Preparing Your RV For Winter  (36-7)

It’s that time of year again, when many RV enthusiasts decide to put their trailer or motorhome to bed for the winter.
            To protect the vehicle and its components from damage during the cold weather months, there are a number of procedures to follow… the reward for your effort will be less maintenance in the spring, and a much lower risk of winter damage.
            The first place top start would be to do a complete job of cleaning the exterior. Whether the unit has aluminum, fibreglass or Mendeboard siding, there are small pores in the material that can harbor specks of mold over the winter. This shows up in the spring as small dark specks on the siding.
            Do not park a vehicle for extended periods where the roof will be exposed to tree sap or fruit, as staining may result. You need to clean off the roof, especially if the RV has a rubber membrane or other material that can hold dirt and debris over the winter. Because dust and dirt may collect on the roof, regular cleaning with a soft bristle brush and soap and water is recommended.  Dicor, the supplier of rubber roof material, recommends cleaning four times a year to keep the roof in good shape.
            Roofing can be cleaned with Dicor Rubber Roof Cleaner RP-RC160C concentrate to clean the complete roof, or RP-RC320S ready-to-use cleaner in a spray bottle for smaller areas. These products are available from your dealer.  For stubborn stains, mineral spirits applied to a cloth is recommended. Do NOT use acetone or any cleaner that contains petroleum distillates as this can harm the rubber. Do not let any cleaning solvent come in contact with the membrane for extended periods of time. The Dicor rubber membrane has ultraviolet inhibitors in it, but some RV’ers also apply a light coating of Rubber Roof Protectant after cleaning for further insurance against damage.
            This is a good time to inspect the sealants around doors, windows and roof vents and cover the air conditioner. Roll out the awning to be sure that it is dry so that mildew does not grow on the fabric over the winter. Extend each slide-out and if the seals are dirty, clean them with rubber roof cleaner to extend their life. Don’t forget that there is both an inside and outside seal on each slide-out. Use a dry lubricant on the slide-out mechanism.

Tire Care
            Clean the tires and wheels with mild soap and water only, don’t forget to also clean the side of the tires that you can’t see normally, such as between dual tires, then rinse them off thoroughly. Remember to not use silicon, alcohol or any petroleum-based cleaner as they can damage the sidewall of the tire. 
            Moisture trapped in the dirt on the tires can produce an acidic compound that will eat away at the rubber in the tire. Drive the RV up on some form of moisture barrier to prevent contact between the tires and the earth, asphalt or concrete. In the past, we have used sheets of plywood covered with thin construction plastic to prevent moisture from the parking surface from wicking up into the tread of the tires. Lately we have had success with plastic cutting boards that you normally purchase for use in the kitchen. They have a hole in them that allows you to tie a piece of rope to use for placing or removing them. Once the vehicle is parked for the season, cover the tires to protect them from the ultraviolet light of the sun. Your RV dealer sells vinyl covers that will not blow off in a storm.
            Leave the tires inflated to the recommended air pressure and do not lift them off the ground. It is important for the tires and suspension to properly keep the frame in alignment over the winter. Frost heaves could cause the frame to twist and distort if the unit is raised up on jack stands.

Generator Considerations
            If you have a generator in your RV, start it up and let it run. Then turn off the fuel source by pinching the neoprene fuel line until all the fuel is run out of the generator’s carburetor. This will prevent the formation of varnish as the fuel evaporates over the winter. Varnish is the gummy residue that forms in the carburetor when fuel gets old and breaks down. Fuel varnishing can clog the small passages in the carburetor, causing the genset to start and run poorly. High octane fuels evaporate much quicker and produce varnish more easily. In cold climates, avoid filling the fuel tanks just prior to storage late in the fall or in the winter. Cold weather fuel has special additives to make it vaporize easier. Onan recommends using a fuel stabilizer in the tank (OnaFresh-GLXP Fuel Preservative and Stabilizer- 24 ounces to 50 gallons). If you cannot drain the fuel from the carburetor, run the genset on a monthly exercise program. Small electric heaters and electric hair dryers make excellent loads for your genset exercise program. Operate gasoline gensets at a minimum of 50 percent capability (2000 watts for a 4000-watt genset) for two hours at least once every four weeks.

Fuel Systems
            If you have been using regular gas in your tank, top it up to prevent condensation from occurring. If this happens, the water vapor will fall to the bottom of the tank where it will be drawn up into the engine the first time you start the motor in the spring. These days, we are more than likely using fuel that is laced with 10% ethanol, which of course is an alcohol. When ethanol fuel sits for long periods of time over the winter, the alcohol content separates from the gasoline and settles to the bottom of the tank. Ethanol is very corrosive and can damage metal parts and fuel lines. You have to consider that your engine was not designed to run on pure alcohol, so the settling of ethanol out of the fuel can be quite a shock for the engine components… try to use up most of the fuel in your tank before storing the RV for the winter.

Water and Holding Tank Tips
            Be sure to dump and flush your holding tanks then add a liquid lubricant to the dump valves of the gray and black tanks. Thetford makes an excellent dump valve lubricant that can be purchased from your dealer.  Empty your fresh and hot water tanks, and remove any filters. Don’t forget the filter in the icemaker of your refrigerator. Some people use air pressure to blow out their water lines, but I prefer to use non-toxic antifreeze, because if you use too much air pressure, the couplings on the water lines might be damaged. Most new RVs sold today have a by-pass system installed on the hot water heater and a diverter valve installed between the fresh water tank and the water pump. If your RV does not have this feature, this is a good time to have the bypass valves installed by your RV dealer to make it easier to winterize in the future.
            After the fresh water tank is empty, turn the handle on the diverter valve to allow you to pull antifreeze from the gallon bottle and pump it directly through the water lines. I always run the antifreeze through the cold lines first and then through the hot water lines. Remember the water lines to a dedicated filter tap on the counter, and the line to the icemaker in the refrigerator. In the icemaker, just use your finger to push down on the float mechanism and the antifreeze will protect the small diameter pipes. Once you have winterized these components, it is time to run antifreeze through the toilet by pressing on the foot pedal until you see the colored liquid swirling around the bowl. There is an overflow tube on most toilets that is normally filled with water to prevent odors from coming up into the living space from the waste tank. Unless this tube gets some antifreeze in it, the tube could freeze and break over the winter letting bad smells into your living space in the spring and summer. If you have a washer-dryer installed in your unit, you must protect the water supply lines with antifreeze (this is an easy one to forget). The one thing that most RV’ers usually overlook is to go outside and use a pencil to push in momentarily on the backflow prevention valve on the city water inlet. This allows the antifreeze to push the water out of this section of piping.

LP Gas Systems
            Now is a good time to fire up the furnace or the hot water heater then go out and turn off the supply valve at the propane tank. This will burn up any propane left in the lines so that the natural oils in the propane do not condense and cause problems plugging up the lines and the regulator in the spring. Then shut down the appliance so that its control mechanism does not draw any DC current from your batteries over the winter.

12 Volt Electrical System
            Before storing your RV for the season, make sure that your batteries are fully charged. The batteries need to be recharged one day out of each month. If you have access to an electric outlet where you store your RV, you can plug the RV into the outlet using a Noma Christmas tree light timer. I set the timer so that it turns on for one hour each day (that is about equivalent to one day each month). If there is no electrical outlet where you store the RV, take the deep-cycle RV batteries out and bring them home. Place them in an outdoor storage shed where it is cold and connect them to a timer and a battery trickle charger to keep them topped-up over the winter. Do not place the batteries inside your basement - especially not near the furnace. The batteries give off hydrogen gas whether they are being charged or simply just sitting there. This hydrogen gas discharge would not be a good thing when your furnace lights up in the house. Be sure to clean the top of the battery to remove any road dust or moisture that could cause the battery to self-discharge as the current flows from one terminal to the other through the dirt. I use a window cleaner and paper towel for this. Make sure the caps are on the battery during cleaning so that none of the solution gets inside the battery.
            Don’t forget to remove any batteries from clocks and smoke or carbon monoxide detectors. If your RV batteries are being topped up each day, the memory system of your dash radio will not deplete the charge in the battery. A fully charged battery will not freeze even at 60 below zero.

Mouse and Mildew Patrol
            Vacuum the inside of the RV making sure that you have removed any crumbs in the folds of the upholstery and mattress that might attract mice over the winter. Some people use Bounce dryer sheets spread around to deter the mice, some use bay leaves. If you travel with a pet, be sure to thoroughly vacuum all the bay leaves out in the spring to prevent your pet from ingesting the dry leaves. Do not use moth balls as the odor is almost impossible to remove later. We use a product called “Mouse Away” from D*RV (www.drvproducts.com/mouseaway) that we spray on pieces of cardboard that we place inside cabinets, cupboards, on the bed, dinette and carpets. Mouse Away does not have the odor of moth balls, and mice hate it. It is not available at this time in Canada due to its aerosol container, but if you are traveling in the USA you can pick it up at many retailers or RV stores. We have found that there is enough in one can to last for about four years.
            Make sure that you clean the inside of the refrigerator and leave the doors ajar so that mildew does not get a chance to grow. Place a box of baking soda inside to absorb any odors. If you intend to cover your RV to protect it from the elements, do not use the typical plastic covers that are available from hardware stores and farm equipment co-ops as they trap moisture between the plastic and the roof. Instead, protect your RV with a Teflon™ cover that is breathable. These covers from “Gold Coast” or “Adco” are available through local RV dealers and help keep the unit clear of moisture and debris over the winter. They also keep ultraviolet light off the roof, sides and even the tires, when the cover is fitted properly.
            Winterizing your RV is a great way to protect your investment from the ravages of the cold Canadian weather – if this sounds like a lot of work, you could always opt for the more entertaining alternative - just turn the ignition key and drive south about 1000 miles, park the RV, and enjoy winter in the sunshine states!