TELEVISION

Preparing & Dewinterizing Your Rv - Season 1

Series: Preparing & Dewinterizing Your RV
(0)
sign up
Episodes
13
Rating
TVY
Year
2022
Language
English
Publisher
Craftsy

About

Most RV owners take a great deal of time getting their rigs ready for storage due to the extreme temperatures that will be encountered and the length of non-activity.

However, too often, they don't use the same attention-to-detail when bringing their rigs out for the camping season. Rather, they fill the water and propane and hit the road.

But there are several areas of an RV that need attention – to reduce failure later on and prolong the life and value of RV appliances and accessories.

This Class will be a great lesson in giving your rig the complete once-over that it deserves after a few months in waiting, and before hitting the road!

Related Subjects

Episodes

1. Session 1: Overview of Winterizing and the Need to Dewinterize

4m

sign up
Most RVers understand the importance of getting their rig ready for winter or just a long storage. Frozen water lines can be very expensive, but it's just as important to spend a little time checking all the appliance, tires, batteries, and other components when bringing your rig out of storage and ready for a new camping season.

2. Session 2: Initial Inspection

5m

sign up
A good walk-around of the unit will help identify if there are any immediate issues that have happened during storage, such as a cover that has a rip or damage allowing moisture in, any damage from branches or weather, or signs of mice or other rodents! If there is any noticeable damage, you will want to take pictures or call an insurance agent before venturing too much further.

3. Session 3: Tires

14m

sign up
During extended storage periods, tires can be exposed to some extreme weather conditions, with the UV rays from the sun being the worst. Checking for cracks in the sidewall known as "weather checking" is important before taking to the road, as well as proper inflation. It's not uncommon for a tire to lose 2 psi every week when sitting, and you cannot see a 10 psi lower pressure just by looking at the tire.

4. Session 4: Exterior Inspection

27m

sign up
A close inspection of the roof and sidewall is important, as the temperature changes during storage make components expand and contract - so a visual inspection of the sealants, gaskets, and materials is critical.

5. Session 5: Interior Inspection

7m

sign up
Inside you should look for any leaks that might have occurred by opening the overhead cabinets and looking for stains or wrinkling at the roof to sidewall joint. Open the slideroom and look for soft floors at the openings. And open all the drawers looking for rodents!

6. Session 6: Batteries

12m

sign up
Improper charging and storage is the number one culprit of battery sulfation in lead acid batteries and why they do not last very long. Proper storage is important, but cleaning all the terminals, checking fluid levels, and inspection of the cables will ensure your house batteries last longer.

7. Session 7: Water System

12m

sign up
When winterizing a water system, RVers either use RV antifreeze or use compressed air to remove all the water from the system. In the spring, you will not only want to remove the RV antifreeze and/or fill the system with fresh water, but also sanitize/deodorize the tanks and pipes as well as condition the seals for the valves and toilets.

8. Session 8: LP System/Appliances

7m

sign up
Since the LP tanks should have been shut off and all appliances turned off, you will need to purge the air out of any LP line, which can take several minutes. Also, if the LP tank is turned on too quickly, there is an excess flow valve that will shut the line off.

9. Session 9: Generator

9m

sign up
Generators are having a tough time with cheaply refined fuel and ethanol and can varnish if not properly cared for. Spring is a good time to change oil, filters, and add a fuel stabilizer that can help clean the fuel components of the generator.

10. Session 10: Batteries for Smoke Detectors

2m

sign up
There has been a huge marketing/advertising emphasis to change the batteries in smoke detectors in the residential market - however this is also a good time to change the batteries in an RV smoke and CO detector as well.

Extended Details

  • Closed CaptionsEnglish

Artists