Winter is upon us, and for some, it means a temporary halt to living the RV life. We will park the RV and close it up for a couple of months. There are a few things we can do to help our RVs survive the down time.
Put a handful of moth balls in a couple of zip-lock bags, poke a dozen or so holes in the bags and place them in several areas: the battery compartment, near the propane tank, in the water heater and refrigerator access panels. This will deter spiders and other little critters from nesting. It will also help prevent musty odors.
Bounce dryer sheets tied to the upper legs of trailers and in the engine compartments near the manifolds and engine wiring will keep rodents from chewing on wires.
Vaseline applied to the door seals of doors and windows will help keep them soft, and stop ants and spiders from wintering in your RV.
Be sure your awning is securely fastened when storing your RV, and clean off the top of your slide-outs before closing them up. Leaves and pine needles stuck inside will hold moisture and help cause mildew inside your RV.
Have a qualified RV repair facility check your LP gas system once a year for leaks and proper operating pressure to ensure safe operation. Do not service or maintain your LP gas system yourself!
Be sure your RV is properly winterized. If you are unsure of procedures, consult a repair facility. Do not pour antifreeze into your fresh water tank to run it through the pump into your water system. Even when the tank is drained, there remains some water in the bottom of the tank, which mixes with the antifreeze and lessens its protection level. Also, the antifreeze will be very difficult to flush out in the spring.
Keep your batteries charged through periods of inactivity. Remove for storage in cold winter climates. Efficiency and longevity depend on batteries being kept in a good state of charge, especially in cold weather. Enjoy the holidays!
Final Touch Coach Works is located at 28532 Livingston Avenue in Valencia. For more information, please call 661-775-8375 and visit www.finaltouch-usa.com.