December 22, 2024

How To Prepare Your Boat And RV Before Storage

Now that you have completed the most important tasks on your to-do list, it’s time to choose a storage place. There are plenty of reputable facilities out there and it shouldn’t be too hard to find one that fits the bill. The type of vehicle you own will affect the choice you make here. If you are storing an RV or boat trailer, for example, then whether or not you have access to electricity might be relevant for running the battery charger. 

You will also need to decide whether your vehicle should be stored indoors or outdoors. Climate and weather conditions play a role here – if your agent is located in an area prone to snow in winter, then an indoor location is strongly recommended like boat storage mobile AL. Don’t forget about security either! You don’t want a bunch of people using your home away from home as their hotel so look for secure locations with good lighting and video cameras on-premise. You should prepare your RV and RV before store by implementing the following points:

Clean Out Food

Once you have gotten rid of all the food in your RV, you’ll need to make sure that any remaining smells are removed. To do this, you should use some baking soda and vinegar to wipe down all the surfaces, paying particular attention to the refrigerator. Humidity is a big problem when it comes to storing RVs, so make sure to open up all lockers and cupboards once you have cleaned them so that they can dry out properly.

If your boat or RV is going into long-term storage, then we would recommend getting it wrapped in shrink wrap before being put into storage. Shrinkwrapping can provide a barrier against cold weather as well as stop moisture from seeping through the outer layer of your boat or RV. After that, store your RV in a climate-controlled storage unit such as an RV storage mobile.

Clean Your RV

Before you decide on storing your RV away for a while, it’s important to make sure that it is properly cleaned. That means washing and waxing the exterior of the vehicle, as well as thoroughly cleaning the interior. That includes all fixtures such as cabinets, upholstery (including any chairs or seats), and flooring. Make sure that everything is completely dry before you put anything away to reduce the chance of mold forming in furniture or cupboards where water might be trapped. You can also leave cabinet doors open so that air can flow into them, drying them out more quickly and efficiently

Clean Your Plumbing Systems

Flushing the lines and disinfecting your water systems is one of the simplest but most important steps to take. Preventing any lingering moisture from freezing and damaging your equipment is essential. To do this, turn off the fresh water inlet, then open all the drains (including taps and showerheads) to let any water run out. Then spray RV antifreeze into each drain. You’ll need to repeat this process for both black and grey holding tanks and water heaters and other plumbing lines throughout your unit that may contain any amount of water.

Check Your Propane System And Lines

To prepare for long-term storage, turn off the propane tank valve before disconnecting the propane tank. Then check for leaks in the system by spraying all of your propane lines and connections with soapy water. When you notice bubbles appearing, it’s time to replace those lines or hoses. After that, recap your propane tanks and store them safely away from the RV or boat, preferably inside a shed or garage. Finally, store your boat in the boat storage mobile. 

Take Care Of The Fluids And Gas

For your RV or boat to remain in tip-top shape, you must take care of the fluids and gas before storing it in a facility. Make sure that you flush the water heater tank with an anti-freeze solution that is RV specific. Use an RV-safe antifreeze to flush out the holding tanks and pipes, but do not do this if you are using an ink machine as there are chemicals in these that can damage your pipes and tanks. If using a winterizing kit is not possible then use kits available at any home improvement store, but be sure to follow instructions closely because some regular antifreeze products may cause damage. Also, be sure to change the oil on both RVs and boats because old oil will lead to engine problems later on down the road.

Do not forget to make sure that the gas tank is full so that moisture will not form inside because empty tanks gather moisture from condensation which leads to rust forming inside it. Another important tip is to check all of your other fluids including coolant, windshield washer fluid reservoir, and more if needed for your vehicle. Be sure that all of these are topped off before storage so it doesn’t cause any problems when taking it back out again after long periods during storage.