You’ve been enjoying your camper experience for quite some time, right? The summers are a fantastic way to spend some time with the family, and it’s been very convenient to avoid the hotel and dining expenses as you can stay in your camper everywhere you go. However, how will you handle your travels if you decide to take a winter vacation? Winterizing your vehicle is an important part of taking care of your investment, and because severe damage can occur if you don’t follow some of these key steps, you may find yourself shopping for camper trailers much sooner than you had originally anticipated. While camper trailers may not have the full suites that are found with other “5th wheels”, there are still some elements that you’ll need to keep in mind if a water system is in place. Take these following points to heart, determine which ultimately apply to your particular camper, and implement them properly, and you’ll be ready for anything that even the coldest of weather tosses your way!
Preparing for Winter Storage
Your camper trailer may be used mainly in the spring and summer months, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t subjected to the harsh winters while staying where it is stored. Whether your camper is stored on your property or at a nearby RV park, remember that all food, perishable or not, should be removed from the interior. This prevents rotting but also can reduce the risk of small animals finding their way into your camper for the winter. After all, if there’s food, they’ll find it!
The water tank should be drained before storing it for an extended period of time, as well. If the temperatures drop below freezing, you can find yourself replacing an entire water system due to frozen (then later cracked) piping. The water system in a camper trailer can be very fragile, so open up all faucets to ensure that all of the piping is empty. The fresh water tank should then be supplemented with RV antifreeze. You can run all water systems until the water coming out is red in color. This assures you that all of the water is cleared from the system, and only antifreeze is in the piping. DO NOT use standard automotive antifreeze, as it can be harmful even in small doses. When you return to flush your water system in the spring, any residue left behind will not be harmful to you or your family.
All propane tanks should be turned off, and if they are removable, it is a safe practice to remove them and store them elsewhere. And, because you have completely shut the camper trailer’s systems down, you’ll likely want to remove the alarm fuses. Don’t forget to put them back in once you get ready to travel again in the spring, but because there will be no need for them through the winter months, it’s best to ensure that you won’t be back to a rundown battery! It’s also a good idea to institute a solar battery charger, as they can prevent the battery from losing its power over time.
Taking the time to rundown your camper trailer winter checklist is an incredibly good habit to develop. Keep the list inside the campers, and simply run everything in reverse to prepare your traveling vacation home for another year of reliability.
Taking care of your investment is good practice. Some systems within camper trailers are very expensive to repair or replace. If you’d like to be sure that your camper is in great shape for years to come, use this checklist to prevent the harsh winter months from taking their toll. Storing your camper properly is one of the most important elements to ownership. Amend this list to include any model-specific thoughts you may have, and get ready for the weather to warm up. Your camper will be waiting!
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