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I’m thinking of writing a post for Love Your RV with some tips for folks who are putting their RV’s into storage and have never done it before. Not really winterizing procedures, as that’s a whole topic in itself but more just general storage tips applicable to anytime of the year.
Thought I’d ask you folks and see if you have any neat tips or tricks or advice. 🙂
Probably number 1 tip, if the unit isn’t hooked to shore power, disconnect the battery. All newer units have phantom electrical loads, stereo memory, CO/propane detector and so on. This will totally kill the battery within two weeks or less. A dead battery can take several days to fully recharge and it puts a heavy load on your converter if you are using the unit while a heavy charge is taking place, possibly leading to a converter failure. It also greatly shortens the life of the battery.
Thanks Roger, that is one that I do. My rig didn’t have it, so installed one. I noticed when I dropped it off at the storage yard I could hear alarms going off in several rigs, likely propane detectors or some such thing trying to alert to a low battery condition. They will have dead batteries when they pick it up.
I don’t have a disconnect switch, but the main fuse for the unit is just outside the battery box, so it’s easily accessible. I do leave the solar connected, to many dire warnings in the instructions about sequencing of power up to fool around with.
Dish soap freezes so don’t leave it in the unit over the winter. ( P.S. Makes a big mess to clean)
Another experienced camper!
Wow, never thought of soap, that’s a good tip to check for any liquids on board that may make a mess.
I’ve also heard that the lead acid RV batteries need to be fully charged when leaving them in very low temperatures or they may freeze as well.
Before I installed solar, I used one of these over the winter to keep the battery topped up. When I came back to the trailer in spring, I still had a fully charged battery. I tie wrapped it to the jack.
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