Winterize your RV

As the weather continues to rapidly cool off, many people will be putting their RVs away for the season. Don’t make the mistake of simply sticking it in storage and walking away. There are a number of important winterization steps that you’ll want to take before you leave it to sit for months on end. In the hopes that you don’t have to bring us a disaster of an RV come springtime, we here at RV Four Seasons have provided a few of the basics for winterizing your RV. If you spot a repair that needs attending to before you store your RV, then stop by our location in Virden, Manitoba. We also serve Winnipeg and Brandon.

Drain the Plumbing

This is especially important for those of us that spend a great deal of time in subfreezing temperatures. Frozen water expands which puts your water system at risk for serious damage. You’ll want to drain your plumbing system completely by opening all faucets (including toilets and showers) and use a blow out plug to get the last few drops out of the water system. Don’t forget you have appliances that use water, like an ice maker or dishwasher. Winterization for these appliances tends to vary from model to model so you’ll want to consult your owner’s manual.

Not only do you want to drain your plumbing, you’ll want to then add antifreeze to be certain that water accumulation won’t damage your pipes over time. Make sure that when you’re adding antifreeze that you open each valve and waiting until you see pink, moving from the faucet closest to the antifreeze to the one furthest away. Don’t forget to include your showers and toilet and flush a cup of antifreeze down every drain once you’re done. Also, remember to bypass your water heater with a water heater bypass kit or risk wasting gallons of antifreeze before realizing your mistake.

Tires

Temperature fluctuations can also wreak havoc on your tires. Not to mention they develop flat spots if they’re not being used or rotated often enough. One way to easily fix this problem is to elevate your RV just enough to get the tires off the ground. If you can’t elevate your RV using jacks or other means, you’ll want to move your rig about half a tire revolution 2-3 times over the winter. If this is the method you’re taking, make sure your RV is parked on the pavement, as the RV will shift around in the dirt as things freeze and thaw again. You’ll also want to make sure you’re using wheel chocks

Stabilizing

If you have them, you should be using your stabilizing jacks. If you’re worried about them getting frozen to the storage pad or whatever else you’re using, you may want to put wood blocks underneath them. You can also coat the pivot points with silicone or graphite spray to prevent rust.

Engine and Batteries

For motorhome owners, you’ll want to take all the necessary steps to winterize the engine and fluids. This means topping them off and using the proper winterization additives, like fuel stabilizer. You’ll want to check and top off the antifreeze in the radiator, oil, brake fluid, and windshield washer solution.

You’ll also want to take good care of your battery so you don’t come back to a dead one. Because it gets so cold in our area, you’ll want to remove your battery entirely and store it somewhere that regularly stays above freezing temperatures and hooked up to a trickle charge. Make sure the battery fluid is also topped off.

On an additional note, make sure your stuff the exhaust pipe with steel wool to keep out pests.

Electrical System

Don’t waste energy you’re not using. Turn off the main circuit breaker and disconnect from shore power. As an added bonus, remove all batteries in smaller devices, like alarm clocks and radios. For any generators you may have, you’ll want to refer to your owner’s manual.

Interior

The last few steps are all about giving your RV a thorough cleaning. Start on the inside by cleaning and emptying as much as you can from the RV. This includes cleaning appliances, countertops, and vacuuming, as well as removing food and drink, linens, and any valuables you’d like to keep on you. You’ll also want to defrost your refrigerator and seal off any openings that pests can get into, including vents to the roof.

Exterior

Once the interior of your RV is cleaned, you’ll want to move to the exterior. Give the outside a complete washing and wax if it needs it. Make sure everything is properly sealed and caulk where needed. Give a little bit of extra attention to the awning as they can be expensive to repair and replace. Finish off your winterization routine by placing a container of moisture absorbent inside your RV and cover it either using a sheltered area or a fabric cover.

Now that we’ve reached the end, you’re probably a little overwhelmed by how involved winterization is. It’s true it will take some time and effort, but it’ll take significantly less money than having to repair parts of your RV that deteriorated over the winter. Not to mention, you’ll have less to do when it’s time to hit the road again. If your RV needs repairs before it goes into storage, then schedule a maintenance appointment with Four Seasons at Virden, Manitoba, serving Winnipeg and Brandon.