RV Winter Maintenance

Have you ever experienced a cracked or busted RV water line? If so, you know that regular RV winter maintenance is important!

A cracked or busted pump, tank, or line could cost anywhere from hundreds to a thousand dollars to repair. “Yikes” is right! When temperatures begin to trend down, it’s vital to winterize your RV whether you plan to store your camper or take it out on a winter adventure. 

We suggest paying attention to your local weather conditions and planning a winter prep session before the temperatures reach close to freezing. We’ve said it before and we will say it again, winterizing your RV will save you money and heartache! 

Take a look at some ways to take care of your RV as this winter season approaches. You won’t regret the maintenance, we promise!

Protect Your RV Plumbing 

Freeze-ups are a common challenge for RV camping during the winter season and can lead to plumbing damage. Because water expands when it freezes, in pipes it can increase the chances of a fitting or line failure. In tanks, a freeze could cause cracks. If you don’t take the correct precautions to prevent freezing, your plumbing system might develop leaks.

Some modern RVs are equipped with tank heaters that are supposed to safeguard your holding tanks from freezing up. If you have an older camper or don’t have tank heaters, you can take some precautionary measures to prevent freezing.

To protect your plumbing, we suggest adding antifreeze to your system, wrapping pipes in heat tape, heating your storage bays, and performing good winter campsite practices to care for your RV. To learn more, check out our blog post on protecting your RV plumbing!

Install and Upgrade RV Insulation

One way to battle the cold temperatures is by installing or upgrading your RV insulation. Simply put, installing insulation is one of the best and simplest ways to keep a camper warm in the winter if you plan on traveling.

When considering a cold-weather adventure, preparation should include improving the window, door, and vent insulation. If cold air is coming through these easier access entry points, you will be chilly in the colder temps! 

Another smart insulating idea would be to buy a can of aerosol foam to fill significant gaps where hoses, pipes, and other connections enter underneath the RV and to utilize RV skirting. To learn more, check out our blog post on installing and upgrading RV insulation! 

Protect your RV Furnace 

If you plan on RV camping this winter, you want to make sure you are warm and toasty! An RV furnace is the main heat source for your camper. To care for your furnace we suggest regularly vacuuming your furnace, checking exterior vents and all avenues of airflow for obstructions, performing ductwork checks, and regularly checking your carbon monoxide and propane detectors. 

​​One of the most important things to check is that the proper amount of DC voltage is supporting your propane furnace. Too high of voltage can cause issues and too low of voltage won’t support your furnace. To learn more about protecting your RV furnace this winter, check out this blog post!

Take care of your RV Engine

You may be surprised to learn that the less your engine is used, the more important it becomes to perform regular engine maintenance. This is vital because vehicles that sit idle for long periods of time can develop real problems when not properly maintained. 

Many RV owners don’t realize that maintaining your RV engine is very similar to maintaining the engine of a car, with just a few minor diesel engine differences if your RV is diesel. 

We suggest never skipping regular maintenance like oil changes and tune ups, changing fluids and filters, and maintaining your RV belts. We also highly suggest following healthy winter camping practices when it comes to your engine like inspecting RV batteries, checking engine antifreeze, and using an engine heat blocker. Learn more about taking care of your RV engine here! 

Other Tips For Winterizing Your RV

In addition to these vital recommendations, we also recommend flushing your RV’s plumbing system, protecting your RV from pests, prepping your RV tires for winter, and regularly maintaining your RV as you would your home. 

RV winter maintenance will make a difference in the lifespan of your camper, so don’t skip these easy practices! Happy camping!