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  7. Your Stored RV Needs to be Checked On

Your Stored RV Needs to be Checked On

Just Because It's Out of Sight Doesn’t Mean It Should Be Out of Mind

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You’ve logged all the miles, seen all the sights, and made all the memories with your RV during your adventure-packed travel season. Now it’s time to store your RV until you’re ready to team up with it again for another season of exploration and fun.

But, just because your RV is in storage, doesn’t mean you can’t —or shouldn’t—check up on it. In fact, just the opposite. There are plenty of reasons why you should pay a visit or two to your stored RV.

Reason 1: Peace of Mind

An RV isn’t like most items put into storage (kids’ clothing, lawn chairs, etc.) It’s a significant investment. It’s also a bit (lot) more expensive to replace than a Christmas tree ornament should something happen to it.

Look for any exterior damage, water penetration, odors, or anything out of the ordinary. Regular visits like this – once or twice a month – will give you peace of mind that it’s doing ok. And, if it’s not, you’ll be able to tend to the issue sooner rather than later, which is always a good thing when it comes to RV-related issues.

Reason 2: A Not-So-Empty Nest

Just because you’ve vacated your RV for the season, doesn’t mean it will remain at zero occupancies. A stored RV is safe, dry, and warm – all the features a rat, squirrel, mouse, or other rodent is looking for in a place to lie low for the winter.

Routine checks of your RV will make sure it doesn’t have any furry squatters in its midst. Look for signs of chewing or gnawing on the exterior. And on the interior, for droppings. If you don’t see any signs, chances are your rig is rodent-free.

Parked RVs

The type of storage for your RV also makes a difference i.e. covered vs. uncovered.  (Image from Shutterstock)

Reason 3: Under the Weather

Weather is the main factor for checking on your stored RV. This is especially true if your RV is in uncovered storage. Hail, snow, flooding, below zero temps, wind (and what it carries with it) – you name the weather and chances are it’s bad for your RV.

Do what you can prior to storage to protect your RV from the elements. And then, post-storm, check to see if it’s incurred any damage. Again, tending to damage right away is far better than not knowing and having the damage linger. It can (and likely will) get worse, which is always more costly.

Reason 4: Prying Eyes (And Hands)

Squirrels and rats aren’t the only pests trying to get into your stored RV. Burglars and vandals are always on the lookout for an opportunity and a stored RV (some full of name-brand appliances and flat-screen TVs) are prime targets. You can prevent break-ins from occurring depending on where and how you store your RV.

But, it’s also good to check up on it so you can pinpoint when a possible break-in may have occurred. It’s better to know it happened in the last week than sometime in the last few months.

It may feel like your RV is in storage not for a season but for a lifetime. But, before you know it, you’ll be bringing it out of winter storage—charting new destinations or revising old favorites. In the meantime, don’t be a stranger. Your RV will thank you.

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