Texarkana RV Storage in Winter: Awning, Tires, Fridge and Freezer

In part one of this multi-part blog series, we went over some of the basics on how to store your RV for the winter. While storage of an RV may take place at any time of the year, the winter is the most common such period among RV owners due to weather conditions and closures of certain tourist attractions around the country.

At Campers RV Center, we're happy to not only offer a wide variety of RVs for sale throughout the Texarkana area, but also to provide tips and expertise to our clients on how to care for their vehicles throughout the year. This includes suggestions for proper storage in any setting, including the winter period. What are some other basic recommendations we often make here? Let's go over a few.

Awning Dry-Off and Storage

While you're storing your RV over the winter, it's important to take care of your awning as well. If you have an awning that folds out from the side of your vehicle, unroll it and let it air dry before retracting back into its housing.

If there are any water spots or leftover dirt on the material, take some basic steps to wash them away. We recommend cleaning with a mild soap solution and soft cloth, then letting it air dry out in the sun.

If you plan to store your RV over the winter, make sure that your awning is weatherproofed somehow before rolling it up. Use waterproof materials to cover the rolled-up awning, using zip ties if needed.

Tire Considerations

Tires are another vital area to keep in mind while storing your RV, especially if any UV light will be present in the storage area. UV light slowly causes tires to deteriorate, even if they're currently in good condition. This means that stand-alone tires, despite not being driven on at all, can still end up rotting away over time if allowed to sit in the sun.

To prevent this from happening, keep your tires covered up or stored somewhere with limited access to sunlight. If your RV storage area is outdoors and is exposed to UV light, invest in some cheap tire covers made from water-resistant materials. These are often available at automotive stores for around $15 each.

Fridge and Freezer Unloading

Before storing any RV for the winter, it's recommended that you unload all perishables from both your fridge and freezer. If they're not emptied or at least shut off, things like milk, cheese, ice cream and other foods can begin to spoil quickly if left in the vehicle for several months.

If there are any refrigerated items that need to be stored, we recommend finding a small chest freezer for temporary storage. This will protect the food from any potential thawing while also keeping it out of direct sunlight.

For more on how to store your RV for the winter, or to learn about any of our RV options in Texarkana or nearby areas, speak to the pros at Campers RV Center today.