Winterize Your Camper Now to Avoid an RV Insurance Claim in the Spring

For many people, camping season is coming to a close and it's time to think about locking up the camper for the winter season. Before you close that door for good, there's a few things you need to do. Winter can be brutal on RVs, so take an hour or two and be proactive to make sure there's no damage to your camper when the temperature dips down and the cold winds start blowing.

1. Give the RV a good clean-out. Remove anything that could freeze and burst (food, beverages, liquid cleaning products and more), leaving you a mess to clean up come spring. Also take out things that would attract rodents. They love to tear apart paper towels and toilet tissue for their winter nests.
   
   
2. Water is the enemy in winter, so empty the freshwater and wastewater tanks. Open the drains and run the faucets to get as much water out of the system as possible. Don't forget to purge the hot water tank, outside shower and toilet too. Run the pump for a few seconds to push all the water out.
   
   
3. Clean the tanks as much as possible. Many RVers use a wand attachment to clean out the black waste tank.
   
   
4. Close drains and bypass the water heater.
   
   
5. Use a water pump converter kit to pump two or three gallons of RV antifreeze into the freshwater tank. Then run the faucets and toilet until you see the pink liquid come through, signifying that the lines are full.
   
   
6. Make sure the propane tanks are turned off.
   
   
7. Remove the battery and store it somewhere safe.
   
   
8. Stop any access points for rodents. Some seasoned campers use mothballs, dryer sheets or peppermint oil to deter mice, but the best thing to do is look around for small holes and cracks they can get in through and cover them with mesh or fill them with steel wool.
   
   
9. If you have a motorhome, top off the gas tank and add a fuel stabilizer.
   
   
10. Find a good storage space. Indoors is always best, but if that isn't an option you may want to cover your camper with a special RV cover. These are made of a special fabric that allows air flow to deter mold and mildew growth.

It's always hard to say goodbye to camping season, but taking these steps helps to ensure that your RV will be ready to go when spring arrives.