Dewinterizing an RV: Complete Guide for a Smooth Spring Season

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It’s finally springtime and that means it’s time to get the RV ready for the upcoming road trip season! If you’re like most RVers, you probably spent the winter months storing your RV in a garage or storage unit. Now that it’s time to take it out, you may be wondering how to dewinterize an RV. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! In this blog post, we will discuss some tips and tricks for dewinterizing your RV quickly and easily.

Dewinterizing an RV

Steps To Dewinterizing an RV

If you’re like most RVers, you can’t wait to get back on the road after a long winter. But before you hit the open road, it’s important to take a few steps to dewinterize your RV. Here’s a quick guide to get you started:

Check Your Tires

Check Your RV Tires

If you’re planning on hitting the open road in your RV this summer, there’s one important maintenance task you should make sure to do first: check your RV tires. Just like the tires on your car, the tires on your RV are subject to wear and tear. Over time, they can develop cracks, leaks, or bald spots. This can be unsafe, and it can also lead to a blowout. To avoid this, it’s important to inspect your tires regularly. Check for any signs of wear and tear, and make sure that the tire tread is still intact. In addition, check the pressure to make sure that the tires are properly inflated. By taking a few simple precautions, you can help keep your RV safe on the open road.

Charge Your Batteries

Spring has sprung, and for many of us, that means it’s time to start planning our summer road trips. If you’re one of the lucky ones who own an RV, then you know that a key part of preparation is making sure your batteries are charged. But what’s the best way to do that?

First, it’s important to do all required maintenance per your RV battery manufacturer’s specifications. This will help ensure that your batteries are in good condition and able to hold a charge. Once that’s done, you’ll want to hook up your RV to a power source and let it charge for at least 24 hours. This will give the batteries enough time to reach full capacity.

Inspect The Inside Of Your Rig

If you’re like most people, the thought of inspecting your RV fills you with a sense of dread. After all, who wants to spend their vacation crawling around on the floor, checking for leaks and damage? However, taking the time to inspect your RV before hitting the road can save you a lot of headaches down the line. Start by checking the floor for any weak spots or holes. Then check the windows and doors to make sure they’re sealed properly. Finally, take a look around for any signs of pests or other damage. By taking a little time to inspect your RV, you can help avoid problems later on.

Make Sure To Do A Thorough Walk Around

It’s always a good idea to do a thorough walk around your RV before hitting the road. You want to check for any cracks, leaks, or damaged seals. If you find any cracks, make sure to seal them up with some sealant. Check the seams to make sure they’re all sealed up tight. If you see any damage, it’s best to get it fixed before you hit the road. Otherwise, you might end up with a big problem down the road. So make sure to do a thorough walk around your RV before setting off on your next adventure.

Flush The Water System (and Sanitize)

If you’re like most people, you probably can’t wait to get your rig out of winter storage and hit the open road. But before you do, there’s one important task you need to take care of: flushing the non-toxic RV antifreeze out of the water system (if you fully winterized it for storage). This is essential in order to be able to use the water system in your RV.

The good news is that it’s actually pretty easy to do. Just follow these steps:

  • Turn on your water pump (if you haven’t done so already).
  • Turn on all hot and cold faucets including showers.
  • Allow water lines to run freely for several minutes.
  • Flush your toilet a few times.
  • Keep water running until all water comes out clear (no antifreeze showing).
  • Turn off all water faucets and showers.
  • Turn off bypass mode on the hot water heater.
  • Replace all water filter cartridges.
  • Dump gray and black water tanks.
  • Easy Peasy. You are done!!

Sanitizing Your Water System

  • First, bleach is your friend.
    • Mix one cup of bleach with 15 gallons of water (in the freshwater tank), and then use this solution to flush out all the lines in your RV’s water system.
    • Once you’ve done that, be sure to plug all the drains so the bleach solution doesn’t run out.
    • Let the bleach solution sit in the lines for at least an hour.
    • Then flush the lines again with fresh water.
    • You can also use hydrogen peroxide and vinegar mix to sanitize your RV’s water system, but bleach is generally considered to be more effective.

Check All Of Your Pipes For Leaks

Check Pipes For Leakes

The last thing you want on your RV trip is a Pipe burst, water spilling everywhere. So before you set off on your cross-country adventure, make sure to check all the pipes in your RV for water leaks. Even a small leak can cause big problems, so it’s better to be safe than sorry. To check for leaks, simply turn on all the faucets in your RV and look for any dripping or puddling. Once you’ve found a leak, make sure to repair it immediately. And while you’re at it, take a moment to appreciate all the amazing engineering that goes into making an RV function. After all, it’s not every day that you get to live in a moving house!

Check All of Your Appliances And Make Sure That They Are In Working Order

Adventurers! Before you set out on your cross-country RV trip, make sure to check all of your appliances and ensure that they are in working order. After all, you don’t want to be caught in the middle of nowhere with a faulty coffee maker or fridge. So take the time to test everything out, from the stovetop to the TV. And if you’re really organized, you can even make a checklist to ensure that you don’t forget anything. With just a little bit of planning, you can make sure that your RV is equipped with everything you need for a comfortable and enjoyable journey.

Change All Of Your Filters

As any RVer knows, one of the most important things you can do to keep your RV in good shape is to change your filters regularly. It’s easy to forget about this simple maintenance task, but it’s really important to do it regularly. Not only does it help to keep your RV running smoothly, but it also helps to extend the life of your filters. To make sure you don’t forget, set a reminder on your phone or put a note on your fridge. And when the time comes, be sure to change all of your filters – not just the one that’s most visible. After all, you don’t want to end up with a clogged filter and a smelly RV!

Fill Your Propane Tanks

Fill your propane Tanks

If you’re like most RVers, you can’t wait for the winter to be over so you can hit the open road again. But before you pack up and head out, there are a few things you need to do to get your RV ready for the season. One of them is filling your propane tanks. This may seem like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many people forget to do it. And trust me, you don’t want to run out of propane in the middle of nowhere. So before you set off on your next adventure, make sure you fill up your propane. It’s one less thing to worry about as you enjoy the great outdoors.

Make Sure That Your Generator Is Working

As the weather starts to warm up before spring, make sure your RV generator is in good working condition. The last thing you want on your first camping trip of the season is to be stranded without power. Whether you’re boondocking in the middle of nowhere or just dry camping at a crowded RV park, having a generator can be a real lifesaver. But before you fire it up, make sure you’ve checked the oil and gas levels, and that all the connections are secure. Once you’re sure everything is in good working order, you can relax and enjoy your time camping without worry.

Check Your Fire Extinguisher (and other Safety Equipment/ supplies)

One more step for de-winterizing is to check your fire extinguisher. You don’t want to be caught in an accident without one! But seriously, checking your fire extinguisher is an important safety step when preparing for any RV trip. Fire extinguishers are typically classified by the type of fire they can extinguish: Class A, Class B, or Class C. Most Mishaps occur while cooking, so it’s important to have a Class B fire extinguisher on hand in case of a grease fire. You should also have a class C extinguisher for electrical fires. And of course, every RV should have a first-aid kit. Be sure to check the expiration dates on all of your safety equipment and supplies, and replenish anything that’s running low.

Paperwork

With your RV all packed and ready to go, the final step is to make sure that you are staying legal and safe on the road. This means getting your RV registered, tagged, and insured. Depending on your state, you may also need to get your RV inspected. But once you have taken care of all of this, you will be free to hit the open road and explore all that this great country has to offer.

Conclusion To Dewinterizing An RV

If you’re like me, the idea of packing up your RV and hitting the open road is an incredibly tempting one. But if you want to make sure your camping season goes smoothly, there are a few things you need to do before you leave. By winterizing your RV and doing some basic maintenance, you can avoid any nasty surprises while on the road. So don’t wait any longer – get started on your spring preparations today!

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