To properly store your RV or camper for winter, it’s important to prepare the plumbing. Draining the water and sewage systems prior to cold temperatures can prevent your water lines and pipes from freezing or bursting. To prepare your plumbing for winter, start by removing any RV or camper hookups and begin draining your RV. Make sure to turn off your water heater and propane switches before draining your tanks. After draining your water and sewage tanks, you can go outside and use an air compressor to blow out your water lines, making sure no water is left behind. When all tanks are drained, cleaned, and dried, use RV antifreeze to prepare the plumbing for cold-weather storage. Pour antifreeze into the shower, sink drains, and toilet. Make sure to flush the toilet until you see antifreeze in the bowl.
Flushing the drains and pipes with RV antifreeze will prevent any water in the lines from freezing and expanding, potentially damaging or cracking the lines, which may lead to leaks next season. RV antifreeze remains in liquid form in very low temperatures and can help keep your plumbing and drains safe during the winter. Make sure to also thoroughly clean and dry all sewer hoses and store them away for the winter to avoid any cracks or damage.
Proper storage of your RV or camper will help retain its overall health through the cold temperatures and harsh winter weather while it’s not being used. A few basic and easy-to-complete winterizing procedures can help protect your RV or camper until it’s time to hit the road. Following these basic RV winterizing guidelines can help you be prepared this winter and keep your RV in top condition for the next road trip season. For manufacturer-recommended and specific instructions on how to winterize your RV or camper, take a look at your owners manual, but these basic recommendations apply to most RVs, camper trailers, and other recreational vehicles.
Even heavy-duty deep-cycle batteries like those used in most RVs can lose charge and voltage capacity when disconnected or used during storage. RV and camper batteries can discharge to low levels when sitting idle for long periods, which can reduce their charging capacity in the future. If your battery freezes in extreme temperatures, it can also lose capacity. To prevent discharge and protect your battery, you’ll want to make sure your RV’s batteries stay charged.
While procedures vary depending on how long you’ll be storing your RV, there are a few simple ways to keep your battery charged this winter.
• Before the cold sets in, make sure your battery is fully charged. If your battery is not holding a charge, bring it into any O’Reilly Auto Parts and have your battery tested or charged for free.
• You can also remove the battery from your RV or camper and store it in a warm, safe place, such as a garage or shop, to prevent freezing.
• You can also consider attaching a battery maintainer to keep the battery charged during storage. For more information on how battery maintainers work, check out our helpful article.
While procedures vary depending on how long you’ll be storing your RV, there are a few simple ways to keep your battery charged this winter.
• Before the cold sets in, make sure your battery is fully charged. If your battery is not holding a charge, bring it into any O’Reilly Auto Parts and have your battery tested or charged for free.
• You can also remove the battery from your RV or camper and store it in a warm, safe place, such as a garage or shop, to prevent freezing.
• You can also consider attaching a battery maintainer to keep the battery charged during storage. For more information on how battery maintainers work, check out our helpful article.
In addition to adding antifreeze to your RV or camper, it’s important to make sure you have either drained the fuel from your RV or that you have a full gas tank and have used fuel stabilizer for winter storage. If you don’t fill up your tank, air can enter the fuel tank and expand or contract, which could allow moisture buildup. Filling your vehicle’s tank helps prevent condensation and moisture from forming inside the fuel tank, which could contaminate the fuel and cause corrosion in the fuel system. Adding a fuel stabilizer will also prevent the fuel from degrading during the winter, which may cause it to lose potency and evaporate. It’s also a good idea to drain, flush, and refill your vehicle’s fluids, including oil, power steering fluid, brake fluid, and windshield washer fluid before the cold arrives. You can find the manufacturer's recommended steps for these procedures in your RV or camper’s owners manual.
Before storing your RV or camper for the winter, it’s important to clean the interior and exterior thoroughly, removing all perishable items and anything that would attract insects or rodents. Check any storage compartments or cabinets, and vacuum out any crumbs or other perishables that have been left behind. While cleaning, inspect all seams, doors, and window seals for any damage or cracks that might allow humidity or condensation to enter your RV. Cleaning your RV inside and out, repairing any damaged seals with caulk, or replacing the weatherstrip where necessary is a good way to make sure you’re ready to go when road trip or camping season returns.
After cleaning your RV, choose a covered area to store the vehicle if possible. Keeping your RV or camper out of winter weather is one of the best ways to avoid damage from winter precipitation or freezing temperatures. If you can’t store your RV indoors or in a covered area, consider using an RV or camper cover to protect your exterior from harmful weather or debris. After you’ve decided where to park and store your RV, it’s a good idea to air up your tires to the recommended pressure and use wheel chocks to make sure your RV or camper is stabilized.
If you’re gearing up to winterize your camper or RV, O’Reilly Auto Parts has the winterizing parts, fluids, and products you need to prepare your RV for winter storage. We carry replacement Super Start Fleet and Heavy-Duty Batteries, oil filters and motor oil, antifreeze, fuel stabilizers, maintenance chemicals, RV cleaning supplies, and more. If you need help finding the right parts or fluids for your RV, our Professional Parts People can help provide a recommendation to ensure you are prepared for winter. O'Reilly Auto Parts also offers free battery testing and recharging if you need to test or charge your battery before storing it for the winter. Find everything you need to safely keep your RV on and off the road at O’Reilly Auto Parts.
