Protecting Your Investment: How to Winterize Your RV Like a Pro
Unfortunately, we’re coming up on the time of year when many of us have made our last camping trip. The weather is getting colder and the schedules are getting busier, so it’s time to put the old camper away until spring rolls around. But you can’t just park your RV anywhere and hope for the best. There are steps you need to take to prepare it for long periods of storage.
That’s where Pete’s RV PA comes in. We’ve provided an easy-to-use guide to winterizing your RV. Check it out for yourself and contact our location in Mountville, Pennsylvania, with any additional questions or concerns you might have. You can also ask us about our RVs for sale for next season! We proudly serve those from Hershey, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and York.
Locate Your Owner’s Manual
First things first, you need to find your owner’s manual. We can give you some general advice on how to approach this task, but the only place you’ll find specific tips about your particular model, such as a Jayco Jay Feather® trailer, is in the manual. If you don’t have yours, check the manufacturer’s website. There, you can usually find a copy you can download or have sent to you.
Cleaning and Inspection
After reviewing your owner’s manual, the very least you’ll want to do is clean your RV from top to bottom, inside and out. Pull out all items that you don’t want sitting in the camper over the winter--including food--and then wipe down all surfaces, clean every room, and mop or vacuum the floor.
On the outside, you’ll want to thoroughly wash your RV and get this year’s layer of dirt and grime off so you can come back to a pristine camper. You can also use this opportunity to apply lubricant to slides and patch up any ripped seals.
Speaking of which, this is also the time to keep an eye out for any repairs that need to happen before storage. It’s better to take care of those now as opposed to coming back to an RV that isn’t ready to hit the road.
The Plumbing System
One of the biggest tasks for you, especially in a colder part of the country like Pennsylvania, is to prepare your pipes for freezing temperatures. This will take some time, but it is important if you don’t want to come back to a colossal mess. Start by emptying the system completely, both in the holding tanks and anything that’s currently sitting in the pipes.
Turn on the water heater bypass and then add antifreeze until it’s worked through the entire system. You may also need to winterize appliances that use water, like a dishwasher or ice maker.
Tires
Your tires may also need some special attention. If you leave the entirety of the RV’s weight on one spot for the whole of the storage period, you risk wearing the rubber down in that one spot faster than the others. Because of this, you’ll need a plan.
There are two options here. You could make a note on your calendar to move your RV at least half a rotation once a month. This will relieve enough pressure that you should avoid the worst of the damage.
If you have the tools to do so, you can also drive your camper up onto blocks and elevate it entirely so there’s no pressure on the tires. Of course, you’ll want to be careful about this in order to avoid damaging the trailer.
As you’re getting your RV ready for storage, if you do notice that it’s in need of a trip to the technician, contact Pete’s RV PA. We’ll set you up with one of our experienced mechanics who will address all your concerns and make sure your rig is ready for next season. We’re happy to help all traveling enthusiasts from Mountville, Hershey, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and York, Pennsylvania.