RV Storage Preparation Checklist
Provided by Technomadia.com and TheRVGeeks.com
This checklist accompanies our article and video on this topic, located at:
www.technomadia.com/rvstorage
Disclaimer: Even if you follow all of these tips, there’s no guarantee that when you return everything in your RV will be all right. Leaving your RV behind is always at your own risk, and neither Chris & Cherie of Technomadia nor Peter & John of TheRVGeeks take any responsibility for your actions. This checklist is presented as a courtesy based on the steps we each take when leaving our RVs behind.
Weather Prevention
✔ | Prep Item | Notes |
❐ | Winterize
- Leave a safe source of heat on to keep temps. above freezing inside the RV and in the bays.
- Remove water from all tanks, and either blow water out of all lines or fill them with non-toxic, marine/RV antifreeze.
- Read instructions from your RV manufacturer and appliances to properly winterize.
- Open cabinets to bring heat under sinks.
- Cover windows for increased insulation.
- Consider ventilation to prevent condensation building up.
| Recommended for leaving the RV behind whenever winter conditions are anticipated. |
❐ | Summer-iize
- Consider ventilation to allow heat to escape
- Cover windows to keep light and heat out
- If you’ll have electricity, may be worthwhile leaving an A/C on.
| Recommended for leaving RV behind whenever extreme summer temperatures are anticipated. |
❐ | Bring Large Awnings In | Recommended whenever you leave your RV behind - even to go out shopping. Unless you know the area well, and that wind is not a risk. |
❐ | Bring Window Awnings In | Recommended if severe weather is anticipated. |
Water Systems
✔ | Prep Item | Notes |
❐ | Flush and Empty All Holding Tanks
- Give Grey & Black tanks an extra flush and soak with tank treatment before final empty.
- Regardless if you empty fresh water - you’ll probably want to sanitize upon return and refill.
| Recommended for leaving RV behind for more than a week. |
❐ | Pull Water Pump Fuse
- Prevents possible short or other event from pumping all your fresh water into your tanks, and possibly overflowing them.
| Recommended for leaving RV behind for more than a day. |
❐ | Disconnect from City Water
- Prevents possible flooding.
| Recommended when leaving RV behind for more than a day. |
❐ | Disconnect Sewer Hoses
- Prevent possible back-ups from park’s sewer system coming into your RV.
| Recommended if leaving RV behind more than a couple days. |
❐ | Place Baking Soda in P-Traps
- Prevents ‘gunk’ from causing smells when you return.
| Recommended when leaving RV more than a week or so. |
❐ | Fill toilet bowl ½ full with water
- Keeps seals moisturized longer - the water in bowl may evaporate.
| Recommended when leaving RV more than a week or so. |
Electrical Systems
✔ | Prep Item | Notes |
❐ | Turn off Inverter and/or Circuits not in use - Consider what needs to be left on, and what can go off. Saves unintended battery drains in case electricity goes out.
| Recommended for leaving the RV behind more than a couple days. |
❐ | Remote Monitoring
- If you’ll be remote monitoring with video surveillance or home automation systems - know what you need to leave ON to power this. Don’t forget a mobile internet source!
| Recommended for leaving RV behind for any length of time. |
❐ | Generator Prep
- Know your generator and how it’ll function. Is auto-start on? Do you want it on?
| Recommended whenever you leave your RV behind. |
Other Systems
✔ | Prep Item | Notes |
❐ | Clean out the Fridge/Freezer - Prevent food spoilage should power go out. For extended periods, your food may expire anyway. Plan this one in advance to consume food left to minimize throwing good stuff out.
- At the very least, remove any food that will expire while you are gone.
- If emptying and will be away from power sources, turn fridge off and leave door open.
| Recommended for leaving the RV behind for more than a few weeks. |
❐ | Clean RV Well
- Clean sinks, shower, counters and floor as best you can. Any crumbs or food remnants can attract insects and rodents. It can also cause mold to grow.
| Recommended for leaving RV behind for than a couple days. |
❐ | Tire Care
- Cover your tires to reduce UV damage to them while you are gone.
- Leave parked on concrete. If not possible, put a plastic or wood barrier between asphalt or grass/dirt/gravel and tires to prevent chemical break down.
- Deploy stabilizers/jacks to take some weight off the tires (but only if someone will not be needing to move the RV while you are gone.)
- Inflate tires to maximum pressure listed on sidewall
| Recommended for leaving the RV behind more than a week or two. |
❐ | Fuel
- If your coach is diesel, filling the diesel tank will help keep algae growth through evaporation & moisture down.
- Adding a biocide to the tank will also help stabilize the fuel and preven algae growth.
| Recommended if leaving the RV behind for more than a few weeks, or anytime you’re stopping in a humid climate for that length of time. |
❐ | Pest Prevention
- If rodents are prevalent in the area you’re leaving the coach - leaving out rodent poison or deterrents is recommended. If they get in your coach, they could do a lot of damage to wiring and systems.
- Avoid using mouse traps, as that could leave decomposing corpses to stink up your RV.
| Recommended if leaving the RV behind for more than a couple weeks, or anytime you’re in a rodent known area. |
Whatever the reason is you need to store your RV, Technomadia and RVGeeks are wishing you the very best!
- Cherie & Chris and Peter & John
Page - Checklist provided by Technomadia.com & TheRVGeeks.com