Long-Term RV Storage

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Clean Out The Interior

Your camper is likely in need of a good and thorough cleaning before you store it. Remove all personal items like toys, valuables, clothing, hiking gear, fishing equipment and so forth, and put these in your house or apartment. Strip the beds of linens and take out all the towels from the kitchen and bathroom to launder them before putting them back on the RV.

In the kitchen, remove all perishable foods from the pantry and the fridge. Unpower your fridge and set down towels to thoroughly defrost it. Wipe up spills, sweep out crumbs and put some baking soda in the fridge to deodorize it. Wash dishes and store them. Go into the bathroom and clean the toilet, shower and sink, then remove any toiletries that don’t need to stay.

Pest Prevention

While in storage, your RV is vulnerable to pest infestation. Stop this process by making sure you aren’t leaving any food or food spills on board your RV, which your thorough cleaning should have removed. Next, go around and seal up any cracks or gaps with silicone sealant and ensure that there are no gaps in your doors or windows that pests could get through.

Wash The Outside

Your RV also needs a thorough external cleaning to prevent rust or build-up from causing problems over winter storage. This means going up on the roof and sweeping off leaves, pine needles and debris, then washing it. Scrub the exterior from top to bottom with a gentle car-wash soap and a telescoping brush, then rinse thoroughly. You could apply a protective wax if you desire.

Locate Secure Storage

Regardless of where you store your RV, it’s important that you have a snug-fitting and waterproof cover for it. A cover will protect your rig from debris and weather while reducing the risks of theft and pest infestation.

Storing your RV outside of your home is one option, but we advise you not to store it on the street as this can be illegal in some jurisdictions. Your driveway can work, but thieves are more likely to tamper with an RV they can see.

Storing your vehicle behind a tall fence can be helpful, but the best option overall is indoor storage. If you have a locking garage or shed that’s tall enough, you can park your RV inside it. Otherwise, you can investigate RV storage options that have security measures in place and also temperature-controlled environments.

We hope these tips help you to safely and securely store your RV over the winter or whenever you don’t plan to travel for an extended period of time. If you still need your own RV, then stop by our dealership to check out our full stock of new and used campers for sale. Lone Star RV proudly serves the greater Houston metro area, as well as the city of Katy, Texas.