With about 16,000 campgrounds scattered around the country, you have plenty of options for stopping and parking your RV when you’re on the road.
But where and how to park your RV for the rest of the year? Your home away from home is big and bulky, and even if you’re allowed to park it on your property, that’s not always the most convenient option when it’s time to store it for the winter.
Let’s look at some simple but critical things to consider for RV parking as cold weather is right around the corner.
1. Consider Location
Safety should be your primary concern when considering RV storage facilities. And while this does include monitoring to avoid break-ins, you should also be looking for a place with shelter or at least covered RV storage. This helps avoid damage from wind or falling trees during a winter storm.
Indoor RV storage facilities are the most secure options, although you will pay more to have four walls, a roof, and a secure door surrounding your vehicle. If you do have to keep it outdoors, look for a storage location that offers monitoring.
2. Battery and Fuel
Two of the most critical mechanical items to care about are the ones that drive everything – the battery and fuel. With indoor RV storage, you don’t need to worry about extreme temperatures, but there are other potential issues to concern yourself with.
Taking your battery out and storing it elsewhere protects it from damage since you can keep it in a more ideal situation. You want to keep it in a cool and dry place to help slow loss of charge and check it every few weeks with a voltmeter. It’s more convenient to keep an eye on the charge if the battery is in your basement rather than trekking to where you have your RV in storage.
Add fuel stabilizer to the tank to reduce the risk of excessive condensation. This keeps your fuel from going bad over time and developing resin deposits that can damage the engine the next time you start it up.
3. Prevent Pests
Even in an ideal RV storage situation, you need to take active steps to keep pests from making a winter home in your RV. Start by getting rid of all traces of food, including wrappers and packaging. You also want to seal off any access points around tubes and hoses and the firewalls as rodents and insects can get through small gaps anywhere.
Make Your RV Parking Plan Now
Take the time to properly prepare your vehicle anytime you’re putting it in storage. RV parking facilities can help you with safe locations, but you need to keep it safe from pests, stabilize your gas, and protect your battery as well. Proper storage means you can enjoy your RV while you have it out without worry about damage caused while it’s put away.
If you found this article helpful, just be sure to check out others on our site with travel tips.
