You’ve had your adventures. The road journeys, the campfire tales, the suspect roadside eateries, all of it. It is time to put the RV in storage. Easy, right? You simply throw on a tarp and go away till the next season.
Well… not quite.
RVs require a bit of care before storage. Neglect yours and it will deteriorate. And since you are about to put yours away, you will want to avoid these errors.
Leaving it dirty
You might say, It is just going into storage, why should I wash it?’’
However, dust and bird droppings are not on vacation. They will gradually strip your paint and finishes. Then you will have new stains in the spring. The crumbs and spills indoors will house ants, mice, and who knows what else.
So, clean it well before storage.
See also: Luxury Home Building Ideas for Spa-Like Bathrooms
Forgetting it in storage
And far too many people consider Diamond Valley RV storage as a set-and-forget-it type of project. But storing is not an hour. It is a season. You cannot simply shut it in November and have it ready to go on the road in May. Gaskets dry out. Batteries drain. Critters move in.
Set reminders regularly in your calendar to come by, open it, and ensure that it is alive.
Neglecting air circulation
A closed RV might sound like a wise decision: keeping out the bugs and moisture, right? Wrong. With no airflow, the inside can become a Sauna or even a freezer. That depends on the time of year, and the condensation will accumulate very quickly.
Open a vent or place non-electrical moisture-absorbing packs when storing your vehicle.
Ignoring small openings
All mice require is a hole that is pencil-wide. Their grand entrance may be air vents, cable ports, or even a loose weather strip. On the inside, they will chew through insulation and wires. Generally, they will eat anything even slightly edible.
Close all the holes that you see and skip the dryer sheets myth. They don’t work. You can rely on steel wool or copper mesh, or spray foam.
Leaving the weight all wrong
In the long run, disproportionate weight in storage can:
- Bend the flooring
- Push the axles
- Bend the frame.
Don’t leave all the heavy stuff on one side or keep the RV tilted. Make it flat, steady, and light. You would not leave your backpack on a single strap for six months. Same thing!
Not documenting anything
This is one that most people do not consider: taking photos prior to storage. Photos of the outside and inside would save you trouble in the future in case something goes wrong. They are evidence of the condition in case of insurance claims. They are also a very good reminder of how everything was arranged months ago.
Using the wrong cover
Covers are good until they are not. The wrong kind can snare the moisture, flap in the wind, or scratch your paint. Select one that is breathable and fits into your RV snugly. Or better still, try it the week before committing to the entire winter.
Last word
If you can avoid these newbie mistakes, your RV will be on the road when you are. No surprise repairs. No unfamiliar smell. No cases of ‘’oh no!’’ in the driveway.
