Tammy Middelweerd
13 oktober, 2021
Tips to prepare your caravan or motorhome for storage
When the camping season is over, caravans and motorhomes are ready to be safely and cleanly stored. Whether the caravan or motorhome is placed under the carport, in a meadow or in a closed storage area, there are a number of points that you can check in advance before you send your camping equipment into hibernation. In this article, we give you eleven handy tips to store your caravan or motorhome safely and prepared. This way, you can enjoy your camping friend again next spring.
Tips to prepare your caravan or motorhome for storage
1. Which stable do you choose?
Covered winter storage is the best option for your caravan or motorhome. Rain, snow and hail can seriously damage your caravan or motorhome. In addition, your caravan or motorhome is exposed to UV radiation outside. This radiation is bad for rubber seals, windows, stickers and caravan or motorhome tyres.
When you opt for winter storage, it is important to compare storage rates. At some storage facilities, you pay per square metre or per linear metre.
2. Check whether your caravan or motorhome is insured during the storage period
You can assume that your caravan or motorhome is in a safe place at the storage, but it is always wise to take out insurance. In this way, you are not only insured against the costs of theft, but also against damage (which can be caused by fire, for example) during the storage period.
3. Cleaning your caravan or motorhome
Before you take your caravan or motorhome to storage, clean it thoroughly inside and out. Some people may find it excessive, but if you want to save yourself time and work in the spring, clean your caravan or motorhome thoroughly before you take your camping equipment to winter storage for a few months.
Wipe all surfaces, cupboards, the kitchen and the bathroom thoroughly with a damp cloth and soapy water. Make sure that any crumbs are removed from the cupboards, this will prevent vermin. Let everything dry thoroughly after cleaning to prevent mould. Also clean your refrigerator thoroughly before you take your caravan or motorhome to storage. This will prevent vermin.
During the camping season, the caravan or motorhome can get very dirty. That is why it is important that you also clean the outside thoroughly after the season. You can clean this with a special cleaning agent.
If you want to keep your caravan or motorhome tidy, we recommend that you (have) your camping equipment waxed before the winter. This wax layer protects your caravan or motorhome against weather influences, discolouration and stains.
You can apply a wax layer yourself with, for example, a spray wax. It is also possible to have this done, this can be done by several caravan and motorhome specialists. The costs for waxing your caravan or camper are approximately €75.
4. Ventilation during the storage period
Ventilation of your caravan or motorhome is very important. This prevents musty smells and mold. Therefore, open the roof hatches a little. Stand the sofa cushions upright and leave the sofa lids ajar. It is also important to leave the cupboard doors a little open, just like your refrigerator.
5. Raise the screens of your caravan or motorhome
You may be wondering why it is necessary to put up all the fly screens? The fly screens in a caravan or motorhome contain springs. When the fly screen is pulled down during the period that your caravan or motorhome is in storage, these springs can stretch. This does not promote the functioning of the fly screens.
6. Check your tyre pressure
Make sure that you put your caravan or motorhome in winter storage with the correct tyre pressure. Just like car tyres, the pressure of your caravan or motorhome tyres drops after a while. Inflate the tyres a little harder (0.2 to 0.4 bar) just before the storage period. This helps to prevent the tyres from becoming flat at the bottom due to the long period of inactivity, which causes the caravan or motorhome to “hop” a little during the first trip.
Do you, like us, find it important to be aware of the tyre pressure of your caravan or motorhome during your camping holiday? Then E-Pressure might be something for you. With the help of this smart module, you always know the tyre pressure of your caravan or motorhome.
7. Store gas bottles safely
At most storage facilities, it is not permitted to leave gas bottles in the caravan or motorhome due to insurance. Therefore, remove your gas bottles from your caravan or motorhome before taking them to the storage facility. To prevent contamination of your gas pressure regulator, we recommend that you put a plastic bag around the regulator. Close the plastic bag using an elastic band or adhesive tape. This way, your gas pressure regulator will remain nice and clean during the storage period.
8. Remove your battery from your caravan or motorhome
Almost every caravan or motorhome has a battery these days. Do you have a fully charged lightweight lithium-ion battery or gel battery? Then you can leave it in the caravan or motorhome. If you have a heavy lead battery, it will have to be connected to the trickle charger all winter. In most storage facilities it is not possible to connect your battery to a trickle charger, which is why you have to do this at home and remove the battery from your caravan or motorhome. To maintain the functioning of your battery, you must store your battery frost-free.
9. Store your caravan or motorhome with an empty water tank
It is important that you store your caravan or motorhome with an empty water tank, grey water tank, boiler and empty pipes. This prevents moisture damage, bacterial growth or deposits. You can drain your (grey) water tank, pipes and boiler using the taps intended for this purpose. You can read exactly how to drain in the instruction booklet of your caravan or motorhome. We have also written an article in which you can read everything about the water tank in your caravan or motorhome.
When you bring your caravan or motorhome to storage, it is also important that you clean your (grey) water tank properly. You can also read how to do this best in our article.
10. Do not place your caravan or motorhome on the handbrake
If you leave your caravan or motorhome in storage for months, it is wiser not to use the handbrake. Dirt, moisture and cold temperatures can cause the brakes to get stuck.
Most storage facilities have a flat surface, so the caravan or camper simply remains stationary. If you are still a bit wary of a caravan or motorhome driving away, use kegs or turn out the legs of your caravan when this is permitted.