Winterizing and Storing your RV

You have decided to let the wheels sit idle for a little while.  Below is a checklist or a reminder sheet of things you might want to look at before you put your RV away for the winter so you can take a break from the highway.

As in all things that are done well we need a system or a procedure that we need to follow so we do not forget anything. With each coach being a little different sometimes a standard checklist for one make and model may not apply for your specific unit. 

The following checklist is to help you develop your own list for your specific RV. This list may not be a comprehensive list but will help you set up a plan to prepare your unit for the cold winter months. Personally, I like to start at the top and work my way down. I prefer to go from the outside to the inside of RV.

Roof Area – Think Safety !!!!!!

• Use Dicor or one of the other approved roof sealants. Limit your usage of silicone caulk.

• Roof patch material can go a long way to seal damaged areas to buy you time so you can determine if you need a roof replacement.

• Take photos of any damage

 ___ Wash the roof and exterior of your coach with non-petroleum based cleaners.

 ___ Inspect the condition of the roof material. You are looking for surface cracks or the alligator look of the membrane material

___ Inspect the seals and seams. Pay particular attention to the edges and seams on the front and rear of your coach for separations and for and scrapes that may occurred in your travels.

 ___ Inspect around the vents and skylights. A small crack or pin hole here can cause big $$ in repairs.

____ Inspect around the TV and radio antennas. If you have satellite look for areas of water pooling.

___ Inspect the refrigerator vents and sewer vent caps. Look for damaged or missing components.

 

Air Conditioner – Upper unit(s)

 ___ Check the coils for bend or damaged fins. A simple straightening of the fins can greatly improve the efficiency of the unit.

___ Check the cover for cracks or damage.

 

Exterior Walls and Doors

 ___ Look for evidence of wall damage.

___ Inspect around the awning rail and support brackets. These areas are places that water comes into the sidewalls and causes interior rot and wall separations.

 ___ Look for any areas that the awning may be trying to pull away from the sidewall/roof area.

___ Inspect around the tops and sides of the windows and doors. Look for dried or missing sealants.

 ___ Inspect the gutter rails. This may the time to see if you need to install the scuppers on the ends to carry away the water.

___ Access doors and water heater doors areas. Inspect for areas where sealants are missing or have dried and pulled away.

 

Slide-Out Units

___ Extend the slide outs and monitor their movement. Look for any areas that are dragging or not running smoothly.

___ Inspect for damage and the condition as you would a roof. Slide out roof materials are usually the same as the coach roof.

___ Inspect the corners and edges of the “box”. Cracks and separations allow water to come in.

___ Inspect the trim and gaskets. This is a good time to put gasket lubricate on them.

 

Nose Cones and Rear Caps

 ___ Inspect for any crack or holes.

___ Inspect the seams and joints. Sealants may have dried and cracked.

 

 Jacks and Stabilizers

___ Look for bent or damaged units.

___ Lubricate the moving parts.

 

Interior of the Coach

• Top to bottom and front to rear inspection. Room to Room.

 • Now is the time to really look behind and inside of the cabinets and closets.

___ Inspect the ceilings and walls. Water damage may show up here.

___ Inspect cabinets and doors. Look for damaged drawer glides, latches and hinges.

 ___ Inspect the cabinets for separation or any water damage.

 

Fresh Water System

• Only use non toxic antifreeze – usually need 2 to 3 gallons for the average coach.

• Water heater by pass kit.

• Determine whether you are going to use the water pump to pull antifreeze into the water lines or to use the backfill method from a faucet.

• Turn off the water heater – allow the water to cool. Think Safety!!!!

___ Disconnect the fresh water city water hook up

 ___ Turn off the water pump

 ___ Open the drain valve to the fresh water tank

___ Open the hot water and cold water drains. In some cases there may be a plug rather than a valve.

 ___ Remove the water filter cartridge or use canister plug to by pass the filter assembly.

 ___ Open the drain plug on Water Heater and drain the tank.

___ Flush toilet. By operating the toilet you are releasing water that is inside the flush mechanism.

 ___ Unscrew shower hoses and allow water to drain out. * Don’t forget to drain shower hose of the exterior shower.

 ___ Open all faucets through out the coach.

 

Waste Tanks

 ___ Drain the tanks. Black first and then the Gray and Galley tanks.

 ___ Flush Rinse the tanks with a wand or tank washer.

___ Inspect the valve assemblies. It may be time to replace the blade valve and gaskets.

 ___ From the monitor panel check the sensor probes for correct reading. You may need to re-rinse the tanks to clean the probes. If after rinsing and you still have a problem you may need to troubleshoot the sensors and monitor panel.

 

 Antifreeze Installation

 ___ Turn the Water Heater By-Pass valves in position to by-pass the tank.

___ Using the pump or the back fill method now draw the antifreeze into the water lines.

___ Close the each faucet as antifreeze appears.

 ___ Flush the toilet to draw antifreeze into the flush mechanism.

___ Pour antifreeze down each drain into the P-Trap Propane System

___ Turn off the DOT cylinders or the ASME tank

___ Remove DOT cylinders if local codes or storage facilities require.

 

Appliances Water Heater

 ___ Should still be turned off from draining but make sure it is not operating

___ Install wasp screens over the vent

OR

 ___ Cut out cardboard to cover and tape the opening then close door.

 

Furnace

___ Turn off the furnace at the Wall Thermostat

 ___ Install wasp screens over the vent

OR

 ___ Tape over or foil over the inlet and outlet of the furnace.

 

 Refrigerator

 ___ Remove all perishables from the refrigerator

___ Turn off the refrigerator

 ___ Install spacers to block the door(s) open for air circulation.

___ Install cardboard insert in the air intake of the side wall vent

OR

 ___ Install wasp screens over the holes of the vent panel

 

Range

___ Turn off the range

 ___ Clean the surface and the grease catch panel.  Help keep rodents out.

 

Electrical Power Systems

12 Volt DC System

Option #1 Leaving Batteries in place – * the batteries must remained charged

___ Fill the batteries with distilled water

___ Fully charge the batteries

___ Hook up a solar panel trickle charger to maintain the batteries

OR

___ Hook up a battery trickle charger that is powered by 120 volts

Option #2 Removing Batteries

___ Fill batteries with distilled water

___ Place batteries on a trickle charger to maintain their voltage level

 

120 Volt AC

 ___ Turn off panel box circuit breakers

 ___ Unplug coach power cord from pedestal power source

___ Cover or store the cord out of the weather.

 

Generator

___ Clean

___ Add fuel stabilizer

___ Start and run the generator to draw stabilizer into carburetor

 ___ Plug exhaust pipe with tape or steel wool

 ___ Unscrew spark plug(s) and spray engine fogger oil to lubricate cylinder * this is one of those personal preference issues.

 

Placement of Coach

 ___ Place coach tires on plywood sheets or plastic panels to prevent ground to tire contact.

OR * another personal preference issue

___ Lift coach up off the ground to not allow tires to touch

___ Install tire covers to block sun light UV deterioration of the side walls of the tires.

___ Install coach canvas cover over the body of the coach. * another personal preference issue.

 

Motor Home Specifics

___ Test engine antifreeze strength.

 

Service per manufacturer recommendations

 ___ Check windshield washer fluid – drain and/or fill with non toxic antifreeze

___ Top off fuel tanks

___ Add fuel stabilizer

___ Start engine up and draw fuel stabilizer into the fuel carburetor or fuel injectors

 ___ Unscrew spark plugs and spray engine fogger oil to lubricate cylinders * this is one of those personal preference issues.

___ Block exhaust pipe(s) with tape or steel wool