Preparing Your RV for Long-Term Storage

While it doesn’t get too terribly cold here in Texas, the weather in much of the rest of the country might have you ready to shut down your recreational vehicle for the season and park it until temperatures warm up again. Your family’s work or school schedule may also preclude you from traveling during the rest of the year, so you need to store your RV away, even if the weather holds up. Either way, it’s important to take the proper steps to ready your RV for long-term storage.

As your local RV dealer, Howdy Ranch RV in Mathis, Texas, is here to help you ready your RV for months of storage during the off-season. You can bring us any questions you may have when you’re through reading.

Clean It Out

The first step you should take is cleaning out your RV. Remove all personal items like electronics, books, clothing, toys, toiletries, medications and all your food. You’ll need to clean out and defrost your fridge, so have some towels ready to catch the water from this. Wipe down every surface of your RV’s interior and make sure to clean up any spills or crumbs. Sweeping, mopping and vacuuming the floors should help to reduce the risk of pest invasion.

You should also remove linens and towels and launder them before returning them to your rig. Use this time to take stock of your emergency supplies like your first-aid kit, tool kit, signal flares and fire extinguishers. Make a note of anything that needs to be replenished or replaced entirely.

Wash The Exterior

The outside of your RV also needs to be tended to, and that means washing it from top to bottom. Start on the roof, with a spotter underneath you while you climb the ladder, and sweep off dirt, standing water, leaves and debris. Use a product appropriate to your roof type to wash it. Then move down the sides of your vehicle and go from top to bottom, scrubbing and rinsing in portions. A pressure-washer can help make this go by more quickly. You’ll also need to do some detailing on the glass and the tires. Allow your camper to dry thoroughly before storing it. One way you can help prevent pest infestation is to stuff steel wool in your exhaust pipe to prevent pests; just make sure you remove it come springtime!

Locate Secure Storage

Finally, you’ll need to find a place that you can store your RV in for months at a time. Parking your RV on the street is not a wise choice for a few reasons. First, it leaves your RV vulnerable to weather damage and potential theft. Second, it’s also illegal in many jurisdictions to leave a vehicle on the street for more than a few days at a time.

If you must store your RV outside, try to keep it behind a tall fence and underneath a secure cover for protection from the elements. Your driveway leaves your vehicle just as vulnerable as it is in the street. Otherwise, you can store your camper in a large shed or garage, or look into local storage options for maximum security and minimum worry.

Following the steps above should help to prevent issues when storing your RV for months at a time. In the market for a new camper? Drop on by our Mathis dealership today to take a look at our available selection of new and used RVs and campers for sale. We offer trade-in and financing options to help you out! Howdy Ranch RV proudly serves the cities of Corpus Christi, San Antonio and Victoria, Texas.