As RV season comes to a close for us Midwesterners, it’s important to take some time now so that your rig is ready come spring. That way when winter goes away and you finally get to take your RV out of storage, you aren’t greeted by mice and mold. Or worse, with costly repairs that could have been avoided with some simple preventative care. Nothing can spoil the excitement of spring quite like a long to-do list that’s only gotten worse over the winter.
No matter how you’re storing your RV, if you’re covering it or not, some end-of-the-season maintenance will make sure your RV is good to go the next time you need it.
Keep the Critters Out
The first thing you want to do to mouse-proof your RV is to remove all the food. While cleaning, make note of any holes in drawers, the floor, the ceiling, etc. and fill them with steel wool. Then leave dryer sheets throughout the vehicle to discourage critters from entering in the first place. If you’re hesitant about home remedies, there are also products specifically designed to keep mice out that will do the job.
The engine is another place where critters can wreak havoc. When you’re storing your RV, you won’t be starting your engine regularly to scare mice, snakes and raccoons away. Peppermint oil is a deterrent that some RV owners have had success with.
If you choose to use rodent poison, be careful because any animal, including pets, that catch the poisoned mice can be poisoned as well.
Check (And Replace) Sealants
You don’t want moisture leaking into your RV through worn down weather stripping. Luckily, identifying sealants that need to be replaced is as easy as seeing if any air or light is coming through. Good sealants will keep out moisture and bugs.
Don’t forget about the roof. It can be easy to overlook any issues with the roof since it is usually out of sight and out of mind, but ignoring problems can be costly. While maintaining the seal on windows and doors is fairly simple, the roof is far more complicated because the maintenance depends on the type of roof. If you’re ever unsure, take your RV to your local service department. The cost of routine maintenance now is nothing compared to what can happen down the road.
Don’t Let Your Batteries Go Bad
It’s always best to remove your batteries when storing your RV. If they’re looking a bit grungy, you’ll probably want to clean them with a baking soda/water mixture before doing anything else. The two most common causes of battery failure are undercharging and overcharging. To avoid this, test your batteries to make sure they’re fully charged. Charge any that are below 80%. Finally, store the batteries in a dry, protected area where they won’t freeze. Frozen batteries are bad batteries.
Although it’s possible to leave batteries in your RV while storing it, this requires that you check the batteries monthly. It’s also not ideal because starting your engine during storage months, for any reason, risks depositing moisture that can form acids and sludge.
Give Your RV a Bath
One of the best ways to keep your RV in good condition and stay on top of any potential maintenance issues is to wash your RV regularly. While this is a big job, it also gives you (or your local RV service department) the opportunity to really inspect every area of your unit and catch problem areas early.
Maintenance Helping Hand
At Ketelsen RV, our service department can perform all routine maintenance for you regardless of where you purchased your RV. If you have any questions about our RV maintenance services, please feel free to contact us to stop by our location in Hiawatha, IA. Don’t forget to ask about our mobile RV service options as well.
As winter approaches, you’ll also want to be sure to properly winterize your RV or fifth wheel trailer every year and we can help with that as well. We work together with our clients to keep their RVs on the road as long as possible.
