2022s -> $1,000 Parts Credit
2023s -> $750 Parts Credit
2024s -> $250 Parts Credit
Learning Centre
April 12, 2021
The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and the ice is thawing – do you know what that means? It’s about time to de-winterize your RV! Keep in mind that Canadian weather can be very unpredictable. One day it might be sunny and +20°C and the next day we could have 10 inches of snow! Before you start the process of de-winterizing your RV, it’s best to wait until the last snowstorm of the year has passed. Mid to late April is generally a safe bet and it’s just in time for a May long weekend trip! It’s crucial to de-winterize your RV to reverse the winterizing process and get your RV all set for your next trip. The process of de-winterizing your RV includes many important steps so it’s a good idea to set aside a few hours. This will ensure you aren’t rushing to de-winterize your trailer right before your trip which may cause you to miss a crucial step in the process. As a general rule of thumb, you’ll also want to de-winterize your RV 3-4 weeks prior to your first trip of the year. This means you better get a move on if you’re aiming for May long weekend! In this article, we’re sharing a complete checklist of everything you’ll need to do to de-winterize your trailer. Are you ready to get started? Let’s dive in!
The exterior of your trailer is a great place to start the de-winterizing process. Heavy snow and ice can be very damaging to the exterior of RVs, so it’s important to check for common damage before you hit the road. This is especially important when it comes to cracks and leaks. A leak in your trailer’s exterior can lead to many unpleasant problems down the line, such as wet insulation and mould. Here are the steps you should take when inspecting your RV’s exterior:
Did you know that RV tires lose about 2-3 psi of air pressure each month they are in storage? It’s very important to check your tire pressure before your next trip to avoid poor handling and uneven wear the next time you drive your RV. Additionally, tires with the correct amount of air pressure will also last longer and contribute to your family’s safety. The last thing you want is to blow out a tire on the way to your camping destination and risk getting in an accident! That’s a surefire way to ruin a trip fast. You can easily avoid all of these issues by taking a few minutes to check your RV tires. Here’s what you’ll need to do to get your tires ready for the road:
Bonus tip: When checking your tires, make sure they are cold for the most accurate tire pressure readings.
Every month that your RV is in storage, your RV batteries lose a small percentage of their charge. As you may know, your RV batteries play a ton of important roles when you’re not connected to power. Batteries power your cooking appliances, water heaters, refrigerators, power awnings, and more. Without charged batteries, you could be dealing with lukewarm food and water all trip long. Yum… lukewarm milk… Here’s what you should do to ensure your batteries are good to go for your next trip:
Bonus tip: A best practice to extend the lifespan of your RV batteries is to let the batteries discharge only 50% before recharging them. Next winter, try to keep your batteries charged consistently and you’ll be ready to go once the season starts.
One of the best parts about having an RV is the ability to turn on a tap for quick and easy access to clean drinking water on the go, even in the most remote locations! That’s what makes this part of the RV de-winterizing process so crucial. In order to keep your pipes from freezing, you probably added antifreeze to your water system last fall. If you didn’t… you might have a whole different problem on your hands!
Antifreeze is great for preventing your pipes from freezing but it needs to be flushed from your system in the spring so your water is safe to drink. Here are the steps you’ll need to take to flush your water system:
After flushing your water system, you’ll want to sanitize it to remove any bacteria or mould. Here are the steps you’ll need to take to sanitize your water system:
Bonus tip: If your water still doesn’t taste clean and fresh after flushing & sanitizing your systems, you can add baking soda into each of your drains to improve the flavour. Be sure to flush your water system again and the taste should eventually improve.
The final step of this RV de-winterizing checklist is to check your propane system. If your propane system has a leak, you could burn through your propane supply fast and be left high and dry with no propane for the rest of your tip. Uh oh! Not to worry. Here’s what you need to do to check for propane leaks before you hit the road for your camping adventure:
And there you have it! Once you’ve completed every item on this checklist, you should be all set and ready to go for your first camping adventure of the season! During your RV de-winterizing routine, you may have noticed that your old RV just doesn’t cut it anymore. Maybe it’s old and rundown or maybe there isn’t enough space for your growing family or your new hobbies. Does that sound like you? It might be time for an RV upgrade! At Bucars RV, we love helping our customers find the RV of their dreams. We have a huge selection of new and used RVs to meet everyone’s needs, wants, and price points! Come visit us at our showroom just north of Calgary or contact us today!
At Bucars RV Centre we have one of the most experienced and reputable RV finance departments in Calgary and area. Our team works hard to provide RV financing rates and terms that let our customers leave with the RV of their dreams.
2022s -> $1,000 Parts Credit
2023s -> $750 Parts Credit
2024s -> $250 Parts Credit
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