How to Choose a Winter Storage Solution for Your RV
As an amazing season of RVing comes to an end and you’ve started the winterization process on your camper (don’t worry, we’ve already laid out exactly how to do this for you!) it's time to consider how to store your RV for the season. An RV is a big investment and a big vehicle - it’s important to protect it from the elements over the winter so that you can enjoy many more years of adventuring. Not to mention that the more prep you do now, the easier it will be to hit the open road in the spring. So what are some of South Thompson’s top recommendations for RV storage solutions? Let’s take a look!
Indoor Storage
If you aren’t lucky enough to have a garage that’s big enough to house your RV over the winter, there are plenty of storage facilities in the Kamloops area where you can store a camper, trailer or toy hauler. These come at a cost, but you have the benefits of a fully enclosed, heated and secure indoor space. With this option, it might be warm enough that you don’t need to worry about things like your water pipelines freezing and you can work on RV maintenance, upgrades or renovations during the off-season. An indoor storage solution is one of the best ways to make sure that your RV ready for action as soon as the snow melts!
Pop-Up Shelters
There are plenty of pop-up shelters available and the consensus is that they work quite well! These shelters are akin to a portable-garage and are made from either metal or other extremely durable materials. You will have to spend some time building the frame and securing it to the ground, but once it’s built you will have a relatively worry-free winter. One major benefit of these shelters is that they don’t actually come into contact with your RV, which allows air to circulate around the vehicle so that you can avoid dreaded moisture build-up. You can also warm the interior of the space using a portable heater and even run a dehumidifier to further help your RV stay dry. You will still need to take winterization precautions, such as removing linens and supplies from inside your camper, removing and storing any batteries, draining your water lines and raising the tires off the ground (or removing them completely, depending on the type of ground your RV is stored on top of).
If You Liked it Then You Should Have Put a Tarp on it
One of your least expensive, yet still valuable, options for winter RV storage is to tarp your camper. Be warned that this needs to be done very carefully, otherwise it can do more harm than good! Tarps help protect your camper from falling debris, snow, hail and wind, but they also have a tendency to trap moisture. RVs can suffer from dry rot, which is when moisture gets into the walls and systems of an RV through the outer shell. Even if you thoroughly inspected your RV for cracks during the winterization process, having a tarp directly against the vehicle can create conditions where moisture will find a way in. We recommend putting your tarp on an a-frame to allow for air to pass between the tarp and the RV, or find a tarping system that is incredibly breathable. You will also want to spend extra time winterizing the outer shell of your RV, including patching cracks and applying a thick layer of wax.
Ultimately, any level of storage will be better than nothing! Even four-season compatible models like Black Rock and Cedar Creek Silverback require some level of storage from time-to-time. The team at South Thompson RV knows how important an RV investment is and we want to see that investment withstand anything our Kamloops weather throws your way. Our helpful South Thompson team members are here to walk you through your winter storage options and help you find the winterization materials you need. Give us a call today so we can help make sure that your RV stays in tip-top shape for many more years of adventuring!
