Tips On First Outdoor Winter Storage

[KDHfan]

This will be the first winter that our TT (Rockwood 2306) will be outside through the winter. I had an indoor facility previously... very cheap... but it was 70 miles away with limited access... small window of when i could pull it in the spring... and i had to drive there and move it out/in if someone that was parked behind me wanted out before i did. So, i just recently found a place just minutes from my house at a nice price. It is covered overhead and on 3 of the four sides... just the front where i back in is exposed (but still covered overhead).

So... i'm looking for some tips on how i should store it...
1. Should i pull the tires up on boards (currently it's dirt/gravel)? Would my Lynx legos work?
2. Should i lower the stabilizer jacks?
3. Should i leave the front and back roof vents cracked open for air circulation?
4. Should i pull the battery?
5. I bought some Fresh Cab to keep the mice out... any other suggestions?

Anything else you all could suggest would be great appreciated.

[Eklc]

Originally Posted by KDHfan

This will be the first winter that our TT (Rockwood 2306) will be outside through the winter. I had an indoor facility previously... very cheap... but it was 70 miles away with limited access... small window of when i could pull it in the spring... and i had to drive there and move it out/in if someone that was parked behind me wanted out before i did. So, i just recently found a place just minutes from my house at a nice price. It is covered overhead and on 3 of the four sides... just the front where i back in is exposed (but still covered overhead).

So... i'm looking for some tips on how i should store it...
1. Should i pull the tires up on boards (currently it's dirt/gravel)? Would my Lynx legos work?
2. Should i lower the stabilizer jacks?
3. Should i leave the front and back roof vents cracked open for air circulation?
4. Should i pull the battery?
5. I bought some Fresh Cab to keep the mice out... any other suggestions?

Anything else you all could suggest would be great appreciated.

I am no expert but this is what I was told by the guys in our camping club; collectively they have 200 + years of experience with many different kinds of rvs.

What the tires are parked on is not as important as tire pressure. Make sure the tires are at the correct pressure after you park for the winter.
Leave the stabilizers up. If a tire(s) should go flat you will not want the weight of the camper on the jacks.
If you have vent covers leave the vents open. If not, open the vents a little but not all the way. Although yours will be covered I would hate to make it easier for pests to get in.
Disconnect the positive side of the battery, better yet, take it home and put it on a trickle charger.
Remove all food, shut off the propane and pray for spring. Good luck.

[markb5900]

No expert my self either.
I would leave the jacks up.
It is cold enough, I personally don't crack the roof vents. It is pretty dry over the winter and have never worried about it.
I personally pull the battery and bring it inside the garage. I just pull the entire battery box, on mine, it is just a strap that holds the entire box on the trailer and easier to pull the entire box than just the battery out of the box.
I put steel wool in the hole where the shore power cord is.
Hope that helps you some.

[KDHfan]

Thanks... Never thought of the possibility of a flat tire. I'll keep the stabilizers up.

[ependydad]

What they said. I've had to store outside each year and other than topping up the tires, clearing out any trace of food and cleaning the camper interior extra well- we haven't done anything special.

I still haven't quite been able to convince myself to trust the vent covers, we leave them closed.

[Witch Doctor]

You have it about right, I wouldn't put my tires on lynx blocks, Use wood the blocks could either crack from the cold or sink in depending on the weather. Take your batteries home with you. Make sure you winterize, I didn't see that in your check list. Other then that you have it petty much covered. Also check and block any opening that one of those smart critters will try and get in.

[KDHfan]

I had it winterized a couple weeks ago by my local RV repair center. They're currently doing some repairs also... Leaking window on the door and the dometic recall on the awning. Should get into the storage area this week. I'm off to buy a couple boards tomorrow.