RV Tips

Protect Your RV's Exterior (Winterization Series: Part 3)

Christina

Winterizing can be a chore, but it’s also vital for protecting your RV for years of camping adventures to come. We’ve been covering how to prep your RV for winter from the inside out. In this post, we’ll show you how to protect your RV’s exterior.
If you haven’t already read our posts about winterizing your RV’s water system or cleaning the interior, check those out before putting your RV in storage.
Pro tip: Stop by one of our Supercenters and ask a Parts Specialists to help you find everything you need to winterize your RV, including: RV anti-freeze, rodent repellent, RV covers, and more.
Read on for our final check list to protect your RV’s exterior for winter!

How to Protect Your RV’s Exterior for Winter

Start by giving your RV’s exterior a good wash. Use cleaning products recommended by your manufacturer. Let everything dry before putting your RV into storage. You may want to wait for a sunny day or use a clean microfiber towel to speed up the drying process. The soft fibers will protect your RV’s exterior from scratches while drying.
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Deep Cleaning Your RV (RV Winterization Series: Part 2)

Christina

Winterizing is a must-do to keep your camper in great condition for future family adventures. Deep cleaning your RV is part of that process. In this week’s posts, we’re covering the important steps you need to take when prepping your RV for storage.
In the previous post, we walked you through winterizing your RV’s water system. Now, it’s time to deep clean your RV’s interior. Thoroughly cleaning your RV’s interior will help prevent mold growth, unpleasant smells, and pests from wreaking havoc in your vehicle during the winter months.
Pro Tip: Check your RV owner’s manual for a list of recommended cleaning products.

Before you get started, gather all your supplies:

  • Cleaning gloves
  • Paper towels
  • Microfiber cleaning cloths
  • Garbage bags
  • Window cleaner
  • Multi-surface cleaner (ie. disinfecting wipes)
  • Bathroom cleaner
  • A basket or tote to collect any forgotten belongings
  • Vacuum and/or broom with dust pan

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Winterizing Your RV: Part 1 – How to Winterize Your RV's Water System

Christina

Winterizing your RV – whether it’s for a travel trailer, fifth wheel, or motorhome – can be a chore. But it’s necessary for prolonging the life of your camper and protecting your investment. In this post, we’ll cover how to winterize the plumbing in your RV.
Pro Tip: Read your owner’s manual before you get started for model-specific RV winterizing instructions. Some newer models have built-in winterizing controls, so not all steps may apply to your RV.
Winterizing your RV’s water system means removing as much liquid as possible from the pipes and adding RV anti-freeze to prevent any remaining water from becoming frozen. It’s very important to take time to winterize the water system properly because any water remaining in the pipes can freeze and cause damage if the temperature falls below freezing.

How to Winterize Your RV’s Plumbing

A man opens the drain valve on his RV to allow water to drain from the plumbing. This is the first step to winterizing your RV.
Draining your RV’s plumbing is the first step to winterizing your RV.

Drain Your RV’s Water System

To begin, drain and flush the black and gray water tanks at a dump station. Clean the black water tank with a wand attachment at the end of a hose.
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Install RV insect screens and keep your rig bug-free

Christina

In this post, we’ll show you how to install RV insect screens over refrigerator, furnace, and water heater vents. You can also check out our How-To video on our YouTube channel.
 
We all enjoy the great outdoors, but there are some parts of it that we would rather keep outside. Mosquitos, wasps, and other pests are unwelcome guests in any RV. Besides being a nuisance, some can build nests in vents that interfere with airflow, causing serious damage to appliances. You can easily install RV insect screens to prevent bugs from crashing your next camping trip.
Before you head to the parts store, look at the shape of your RV’s vents and measure the size of each. Camco makes multiple sizes and styles of insect screens, but if you know your vent dimensions it should be easy to find the correct parts for your RV. When in doubt, consult your owner’s manual for more information.
Install RV Insect Screen on RV Refrigerator Vent

How to install RV insect screens for refrigerator vents

The refrigerator vent insect screen kit includes a set of long, flat screens and plastic zip ties for securing the screens to the vent cover.
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