As the winter begins to approach, you may not be going on any outdoor adventures and you may be ready to start storing your RV until the weather is warm again. Most of the time, RV owners need to find a storage space for their RV because they cannot leave it in their yard or driveway.
If you are getting ready to store your RV for a couple weeks or more, consider the following tips to help you prepare it. If you do not prepare your RV correctly, you will find that it may need some cosmetic or mechanical repairs when you go to use it again.
- Take Care of the Tires
Before you place your RV in storage, add air to all of the tires to ensure that they are inflated properly. If not, you will find that the tires develop flat spots and you cannot drive the RV this way.
You can also place pieces of wood beneath the tires on your vehicle to help prevent flat spots and aging as well. Just remember that you need to remove the planks before driving off again.
- Add Gas to the Tank
Never store an RV with little to no gas. This is because condensation and moisture can form in the gas tank, which can lead to rust and corrosion. In addition, water in the fuel means problems for your engine.
If you plan to store your RV for a long period such as a few months, it is best to drain the gas tank and fuel lines completely. You can add more gas once you are ready to drive the RV again.
- Drain the RV
If you live in an area where the temperature gets cold, consider draining all of the reservoirs in your RV. This is because the water and liquids may freeze, which can cause problems later on down the road.
Also, remove any water from the pipes leading to the restroom as frozen water in the pipe can cause the pipe to burst.
- Clean the RV
You should clean the RV before you store it to remove any dirt and animal droppings from the outside to prevent scratching and peeling of the paint.
In addition, place curtains over the blinds to prevent direct sunlight on the interior of the RV as the sun can cause fading.
Before storing your RV for an extended period, follow the tips above to ensure that you are able to return to a functioning RV that is ready to go on a trip with you.
