Protect Your Motorhome Or Caravan This Winter
Most of us leave our pride and joy in storage for winter. For the owner of a motorhome or a caravan, winter can lead to a lot of headaches, unless you follow a few simple tips to enable the winter to pass by without any causes for concern. Frost and/or snow can cause a lot of damage if you've not prepared it. This guide gives you some tips for protecting your motorhome in winter and avoiding costly damage.
Winter Storage
One of the most important things to do before winter is to properly drain all of the water system. When water freezes, it expands and can easily damage the plumbing. This leads to damp which can be a major problem for caravans and motorhomes. Leave all the taps open, even if you have drained the system to allow and excess pressure or water to escape should it need to.
If there are any leisure batteries that are used in your motorhome, remove them and regularly charge them. This will increase their effective life by quite some distance. If for any reason they can’t be removed, disconnect them.
Keep any gas tanks safe and warm in your garage or loft etc.
Make sure all the bedding and the cushions are taken out to stop them getting damp and getting mouldy. Do the same to the carpets if possible. Clean all the surfaces and the inside of the fridge. Keeping the fridge door open will stop any smells developing
A lot of people think that covering their caravan or motorhome in winter with a tarpaulin will help to protect it. In many cases the opposite is true, it will restrict airflow allow mould to form. Proper caravan/motorhome covers however are a good idea. It is still much better though to park your motorhome or caravan under a cover such as a barn to shield it from the elements if you can.
Using axle stands can be a great way of keeping the tyres off the ground and potentially becoming misshapen. If at all possible, put spare wheels on and keep the good wheels and tyres somewhere warm and dry.
Before you put away your motorhome for winter, change all the oil and put an additive into any remaining fuel to keep it and the tank in good condition.
Try to keep the battery charged as this will save you a lot of time when it comes to starting the motorhome again in the winter. To do this, buy a solar trickle charger. Plugging this into the cigarette lighter and placing it on the dashboard will ensure that the battery keeps enough charge to start again in spring. If this is not possible, remove the battery completely and periodically charge it.
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