Recreational vehicles, also known as RVs, are an extremely popular and fun way to travel and experience road or camping trips in a whole new way. They’re a classic and iconic symbol of American recreation and adventure, and are a big part of the way in which Americans travel from point A to point B and everywhere in between. And now that summer is just around the corner and people are gearing up for their summer road vacation, you’ll probably see a lot more of them coming out of RV storage and out on the open road.
But after months of being in RV storage, is likely that the golden chariot that awaits you is in desperate need of some spring maintenance and cleaning. After all, winter car storage and long term car storage have their benefits, but after months of being in hibernation, it’s a good idea for them to stretch their legs — or tires — before taking them out on the open road. Of course, a lot of how your vehicle will fare in RV storage has everything to do with the condition it was in before you put it in storage.
Similar to self storage units where you keep and store your personal belongings, be wary of how you put your vehicle in RV storage. For example, it’s a good idea to keep moisture to a minimum both inside the vehicle and inside the unit itself. Moisture is a sure fire for mold spores to grow, so it’s import to keep the RV storage unit and the RV itself as clean and as dry as possible. This involves cleaning out the refrigerator inside the RV if it has one, and wiping the interior out with hot, soapy water or natural disinfectant. Most, if not all, self storage facilities are climate controlled, but stubborn mold still has the ability to thrive despite taking these kinds of careful measures.
In addition, it’s a good to make sure your vehicle is properly winterized before keeping it in RV storage and taking it out on the road for summer. This includes having the tire pressure checked, having the oil changed if necessary and topping off all the fluids as needed, inspecting the engine and the transmission for signs of potential issues and damage, and doing brake work if needed. Depending on how long your RV will be in RV storage, you may even want to start it from time to time to ensure everything stays running smoothly so you won’t end up with an unpleasant surprise when you’re ready to take it out on the road.
Another thing to keep in mind when leaving your recreational vehicle in RV storage for the winter is the security of the facility itself. How safe and secure is it? Is there security? Are there security cameras? As with any kind of self storage, security should be on your mind. Not necessarily out of fear, but more so out of awareness. Unfortunately, thieves do try to break into these facilities, and are more likely to do so at a facility that does not have state of the art surveillance equipment. This is an important factor to consider when choosing an RV storage facility, as the lowest price isn’t always the best one!
When it’s time to finally take your RV out of storage, you may be ready to open her up and let her rip on road, but go slowly! Even if you had it properly winterized by a mechanic, it doesn’t hurt to have that mechanic give it another once over before taking it out on the open road. This is especially true if you plan on taking it out for long cross country or multiple state road trip. The worst thing that could happen is getting stuck broken down on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere!
Recreational vehicles are a wonderful, handson way to experience cross state travel, but they must be properly maintained. Doing so will ensure miles of fun!
