Common Mistakes to Avoid When Storing an RV Off-Season

Traveling with an RV is a very beautiful hobby that presents really great enjoyment for many people. The problem can be when. After the season of travel has ended, many RV travelers deal with the problem of storing their RVs. It is not easy to store a large vehicle like an RV, but with the right information, everything can be easier. That is why in this list we will share with you common mistakes to avoid when storing off-season, and that will help you to realize how to do it properly.

Winter is the biggest problem

Most travelers with RVs travel during spring and summer, but they mostly leave their vehicles in the winter. That is a period when it is too cold for many travelers, and they decide to use other ways of transportation in order to discover new places. The most common problem after travel that people have is that they just leave their RV without extracting all the water from it. The problem with that is that in the winter period that water inside the RV will freeze and cause damage to your vehicle. The parts of the RV that can be damaged in those cases are:

• Pipes

• Water tank

• Boiler

• Devices where water is passing through

Those scenarios can cause very big damage to the RV and very expensive repairs for it. The scenario can be even worse if the water freezes in the boiler, which can cause an explosion. In order to avoid all this, the first thing that you must do is to extract all the water from the RV, and in that way, everything will be okay. 

Leave the RV in front of the home

Many people decide to leave their RV in front of their home, which can be a very big mistake. That is a mistake, mostly because they will limit their indoor area a lot. Their garage is mostly taken up by their car. Another problem is that your RV will be outside all the time, and weather conditions will influence its condition. It is very hard to preserve a vehicle when it’s outside all the time and when it’s exposed a lot. The best thing that you can do is to put your vehicle somewhere in a garage that is covered and protected. RV is a very big vehicle, and many houses don’t have capacities for that. Good thing that there were always some solutions, like RV storage, where you can leave it in well-protected storage as much as you want. This solution presents a real relief for RV drivers, and it eliminates their worries about where they should store their favorite vehicle.

Not fixing the roof if it’s damaged

Many people think that small damages in the roof will be okay and that it is not serious. That is not the truth at all because those damages on the top of your vehicle can cause additional problems that will be hard to solve. For example, if there are small cracks in the winter period, the water can get inside and fall on RV furniture or devices. That is a cost that should be prevented by repairing those cracks on the top and on the side of your vehicles. Not just visible cracks will cause problems, but also the roof seal needs regular maintenance. Without it, water will pass easily, and it is better to avoid it. At the end of the season, check the roof of the RV and see what condition it is in at the moment.

Using just a simple tarpaulin

The most used method for storing RV off-season is that drivers mostly just cover it with a simple tarpaulin. The vehicle will be covered with it for months, and after that, people can see the results. They will not be satisfied with that for many reasons as:

• Danger of wind: The strong wind can take off that tarpaulin even if it is strongly tied to something.

• Moisture retention: The water will not be able to go out, and the whole vehicle can be covered with mold and moisture.

• Abrasion: The tarpaulin can constantly move a little right and left because of the wind. That will act like an emery on the RV surface and remove RV polish, and also leave scratches.

Tarpaulin can seem like an easy and cheap solution, but it can also be a big mistake, and it will not be enough to fully protect your RV.

Leaving the food inside

Leaving food inside the RV is not something that you can ignore because it can cause many unpleasant scenarios. First of all, the smell of the food will attract wild animals like raccoons and rats, and they can get inside the RV through different small passages. Those animals can cause a very big mess inside the RV, and they can start to use it as their new home. Food alone will spoil and leave a very unpleasant smell, and it can also attract many bacteria. People seek healthy and eco-friendly travels with an RV, and not something that will make them sick. Every time you finish your trip, check if you get all the food out, especially at the beginning of the off-season.

Not closing doors and windows

This mistake can seem very simple, and that is nothing that can happen to you, but in the end, many travelers forget to fully close their windows or doors. That must be done because of wild animals, and also to be sure that your vehicle will not be stolen from you. The weather can be very bad in the winter periods, and opening windows even a little bit can be dangerous, and they can break during high wind pressure, strong winds, and rainy precipitation. 

Parking on earth or grass

It is not good to park your RV on grass or wetland somewhere. That is mostly because of the tires that will stay there for a long time. In a couple of months, tires can fail, and it will be harder to take the RV from that land. Also, you will cause damage to the grass and that land, which can become an ugly part of your property. Try to find a place to park on concrete or something similar.

With the right advice, storing your RV will become an easy thing to manage. This list will help you to pay more attention and be sure that your RV will be safe and in good condition during the off-season.

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