less too. Just be sure to follow a winterization checklist and store your coach as recommended to save yourself from preventable damage occurring during the winter storage months and service your coach before you get back on the road. Happy trails…and Happy Holidays!
Winter is here and it is time to prepare your coach for the season. Although a lot of people are full time RVers, those who are not, need to store their vehicle safely to prevent issues in the spring. There are several steps to follow when storing for the winter months. Depending on the climate and where your coach is stored, you may not need to follow every step but it is a good idea to know what steps may be needed.
First and foremost, take care of some of the basics: clean your refrigerator and cabinets of all perishables; do a thorough cleaning of entire coach inside and out; clean all tanks and store hoses; park on level surface and stabilize coach with wheel chocks; and disconnect all electrical including batteries.
Proper winterization of your water heater is mandatory. Drain all water from your coach and fill pipes with antifreeze. Then drain your water heater and leave valve open during the winter months. To save money it is best to use a water heater bypass. Filling your water heater with antifreeze can be expensive. When a bypass is used correctly you do not damage your water heater and then you do not have to pay to fill it with antifreeze. Bypass kits can be purchased at your local RV Parts store.
Roof and seal inspections are needed to keep your coach from future water damage, especially if you are storing outside. Check to see if you have any damage to the seams of your coach and the sealant used around the vents and skylights. If needed, re-caulk any area that could allow water to penetrate the roof and cause water damage. On the roof you can use a self-leveling sealant and around the vents use non-sag sealant to build up a barrier around your roof. Also, check the window and door seals and use silicone to reseal if needed or replace rubber seals completely. Check all roof vents and skylights for cracks and replace if required. Some roofs will need to be replaced eventually. It is a good idea to take your coach to a shop that has a good reputation for roof inspections and have it looked over before you store it, if possible.
All appliances should be checked and cleaned. Your refrigerator, stove, and microwave should be cleaned and properly stored according to the service manual. It is a good idea to have your furnace, air conditioner, water heater, and other major appliances serviced and inspected before you remove the coach from storage to start camping again next year.
Winter is a good time to have your coach repaired. Since you will not be camping much, it will not disrupt your schedule to have your coach in the shop. A lot of shops offer inspections and winterization specials during the winter months. During winter RV and trailer manufacturers are not as busy so your wait time on parts will be less too. Just be sure to follow a winterization checklist and store your coach as recommended to save yourself from preventable damage occurring during the winter storage months and service your coach before you get back on the road. Happy trails…and Happy Holidays!
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Author: Tammy Daly
