{"id":17106,"date":"2020-10-02T08:46:01","date_gmt":"2020-10-02T12:46:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/?p=17106"},"modified":"2023-11-07T15:23:21","modified_gmt":"2023-11-07T20:23:21","slug":"how-to-organize-and-prepare-for-rv-storage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandbox.cubesmart.dev\/blog\/features-and-types\/how-to-organize-and-prepare-for-rv-storage\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Organize and Prepare for RV Storage"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"RVs<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Unless you\u2019re a hardcore, year-round, home-on-the-road RVer, there will come a time when you need to put your vehicle aside while you focus on other, more stationary concerns. In order to prepare for short or long-term RV storage, you\u2019ll need to follow a series of steps to clean and winterize or otherwise protect your beloved motorhome, trailer, toy hauler, or camper during its dormant period so that when it\u2019s time to get hit the road, you can quickly get back to doing what you love. Read on for some helpful RV organization ideas and preparation tips from experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get a\nSpace<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Assuming\nyou haven\u2019t already secured a storage location (in which case, skip to Get\nOrganized) you\u2019ll need to find one. Very few people can store their RVs on\ntheir own property, as this is illegal in many states and municipalities and\/or\nprohibited by individual homeowners\u2019 associations. If you\u2019re lucky a friend or\nfamily member can help out. If not, you\u2019ll need to look for commercial storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finding the right RV storage takes more than simply searching for \u201cRV storage near me<\/a>.\u201d You\u2019ll want to consider if you require an outdoor facility (typically the case for larger vehicles, such as Class A motorhomes and fifth wheel campers). Some outdoor storage will be covered like a carport while others will look more like a parking space. Indoor storage, on the other hand, naturally offers more protection from the elements and weather events. All of this being said, the kind of storage you select for your RV will have some impact on the steps you need to take in advance of leaving it there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get\nOrganized<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Just as\nyou do with your home before you leave on vacation, you\u2019ll want to get your\nthings in order before you stow your RV. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pest control and repair<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Start\nby inspecting it inside and out for any existing damage. The number one thing\nto look for is evidence of mice and other critters who might have found their\nway into your vehicle. Yes, you read that right\u2026critters!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAny animals getting into your RV can eat away at your wires or build a nest which can be a fire hazard anywhere there might be an open flame,\u201d says Marc Kelly, author and blogger at RV Love<\/a>. \u201cThat includes the propane fridge, the furnace, or the engine bay. We know that fires are one of the biggest safety concerns with RVs, so it\u2019s critical to be aware of these potential risks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now is the time to fix any pest issues. If you find any gaps or openings on the underside of the vehicle, in crevices, or in any corners, fill them with expanding foam. Caulk any cracks in the roof, walls, or elsewhere to seal away possible entry points for further invasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remove items and clean<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Next, clear out your space. Remove any and all food. Defrost your refrigerator\/freezer and wipe them clean, leaving an open box of baking soda inside to prevent odors from lingering. Remove any valuables and transfer them somewhere else for safekeeping. Clean the living space, vacuuming the floors, and wiping down all surfaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gather storage supplies<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Purchase and\/or gather RV organization accessories you might need, such as an RV cover (see below), cleaning products, wood for the wheels, spray lubricant, RV antifreeze, fuel stabilizer, and tire covers. Now you can drive to your storage or parking place and park before proceeding to the next steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get Prepped<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Time to ready your systems. First, remove and bypass any inline water filters to avoid damage from winterization chemicals. Then, drain your black and gray tanks, disposing of all wastewater, and clean the black tank. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOtherwise\nyou find that the liquids evaporate over time and you end up with permanent\ndeposits in your tanks, which is not pleasant,\u201d says RV expert Marshall Wendler\nof Camp\nAddict.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you\nthink of winterization for a home, you generally think of protecting pipes and\nfixtures from freezing, and that goes for an RV as well. Drain your plumbing\nlines entirely, including your water heater. Bypass the water heater and put in\nan RV antifreeze agent, running it through the entire system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s\nimportant to use an antifreeze specifically designed for RVs because unlike\nother vehicles, the RV\u2019s plumbing has to run drinking water. (When you are eager\nto get back on the open road again with your RV, you will flush it out with\ncold water before returning it to full operations.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another key step is to shore up your fuel system with a fuel stabilizer to protect it from corrosion and build-up. This will also help save any leftover fuel by keeping it fresh through the duration of storage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smart\ntip:<\/em><\/strong> Check\nwith your storage facility about their policies for storing vehicles as many\ndon\u2019t allow you to store your vehicles with fuel in the tank.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your RV engine\nbattery will drain over time, and you want to preserve its life so it\u2019s ready\nto go when you are! Easily do this by disconnecting the battery and remove it.\nKeep it in a safe place. The same goes for any other batteries associated with\nthe RV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most RV\nowners opting for outdoor storage, and even many of those with indoor storage,\nuse RV covers to not only protect the vehicle from the harshest elements but\nalso to keep it safe from critters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you don\u2019t use an RV cover, you\u2019ll want to cover up things like the furnace, the outlets, the water heater, and the refrigerator,\u201d says Kelly. \u201cThose are all places where insects, birds, bats, rodents, and snakes can get in.” Bats and snakes! RVing is not for the faint at heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Putting\ntire covers on your tires isn\u2019t a bad idea either. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUV light is the biggest killer of tires, and if your RV is sitting stagnant for a long time it can really destroy the sidewalls,\u201d Wendler says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some RV owners also use trailer legs, wooden blocks or jack stands to avoid flat spots on the tires and relieve pressure on the wheels during a long period of inactivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ll\nbe storing your RV in a humid climate, consider leaving a product such as\nDampRid inside to protect it from moisture \u2013 available at your local CubeSmart.\nIf, on the other hand, your storage space is in a dry climate, leave a bucket of\nwater on the floor of the inside of the RV to prevent any interior wood from\ncracking or drying out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re\nall done with these steps, you\u2019re ready to safely store your RV\u2014that is, until\nyour next journey calls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Header image by Paul Brennan<\/a> from Pixabay<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Unless you\u2019re a hardcore, year-round, home-on-the-road RVer, there will come a time when you need to put your vehicle aside while you focus on other, more stationary concerns. In order to prepare for short or long-term RV storage, you\u2019ll need to follow a series of steps to clean and winterize or otherwise protect your beloved […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[642,5],"tags":[1274,1266,1273],"class_list":["post-17106","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-hobbies","category-features-and-types","tag-camper-storage","tag-rv-storage","tag-trailer-storage"],"yoast_head":"\r\nOrganizing & Preparing an RV for Storage | CubeSmart<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Unless you use your RV year-round, you will need to know how to properly prepare your RV for storage. 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