9 Important RV Storage Tips You Should Know about

Summary:

This article talks about the useful tips that will help you in storing your RV safely. A total of nine useful tips have been carefully tackled and explained in details. These tips will come in handy for every RV owner who wants to get the best out of his RV.

These tips will make sure that your RV remains in a good condition for your next RV camping session. These storage tips will also help in enhancing the durability of your RV. An RV is a huge investment, and therefore it is very important to take good care of it in case you are planning to stay away from camping for some time.

Winter is on its way. The time to put your recreational vehicle or RV away until the next summer or spring has come. This does not mean you have to shelve your camping intentions during winter. If you feel like camping during winter, then you can use special winter camping equipment such as hammocks among others to get you going.

Since your RV is a big investment that you need to take care of properly, you will, therefore, have to ensure that you store it properly. You will, therefore, need to take your time to prepare your RV before you put it away for the winter.

This is where proper RV storage tips come into play. Here are 9 RV storage tips to help you in keeping your RV in a perfect condition before you store it.

9 RV storage tips to help you in keeping your RV in a perfect condition

Your RV should be protected from sun rays, and build-up of dirt. You should, therefore, make sure that before storing the rig, it’s given a good wash and wax. Wax provides a coating that will protect the RV from dirt and also protects it from being damaged by direct sunlight.

When doing your washing, always wash from the roof since dirt builds up from road grime and make black streaks on the roof. Cleaning is made easier by the wax. After cleaning, check on silicon seams and rubber seals to make sure they are not cracked. If anything is worn out, this will mean some repair should be made to ensure your RV is stored in good condition.

2. Ensure your RV is well ventilated and dry

Your RV should be stored in a condition that keeps it as dry as a bone and still at the same time allow the vents to fully do their work effectively. Moisture can result in the growth of molds and the presence of a musty smell when retrieving your RV from storage.

You should keep the rooftop open; this ensures that the RV is clean and at the same time well ventilated. Keeping the cabinets, wardrobe and cupboards well ventilated also ensure your RV is stored dry and also allows air to flow in and out.

3. Keep your RV free from rodents and insects

Rodents can get into a stored RV through a small opening and cause damage in your RV. Rodents like mice can damage the motorhome by chewing and feeding on the plastic, rubber, and wiring of the vehicle.

It is always wise to check the outside of your RV for any gaps and repair them if any. To keep these rodents from your motorhome, ensure you thoroughly clean it and remove all food and food remnants that may attract them to your RV.

4. Inflate the tires

Just like any other part of a motorhome, the tires can also get damaged while stored. To avoid the damage, it is advisable to inflate the tires following the manufacturer’s instructions regarding the ideal pressure for storage purposes.

This way, you will be protecting the tires from the harmful UV rays. RV’s tires should also be covered to block the sun rays. It is important to note that whatever you use to block the sun rays should be larger than the footprint of the tire.

Engine bearings tend to corrode while the engine is not in use. This is because acids accumulate on used oil; it is, therefore, good to always change the oil on your RV before you store it. You should check the level of other fluids for transmissions.

Before storing your motorhome, it is advisable to refill your fuel. Run the engine and the RV generator to stabilize through the whole system. If possible, consult your generator manual and exercise your generator for at least two hours every month. This will ensure you get your RV well maintained during the time it is in storage.

To avoid plastic loads from disconnecting the batteries, you should disconnect the disconnecting switches of the batteries. Check the water level of the batteries and ensure the battery is fully charged.

Batteries should be stored while fully charged because discharged batteries tend to freeze faster than fully charged batteries. Removing the battery from the RV may be difficult, and therefore you should make sure that the battery is well maintained to avoid freezing while on storage.

Always make sure the battery is fully charged and that the negative battery code is disconnected.

When storing your RV, this means that it won’t be in use for some time, but you will still need it sometime later. This gives more reasons why you should ensure that it is well stored. You should, therefore, ensure that you do not leave it completely dark.

Leaving it dark will result in moulds growing in your RV and a lot of spots due to the lack of light. Allow some light to penetrate through, and you will be discouraging the growth of molds, and hence your motorhome will remain spotless until the next time you use it.

9. Have slides retracted

Having the slides retracted will ensure that no mechanical parts, rubber seals, slides toppers and roof are exposed to the harsh weather elements. This, therefore, reduces chances of any leaks. Before storing the RV, you should clean the underneath of the machine, roof and the rubber seal.

Buying an RV is one of the most expensive investments that can ever be made by an outdoor adventurer. It, therefore, makes more sense to treat your RV so well so that it can last longer and offer a longer service life. This is why every camper who has wants to invest in an RV should have these storage tips at their fingertips.