Preparing Your Rig for Winter Storage

Winter is just around the corner, and if you aren’t planning on heading south with it, now is the time to think about winterizing your trailer or motorhome.

For many new RV owners, winterizing is an intimidating prospect. After all, the idea that messing something up could mean a burst water line or water heater, or a rig full of pests, sounds pretty scary. Luckily, winterizing is not all that difficult, and is actually pretty hard to mess up. Therefore, your RV is probably going to be just fine.

Wondering what you should do to your RV in preparation for the cold weather? Use the tips below to head into the freezing temperatures and months of storage with confidence.

Reseal Everything

Start the process by resealing the entire rig. Side seams, seams around doors and windows, and the roof should all be thoroughly checked and sealed tight.

This process should be done once every 6–12 months anyway, and if you always remember to do it before putting the RV into storage, you can rest assured you won’t return to leaks. This step is especially important if your RV will be stored outdoors.

Related Read: Winterizing Your RV for Storage

Unhook Water

If your RV is hooked to an outside water source, now is the time to remove it. Forgetting this step could be messy, so don’t skip it!

Turn Off and Bypass the Water Heater

Start this step by turning off the water heater. You don’t want to mess with a hot water tank, and running your electric heater while empty can cause the element to burn out.

Most RVs come equipped with a water heater bypass valve. However, there are a few that don’t have this option. In this case, you will need to order and install a water heater bypass valve kit. Either way, be sure you have a valve that is in use, blocking all liquids from making their way to your heater tank.

Empty All Tanks and Lines

The next step is to make sure all tanks are empty. This includes your fresh, gray, and black tanks, as well as your water heater. Make sure your water heater is cooled down before opening the plug in order to avoid injury.

You’ll also want to empty the lines by opening all taps and flushing the toilet until they run dry before opening low-point drains for extra measure. The goal is to empty the RV of all water in order to prevent freezing and the problems that come with it.

Winterize Water Lines

With all the water emptied from your tanks and lines, close all valves and get ready to fill your lines with RV antifreeze. For this step, you will want to make sure you have RV-specific antifreeze on hand, as it is non-toxic, making it safe to use in water lines.

If not already installed, purchase and install a water pump converter kit. This will allow you to place a bit of tubing into the bottle of antifreeze and pump the liquid into your system using the water pump.

While pumping the antifreeze through, open the tap nearest the pump and let it run until the liquid coming from the tap turns pink. Turn that tap off and repeat on the next closest tap. Continue this process until all taps (including the toilet and outdoor shower) are running pink, replacing the antifreeze bottle as needed.

Add Antifreeze to Tanks

In addition to adding antifreeze to the lines, you’ll also want to add a bit to each tank. To do this, simply flush 2–3 cups of the liquid down the toilet and pour the same amount down a sink drain. This will ensure there is nothing frozen in your tanks should a small amount of water be left behind.

Remove All Food Items

Leaving food in your rig is just asking for issues, so make sure to get rid of all of it.

Even if your RV will be plugged in, remove everything from the fridge and freezer and clean it well. You never know when you may lose power, and returning to a stinky fridge full of rotten food is never fun.

Empty the pantry of all items. Dry foods attract pests, many of which can actually chew through cardboard and plastic packaging. Meanwhile, canned foods can freeze and explode, making a huge, stinky mess.

Block and Repel Pests

Obviously, you don’t want to return to a mouse-, spider-, or ant-infested vacation home once spring rolls around. Do your best to prevent this by filling any holes in the walls or floor. You can also use peppermint oil to repel the little pests.

Other repellent options include mothballs and chemicals. Just be aware that neither of these is safe for children or pets, and both can leave a terrible stink.

Related Read: RV Pest Control: DIY Pest Control

Cover Tires

Tires take quite a beating, and believe it or not, sitting still is terrible for them. Do your best to protect your tires by covering them if you’ll be storing outside. Additionally, you’ll want to be sure to give the tires a thorough inspection before next camping season to make sure they are still safe to drive on.

Remove Valuables

Before locking the door and saying goodbye to your beloved trailer or motorhome, be sure you take anything valuable with you. RVs sitting in storage are an easy target for thieves, meaning things you leave behind may not be there when you get back. Grabbing those precious few things is an easy way to give yourself peace of mind throughout the winter months.

Check In Occasionally

4–5 months is a long time to leave your RV sitting. Be sure to check in from time to time to make sure everything is okay. This will help you nip pest problems in the bud and give you an opportunity to catch any other issues before they cause terrible damage.

That’s all! By following these steps, you can store your RV safely and without worry until the next camping season rolls around. Have a great winter!