9 Steps to Take Before Storing Your Trailer for Winter

[JWalmsley]

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It's that time of year again when the leaves are changing colors and falling off the trees, winter is just around the corner! And that means it's time to start thinking about storing your travel trailer for winter. If you're not going to use it during the colder months, it's important to take some steps to protect it from harsh weather conditions.

In this blog post, we will discuss some general tips on how to store your trailer for winter. Whether you have an Oliver Travel Trailer or another brand of the travel trailer, these tips will help keep your RV in good condition until you're ready to hit the open road again next spring!

You need to be able to winterize your toys if you plan on not using them all 4 seasons. Luckily you don't need to with Oliver Travel Trailers, since it's an all-season (4 season) travel trailer. Learn more about our Legacy Elite here.

But you may be curious about steps that need to be taken to winterize or put away any travel trailer while you're not using it during the winter. This guide will give you some general recommendations on what you need to do to protect your RV or travel trailer for harsh winter weather.

1. You should cover up your RV. This will protect it from the snow, ice, and rain. You can buy a special tarp or cover for your RV, or you can use a regular tarp that you already have. Make sure to secure the tarp so that it doesn't blow away in strong winds. If you're storing your RV at home, and have a hard-covered garage, shed, or RV/Trailer storage use it to your advantage.

2. Choose a safe and secure location for your trailer or RV. If you're storing it at home, make sure to park it on level ground. If you're storing it at a storage facility, choose one that is well-lit and has 24-hour security. That way you can be sure that it's safe around the clock and hopefully will prevent it from being broken into. Having an additional cover or protection would help.

3. Clean your RV or trailer before storing it for the winter. This will help prevent mold and mildew from forming while it's sitting for several months.  Remove all food from the fridge and cupboards, and give the entire inside a good cleaning. If you have time, it's also a good idea to wax the outside of your RV to help protect the paint, plastic, or fiberglass.

4. You should drain the water system. This is a critical step to ensure that you have all the water out of your system so that ice blocks don't form and crack your pipes. Remove the water hose from the campground connection and let all the water drain out. Once it's empty, open up all the faucets (including inside and outside showers, sinks, and toilets) to allow any remaining water to drain out. Close all the pipes after everything is drained out.

5. Disconnect any batteries from your RV and store them in a cool, dry place. This will help prevent them from freezing and cracking. You can check for any loss in charge or battery yourself or by taking them to a local parts store or dealer. Keep it charged every 6-9 weeks so that it won't freeze or crack.

6. You will want to protect tires either while storing them at home or at an offsite facility. This is to ensure that your tires don't crack from the cold weather. You can purchase tire covers or put your RV up on jack stands. You should make sure that you fill the pressure in the tire to the recommended amount on the sidewalls and per the manufacturer's guidelines. During the winter tires may lose pressure so keeping up to date with guidelines is essential. If storing at home, park your RV on blocks to take the weight off the tires. If storing at an offsite facility, you can either put the RV up on blocks or get tire covers for all the tires.

7. Add anti-freeze if needed, this will help protect engines, motors from oil seeing, and radiator hoses from freezing and cracking. This will ensure a smooth start to your RVing season when you are ready to hit the open road again next spring! This is needed after you drain and clean your pipes and any tanks you may have on your vehicle or trailer.

8. Check your trailer every so often throughout the winter. This ensures that you're not missing anything, especially if it's not in your direct vicinity,  and that everything is still in working order.If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to contact your local RV dealer or storage facility for more information on storing your RV for winter. They'll be able to give you specific tips and advice based on your location, type of RV, and setup. Stay safe this winter!

9. You should pest proof or critter proof your RV or trailer. This will help make sure that bugs and animals don't get into the trailer and destroy the interior. This is especially important when storing the trailer away from your home. You should cover any openings with wire mesh, this will help keep the animals out. Make sure to put food away, and if you have any pets that travel with you make sure to remove their food as well. You can use special screens, seals, or pest control devices to help ensure that everything is sealed tight and protected.

As you can see, there are a few key steps you need to take in order to store your trailer for winter. By following these tips, you can be sure that your RV or travel trailer will be in good condition when spring rolls around and you're ready to hit the open road again! If you have any questions about storing your trailer, feel free to contact us at 1-888-526-3978. We would be more than happy to help!

Happy Travels!

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