Hello!
My husband and I just recently purchased a camper. We have a seasoned person to help us with winterizing. The one thing we need help with is storage. When contacting places should we be asking certain questions? Or what should we be looking for when trying to find a place? Another thing is should we get a cover for the camper and tires? Any tips and trick about storage are welcomed!
TIA,
Stephanie
I don't do anything special, unload anything that will go bad if it gets frozen, clean it up, top off the water in the batteries, check the roof for cracks in the sealant (fix as necessary) and plug it in.
some storage places have 15amp power available, that is one thing to ask about, another is how easy is the access. can you go any time with a pass code or do you have to go during working hours.
if you cannot plug it in and it gets real cold, then I recommend taking your batteries home in a heated garage or something on a trickle charger. if it doesn't get to cold, just pull the main positive and negative wires off them, but you have to be prepared to go check them every month and charge them up as necessary.
covers are hit and miss. they are large and bulky so you have to have a place to store it when you are using the camper and they are not easy for one person to put on and take off. the other issue is if you get a cheep one it can put wear spots on the rv, and trap moisture. a good one shouldn't but your going to pay for it. if you do a good clean and wax with a UV protectant wax every couple years you should be fine that way. tires, you can get tire covers, they are cheep and depending where you live they might be worth it or they might just make you feel better. for me they would just be a feel better thing as it gets very hot here in the summer, and kind of cold in the winter, but the UV must not be as strong as Arizona or Florida because I can easily go 10 years with out tire issues related to the sun.
Yes, covering your camper or RV tires is absolutely essential... Cold weather, ice, snow, rain, and direct sunlight can ruin your tire rubber, cause dry rot and tire failure or blowouts the next time you're on the road... Not trying to scare you, but it's a real concern.
If you have the space build an RV garage. Best protection and it's right there where you live.
Hi and welcome. The things I usually look for in a storage place; fairly level, good drainage (gravel or paved - avoid grassy fields), the type of clientele (does it look like a junkyard?, this can bring rodents and bugs), security (fenced, gated), 24 hr access, easy of getting in and out, assigned spaces, spaces large enough to allow access to the RV while parked, ease of backing/parking the RV in your space. We were in a storage area when we owned a FW and the access gate wasn't far enough off the road and it was downright dangerous trying to open the gate with the tail of the FW hanging out on a busy road.
As far as covering, you'll get differing opinions. I've tried covers in the past and found them more work and risk than value. Tire covers, depends. If you use your RV enough the oils in the tires will keep them in good shape. If it's going to sit a while, especially in the sun, tire covers are a good idea. tires will age out on Rvs before they wear out and sitting and sun exposure are the worst culprits.
Thank You!
I appericiate all the feedback. I wrote down the all the different things to look for when fidning a place. Thanks for sharing about your own personal experience with the gate being to close to the road.
With the covers do you think they are more work because of just getting them on? I feel like it would give me peace of mind in the end.
Thanks again!
Happy to help. I just found the cover very difficult and sketchy while on the roof to get on and off and I am pretty fit and athletic. Storing the cover when using the RV can be challenging - I used a trash can. But getting it off in the rain or when it's wet just creates a hassle and forget about snow or ice. Mine tore within a few months in the wind on the corner of the RV. They can rub the paint, and in the south tree frogs love to get under the cover. So overall for me, the perceived benefit did not outweigh the hassles. I always keep my Rv washed/waxed after every trip, inspect and caulk the roof every six months and found that's easier and mitigates all the things I mentioned above. Plus - allows me to grab my RV on a whim and hit the road. Some people like covers, especially for long term storage, but I think most people that have tried them share similar experiences as mine. Most RVs sit all over the US at dealer and storage lots without covers and you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference of one that's kept covered and one that isn't but well maintained. But to each his own and you can always try it. You're only out the cost of the cover if it doesn't work for you.
Tire covers on the other hand offer a pretty good benefit that's cheap and easy to put on and take off.
