Tips for Winterizing Your RV

RVs are made for year-round use. Modern building materials and insulation techniques make RV living and traveling comfortable year-round, even in cold and snowy states and provinces. But work, school and activity schedules limit many RVing families primarily to summer use of their motorhome or travel trailer. If you won’t be using your RV during the cold, winter months, you shouldn’t just park it in the garage or backyard and leave it until spring. Taking time to properly winterize your RV will extend its life and value and ensure that it’s ready to roll next spring.

Checklist for winterizing your RV:

1. Gather the supplies you’ll need: tool kit, interior and exterior cleaning supplies, car wax, 2-3 gallons of non-toxic RV antifreeze (sold at RV dealers and service centers), tank wand, water pump converter kit, water heater by-pass kit.

2. Divide and conquer. Gather up the family, turn on some tunes and get to work. If one crew starts inside; the other, outside; you can finish the job in a couple of hours.

3. Before you winterize the water system, clean the interior. Remove clothing, linens and personal items. Any items you keep in your RV should be cleaned and stored in plastic bags or tubs to protect them from dust, mildew and stray critters and insects. Remove all drugs and toiletries from the bathroom and all food items (even dry goods and canned food) from the kitchen. They can be an insect and mouse magnet.

Continued next time