Winter storage in cold climate

[rich85704]

I live in Tucson, so this is an issue which hasn’t really concerned me before.

But I’m considered moving the “home base” for my Class C to Longmont, CO, just north of Denver, for a variety of reasons. The storage place I’m considering has covered slots with 115VAC, along with other amenities.

Problem is that these cost the earth: $210 a month.

They have outdoor slots on pavement for a LOT less ... I’m hearing differing opinions about whether to get a cover for the thing. Obviously I’d need to drain the plumbing and put antifreeze in the drains... anything else I should anticipate?

Thanks!

Rich

[Harvey51]

Our class C MH is left in a driveway November through March. We are 500 km north of Edmonton, near Dawson Creek. Pink antifreeze. At age 65 I stopped carrying the batteries inside. I disconnect them while fully charged and check the voltage once a month to avoid significant discharge. We usually have above freezing temperature for a day or two every month, so we go for a drive to exercise the tires.

[Boon_Docker]

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

I store at between -30 and -40. The colder it is the less the need to remove the battery bank--just make sure to charge the bank fully and disconnect it.

X2

No need to pull the batteries. Full charged and disconnected, they will lose maybe 5% charge over the winter.

[afidel]

dpgllg wrote:
You need to do a little more than just "drain" the plumbing.

Either use the Pink RV Antifreeze and run it through every line including toilet valve. Or use a compressor and really blow out all the lines. I was always a little excessive compulsive and did both.

I now store mine underground in a closed limestone mine about 2 hours away. Constant 54 degrees so no freezing. I still blow out the lines though. Cost is based on length and my monthly cost is less than $40 a month.

Dave

Yeah, I searched around Denver and no former mines used for storage and no county fairgrounds, which are the two cheap covered options around me. I'm surprised at that, looks like a business opportunity.

[Rock_Wells]

Many good tips, thanks...

[colliehauler]

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

I store at between -30 and -40. The colder it is the less the need to remove the battery bank--just make sure to charge the bank fully and disconnect it.

This- My seasonal has experienced temperatures in the -40 degrees for 10 years. Never removed batteries just made sure they were charged as well. The RV antifreeze froze last year and busted my water filter. So far snow load has not been a issue. I leave the tv and home sound system in the RV as well.

[dpgllg]

You need to do a little more than just "drain" the plumbing.

Either use the Pink RV Antifreeze and run it through every line including toilet valve. Or use a compressor and really blow out all the lines. I was always a little excessive compulsive and did both.

I now store mine underground in a closed limestone mine about 2 hours away. Constant 54 degrees so no freezing. I still blow out the lines though. Cost is based on length and my monthly cost is less than $40 a month.

Dave

[pianotuna]

Hi,

I store at between -30 and -40. The colder it is the less the need to remove the battery bank--just make sure to charge the bank fully and disconnect it.

[Sprink-Fitter]

Grit dog wrote:

Sprink-Fitter wrote:
I pay $10 a foot including the hitch for indoor storage. So when we had our 24 foot toy hauler +4 foot hitch we paid $280 for the whole winter, put it in end of October take it out of storage in March.

Maybe in Arkansas or Wisconsisota.
Places where the economy is strong (like Denver where the thread is about), $280 would get you a month or 2 of indoor storage.

The economy is very good here, I work construction and we have never been busier.

My storage is at our county fair grounds, it is just in the winter months.

[Grit_dog]

Sprink-Fitter wrote:
I pay $10 a foot including the hitch for indoor storage. So when we had our 24 foot toy hauler +4 foot hitch we paid $280 for the whole winter, put it in end of October take it out of storage in March.

Maybe in Arkansas or Wisconsisota.
Places where the economy is strong (like Denver where the thread is about), $280 would get you a month or 2 of indoor storage.

[troubledwaters]

You should remove the battery also.

[JAC1982]

Oh also, be sure you remove anything from inside that could expand if it freezes... stuff like dish soap, shampoo, things like that. I got to clean up a fun mess this spring of an "exploded" body wash container in the bathroom cabinet. Smells good still though haha!

[JAC1982]

We live near Longmont. We just store ours outside at our home, and we have a mobile tech come to winterize it for us. Sure, indoors would be nicer but that's not an option just yet for us. Some of our neighbors utilize covers to help with the elements, we haven't gotten one yet but have been thinking about it. IMO, the sun here does a lot more damage than the winter weather. We've had our unit a bit over a year and we can already see some affects of the sun, like on the tires and caulking on the side that faces south. We've also had no problem with rodents with this unit or our last one that was also parked outside, but we also have dogs that run in the yard, and regular pest control service for the house that includes rodents.

There's lots of RV dealers in Longmont so you could have one of them winterize it too, we use Windish because we purchased our unit there.

[downtheroad]

We have stored previous trailers outdoors......never again.
Our present rig is stored indoors..what a difference, but I do hate paying for it.

[Sprink-Fitter]

I pay $10 a foot including the hitch for indoor storage. So when we had our 24 foot toy hauler +4 foot hitch we paid $280 for the whole winter, put it in end of October take it out of storage in March.