Preparing Your RV for Winter Storage

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1 Did You Know? Facts from America s RV Expert Terry Cooper the Texas RV Professor Preparing Your RV for Winter Storage Well 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 as you 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. Silicone caulk does NOT adhere to rubber roof material) 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 or any scrapes that may occurred in your travels. Inspect around the vents and skylights. A small crack or pin hole here can cause big $$ in wood rot and water damage repairs. Inspect around the TV and radio antennas. If you have satellite look for areas of water pooling. Pay particular attention to the rubber boot that is around the coaxial cable going from the antenna into the roof. Cracks and splits allow water in.

2 Inspect the refrigerator vents and sewer vent caps. Look for damaged or missing components. Repair any damage, cuts or tears to the roof material. Use a good roof repair patch kit to close up roof holes. Be sure to seal around the edge of the patch with a butyl caulk like the Dicor brand. 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 or delamination. Inspect around the awning rail and support brackets. Pay particular attention to the areas where the lag bolts go into the wall. These areas are places that water comes into the sidewalls and creates interior rot and wall separation. 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 the sealants are missing or have dried and pulled away. Water will run down the wall and behind these door frames causing wood rot. Slide-Out Units Extend the slide outs and monitor their movement. Look for any areas that are dragging or not running smoothly. Apply a rubber seal lubricate NOT tire dressing or auto dashboard treatments as they will cause the slide-out seals to deteriorate. 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.

3 Inspect the trim and gaskets. This is a good time to put gasket lubricate on them. Inspect the slide-out drive mechanisms that are under the slide out. Apply silicone spray on the gear packs and gear teeth rails if your unit has them. Grease is not the lubricate of choice due to dirt and grime will attach itself to the grease. Nose Cones and Rear Caps Inspect for any crack or holes. Inspect the seams and joints. Sealants may have dried and cracked. The nose cone seals/joints are very prone to movement due to the wind that buffers it as you travel. Jacks and Stabilizers Look for bent or damaged units. Lubricate the moving parts with silicone spray. 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 for any water leaks and soft spots in the ceiling and walls. Inspect the ceilings and walls. Water damage may show up here. Inspect cabinets and doors. Look for damaged drawer glides, latches and hinges. (Remember that one dragging drawer you have fought all Summer? Now is the time to repair it.) Inspect the cabinets for separation or any water damage. Fresh Water System Only use non toxic antifreeze (NOT automotive type antifreeze) typically you 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.

4 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 out the tank so all sediment in the lower sump area is removed. Flush the toilet. By operating the toilet you are releasing water that is inside the flush mechanism. This flushing mechanism is prone to freezing. Disconnect ice maker inlet hose and allow antifreeze to flow out the tube to flush out any water. Then disconnect the outlet hose going up to the refrigerator. Allow water to flow backwards out of the refrigerator ice maker and out of the refrigerator back compartment. Unscrew shower hoses and allow water to drain out. * Don t forget to drain shower hose of the exterior shower or in the docking station. 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 possibly the monitor panel. Antifreeze Installation Turn the Water Heater By-Pass valves in position to by-pass the tank so antifreeze will not go into the water heater. Use the water pressure pump or the back fill method now draw the antifreeze into the water lines.

5 Let water flow out of both hot and cold sides of the faucet. 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-Traps 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 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

6 Range Turn off the range Clean the surface area and the grease catch panel under the burners. This will help keep rodents out by removing their food. Electrical Power Systems 12 Volt DC System *batteries will lose approximately 1 volt per month they sit dormant. They need a trickle charge whether they are in the RV on sitting on a work bench waiting for Spring. Option #1 Leaving Batteries in place - * the batteries must remain charged to stay alive 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

7 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 Again, this list is to help guide you as you develop your own Winterization and Storing Checklist. Good luck and just remember.. It s our job to help keep your wheels rolling.so we can see you on down the highway! America s RV Expert

8 Terry Cooper The Texas RV Professor Check out the RV Maintenance, RV Maintenance for Ladies classes on cd and the RV Appliance Maintenance dvds at