Have you recently bought a camper? Once the summer is over, it’s important to get your camper ready for the winter. Being new to RV life, the thought of winterizing your camper can be incredibly daunting. Following all the proper steps is crucial, and will keep you safe and comfortable when the spring rolls around again. Not to mention, when you winterize your camper, it will help you avoid extremely costly repairs later on.
How to Winterize Your Camper
Start by stabilizing your camper, and cleaning the entire unit thoroughly. This can help make the process much more straightforward.
1. Protecting the Camper’s Tires
RV tires easily develop flat spots when they are parked for prolonged periods of time. This is a result of the amount of weight resting on them. You can “winterize your tires” by jacking your entire camper up. By doing so, the tires will not bear any weight and will be in excellent condition when you are ready to use your camper again.
2. Winterizing Your Plumbing
Nobody wants to deal with frozen pipes! It is essential to drain all water from your camper’s plumbing system before freezing temperatures roll around. Remove and bypass any water filters you have in your camper if you can. Lastly, use winterizing chemicals (antifreeze or compressed air) to protect your camper’s plumbing system.
3. Unplug All Your Electronics
This simple step will protect your electronics, such as TV, mini-fridge, and air conditioning from getting damaged. Cover all of your external outlets, to help prevent the buildup of debris.
4. Disconnect Your Propane Tank
After disconnecting your propane tank, remove it completely. You will want to remove any spares you may have had in your camper as well. Propane tanks pose a hazard after winterizing your RV’s plumbing system.
5. Inspecting the Structural Integrity of Your Camper
Before parking your camper for the winter, you will want to give the entire unit a thorough once-over.
- What is the condition of the roof like?
- Does it have any leaks that will pose problems once it starts snowing?
- Are your camper’s doors and windows functioning?
- Are there any leaks or drafts there?
Should you spot problem areas, it is key to seal these weak spots as soon as possible.
When should you winterize your camper?
While there is no one timeline that works for every climate, the answer remains crystal clear — well ahead of the first frost! If you winterize your camper the moment you notice that the temperatures are dropping, you will have done a good job.
While we know that most RV-ers are all about the DIY lifestyle, remember that there is no shame in paying a professional to help you out. The process may sound simple, but it’s harder than you’d think. Winterizing your plumbing is especially complicated, and if you have any doubt at all, it is best to have your camper looked at professionally.
Additional Reading: Waking your RV from Winter Hibernation Checklist
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