When you’re hitting the road in summer, or catching one last camping trip in autumn, you don’t really think about the winter ahead. You’ll likely be more focused on how you won’t get to head out in your campervan for a while, rather than planning what you’ll actually do with that campervan for the meantime. But that’s why we’re here to help, sharing our checklist for storing your motorhome in winter. These tips will ensure that your motorhome is roadworthy as soon as possible after the winter, ready for a new adventure!
Before Storing
- Increase the tire pressure to 0.5 bar above the prescribed value. This prevents flat areas on the tread so you can continue to ride comfortably.
- Remove the battery. It is best to keep it charged at home. Store it in a frost-free spot after you've charged them. Connect it to a trickle charger which keeps the battery in good condition. If the garage owner doesn’t permit you to take the battery, ask him to put it on a trickle charger or charge it every 3 months.
- Empty the pipes, water tank and boiler. Don't forget to empty the water tank and the tank of the flush toilet, before leaving everything open. This ensures that no moisture is left behind.
- Blow through the water pipes to prevent freezing. You can slide a piece of the inner tube of a bicycle over the tap and simply blow it empty with a bicycle pump.
- Ensure that the fuel tank is completely full. This prevents condensation forming in the tank, so that rust doesn’t stand a chance. This will also make the engine easier to start.
- Remove the gas canisters from your motorhome. Gas canisters are not allowed in most storage facilities, for insurance reasons.
- Sprinkle talcum powder along the door seals so they don't dry out.
- Make sure you store the motorhome completely clean. Wherever there is dirt, moisture will settle. Moreover, with a clean motorhome you have less work in the spring. Check cupboards and the refrigerator carefully and don't leave anything behind.
Additional tips
- Check out Stashbee, the go to platform for finding motorhome storage near you at affordable prices.
- If you already know that you won’t be using your motorhome for a long time then put the motorhome on blocks to relieve the wheels.
What to do when you park the motorhome:
- Open the ventilation in the motorhome as well as all roof hatches, keeping the screen in front of them.
- Open the cabinet doors and put the refrigerator on the ventilation setting. Open the lid of the freezer by putting a clothespin in between, for example.
- Make sure the chair and sofa cushions are upright and free. This allows moisture to escape easily.
- Make sure that the blinds and screens are rolled up, it is bad for the springs to leave them stretched.
- Put the clutch in neutral to prevent possible damage to the gears.
- Place the motorhome on a flat surface. This will cause the least amount of burden to the motorhome.
- Do not apply the handbrake. This prevents the handbrake cable from freezing or rusting, which would cause the motorhome to become immobile.
- Place wheel chocks in front and behind the wheels to prevent rolling away, as the motorhome is not on the handbrake or in gear.
- Remove the wipers from the window, for example by placing a clothespin between the blade and the window. This prevents deformation of the blades.
- Are corner steadies available? Then grease and use them! Take the pendulum home as a small anti-theft device.
Taking your motorhome out of storage:
- Has your motorhome been standing stationary for quite some time and have the starter battery and on-board battery been disconnected for a long time? Then the engine may run erratically. Don't be alarmed, after a few kilometers of driving it will pass. So give your engine some time to wake up from hibernation.
- Check the tire pressure and refill the tires. Do the tires feel ‘flattened’ whilst driving? For example, look for a cobbled road. A ‘bad’ road surface ensures that the tires will recover faster.
- Did you use those corner steadies? Don't forget to take the pendulum with you to the storage facility.
With this checklist, you’re ready to store your motorhome this winter! Check out our list of the best storage facilities in the UK, free to download.
