Winterizing your RV

For some RV owners, winterizing means making a call and bringing your vehicle to a local dealer to prepare and store it for the colder months. But many others choose to take care of this necessary part of RV ownership on their own. From plumbing to pest control, there are a few things to keep in mind when calling it a season for your RV.

One of the most important things to do is drain the entire water system so water does not freeze in any of the water lines or tanks. You should fully back flush the water system to remove all the water from the lines. Add an RV antifreeze to the system and make sure it comes through every faucet in the RV as well. Detailed step-by-step instructions on how to do this can be found on a number of online camping and RV websites, like AdventureRV.net and TheCampingSource.com.

It's important to completely cover the vehicle and tires. If you have a garage to store your RV, you're in luck. If you don't, two of the best RV winterizing tips are to invest in a high-quality cover for your RV and to cover the tires.

Before you cover it up, practice some common sense on cleaning your RV out first. Make sure the kitchen and bathrooms are clean and there is no food left behind. Keep in mind that everything from spices to toothpaste could attract unwanted visitors. A little work beforehand could save you a lot of work in the spring if rodents or insects decide to spend the winter in your vacation home!