Winterizing and lay up

[PNW Gorge]

Just a couple general questions about winter layup of your travel trailers.


Do you keep a trickle charger on the batteries?


Do you remove the batteries?


Do you keep the trailer shoreline 110V plugged in?


Do you run a small heater inside during winter months?



Do you use a RV cover if not stored under a roof?


Yes, water lines are filled with anti freeze.


Just wonder best practices from those that know.

[08quadram]

It depends on where you are storing you unit. Mine sits in a machine shed off site, so I pull the battery and fully winterize the unit. If it was stored over the winter at home, I'd leave it plugged in. But still have it set for -30 degree temps.

[GordKey22]

I live on the West Coast of BC

My 22BKSWE has had the tanks drained, the hot water tank anode pulled, antifreeze into the various traps, an Adeco cover on it.
I have a 500 W heater in it. On a timer. 15 mins on, 45 off. I also have an oscillating fan, by the sink, running all the time One window is cracked as is the bathroom vent.
I also have two of those "Dry A air" things that I check each week.
The fridges are both turned off, at the breakers.
I leave it plugged into the shore power and I check the batteries weekly.
I have opened all the closets, cupboards. Removed all the food stuff.
Lifted all the cushions and the boards underneath.
Installing a pair of "MouseBlockers" this weekend. One near the front and one near the back.
The last thing will be putting some blocks under the axles to take the weight off of the tires and suspension, then making some kind of plywood thing to protect the tires from the sun and the weather.

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by PNW Gorge

Just a couple general questions about winter layup of your travel trailers.


Do you keep a trickle charger on the batteries?

No, I use a battery tender
Do you remove the batteries?
I do strictly for convenience. I keep it in the garage where I can easily check the electrolyte level and the individual cell charge with a battery hydrometer. The battery tender I use has many levels of charge including a plate de sulfication program.

Do you keep the trailer shoreline 110V plugged in?

That's OK but you need to check on the electrolyte every month. May be difficult to do with a coverboverit.
Do you run a small heater inside during winter months?

If you have it properly winterized then all you are doing is burning electricity to invite mice into a warm and cozy place. Also think about this.. Let's say you plug in electric heater. A warm day a mouse comes by and decides that heater looks like a great place to build my new house. So he goes and chews up the covers and cushions and builds his next in or in front of the electric heater. The next cold day when it comes on you're calling your insurance agent asking about fire coverage. IMHO a "space heater" should never be left unattended.

Do you use a RV cover if not stored under a roof?

Jo, did it once and spent a month polishing out the marks it made when the wind whipped it ad beat up the corners.
Yes, water lines are filled with anti freeze.


Just wonder best practices from those that know.

Comments in red above. I would add, place some Fresh Cab around the camper to deter mice.

[travelin texans]

I'd have agree with Marshall on most of those points!
Having it covered with an unattended heater is a recipe for an accident & a giant VACANCY sign lit up for critters to spend a nice cozy winter in.

[PNW Gorge]

Thanks everyone, good info and insight.