With fall here it is time to pack up the trailer and find camper storage for the winter. It is always sad to say goodbye to another year of camping. You will certainly miss your time at the trailer, but preparing your recreational vehicle for winter storage now will mean that you can get back into the outdoors faster once spring is here.
Preparing Your RV’s Interior:
Preparing your RV for storage can be a big job. There are a number of important things to do inside your trailer when winterizing or closing it down. Although a number of people feel that winterizing your RV has more to do with the exterior of your trailer, this is not entirely true. Although it is quite important to ensure items like the plumbing and water tank are properly prepared for winter the jobs to do inside your trailer are just as important.
Prevent Mice and Rodents From Accessing Your Trailer:
• Inspect the underside of your RV for gaps or holes. If you find any gaps you can fill them using silicone or expanding foam
• Open drawers and cabinet doors inside your trailer and also look at the corners and crevices of your trailer, paying particular attention to areas where plumbing and wiring enter. If you see any day light coming in then it means that mice or other critters can get in through these areas, which should be filled.
• Remove all food and thoroughly clean your RV to remove all remnants of food that could attract mice or other rodents
Clean Appliances
• Empty and then defrost the freezer compartment and clean the refrigerator completely
• Leave the refrigerator doors slightly open and place baking soda in the compartments to absorb odours
• Ensure the microwave is cleaned and place baking soda in the compartment, with the door slightly ajar to help absorb odours
• If you have an oven and stove now is a good time to give it a good cleaning so that it will be ready to go come spring
Prepare Your RV for Power Outage
• If your RV will be going into long-term storage it probably won’t be plugged in to electricity. If this is the case then it’s a good idea to turn off the main breaker in the distribution panel
• Remove dry cell batteries from devices like smoke alarms and clocks. Don’t forget to replace these batteries in the spring!
Other Suggestions to Prepare the Interior of Your Trailer
• Close the window blinds or curtains to avoid sun exposure to your carpet, drapes and upholstery
• Leave your door drawers and cabinets slightly open
• Clean your air conditioning and heating filters
• Remove all bedding and linens
• Ensure the entire RV is cleaned thoroughly
Although the process of closing up your RV can be a lot of work, if you prepare the interior for camper storage now then you will be ready to enjoy your recreational vehicle quickly once the nice weather is here again.
