Many RV owners understand the headache that comes with storing their RVs for extended periods. It is usually during the winter season that owners have to store their RVs completely. Still, other reasons might keep them from hitting the road.
Suppose you are wondering about some of the storage problems you may encounter. In that case, here are five common RV storage problems that can arise either at home or at your storage facility. This article will also expand on the various ways to fix these problems.
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1. Bad Battery Conditions
Not all RV owners get the luxury to afford battery charging equipment. RV batteries might die during harsh cold conditions. In this case, consider the following solutions; During the cold season, consider removing the batteries from your RV. Store them in a place like your indoor storage where they won’t be prone to freezing temperatures.
Make sure to charge your RV batteries before storing them at home fully. Remember to check the voltage of the batteries regularly to ensure they are in the best conditions. When the voltage is lower than 12.4 volts, you must recharge your batteries. This habit keeps your batteries in good health throughout the storage period.
In some situations, you may store your RV batteries with house batteries still in the RV. Ensure parasitic loads such as LP gas detectors, indicator lights, and clock radio don’t drain your batteries. The easiest way to perform this is by disconnecting the batteries through a kill switch. When disconnecting a battery, a tip to remember is to unplug the negative side first.
If you have shore power, confirm that your converter charger is of the best quality or else you will overcharge and damage your batteries. Using a battery tender is also another option.
2. Mold Buildup and Mildew
You can prevent mould buildup by eliminating too much moisture in the interior of your RV. So how do you do this?
Use desiccant crystals that absorb moisture from the air. Once the crystals have dissolved, ensure you refill them. This facilitates continuous protection.
You can also use a dehumidifier to dry up the excess humidity in your RV.
Keep free airflow in your RV by practicing good habits like improving ventilation and leaving windows and the roof slightly open.Moulds can be a real problem when storing your RV. When you cover your RV, remember to use a cover made from breathable material. This helps the RV to remain dry and, as a result, eliminate mould.
3. Rodents
Rodents can take over your RV when not checked regularly. The first consideration is to prevent the rodents from invading your RV from any potential entry points like your RV belly.
When your RV is plugged in, ensure the area around the powered code connected to your RV doesn’t have any room to fit even the smallest rodents. These creatures can be sneaky and clever to squeeze through.
Also, make sure that you remove any food left in your RV before storing it. Do a thorough cleaning to ensure no bread crumbs are lying around to invite rodents.
Lastly, invest in repellents, traps, and poisonous foods to keep the rodents away. Pick products that won’t harm pets, children, and even yourself. Cotton balls soaked in peppermint oil are the best bet if you are looking for an effective repellent. Avoid storing your RV in bushy areas.
4. Environmental Factors
Natural environmental factors can also take a toll on your RV when stored. In this case, you can use these remedies ; Avoid parking your RV in bushy areas or areas with tall grasses.
Close all windows and blinds properly to stop UV rays from damaging furniture, carpets, and panels on the walls.If there is a forecast for cold weather, make sure that your RV is properly winterized. On the contrary, it will be hot and sunny; use a cover designed to protect your RV from UV rays.
5. RV theft
People are working tirelessly to break, enter, and even steal your RV. To deter such people, use the following solutions;
- Remote camera systems.
- Have a hidden ignition kill switch.
- Use advanced locking equipment.
- Invest in a lockable battery box.
Batteries are the quickest and most common items to be stolen in an Rv. The best way is to remove the batteries from your RV and store them in a different location.
Wrap up
Some RV problems are hard to avoid, whereas other issues are entirely avoidable. Follow these tips to know how you can overcome common RV problems.