If you are not heading south to warmer weather for the winter or living in your rig full-time, then you will need to winterize your RV. For a first-timer, this can seem like an overwhelming task to complete. 

While there are numerous resources online, here is a list of basic steps you should remember to complete in order to successfully winterize your system:

Plumbing - Drain, drain, drain, drain!

Tanks

• Drain and flush the gray and black water tanks
• Drain the fresh water tank

Water Heater

Next - drain the water heater. Begin by removing the cover of the water heater. IMPORTANT WARNING: NEVER drain a water heater when it is hot or under pressure. Some RVs (steel tanks) will have an anode rod. You will loosen this to drain the tank.

Bypass your water heater. A majority of water heaters have a bypass loop that can be activated using the bypass valve.

Faucets, Shower, Toilet

For an extra measure - be sure to open every faucet, one by one, and leave it open until only air comes out. Run the water to empty on your shower and toilet as well.

Antifreeze

SAFETY WARNING: NEVER use automotive antifreeze. 

At this point, you can either fill your plumbing lines with RV Antifreeze, or hook up to an air compressor and blow any remaining water out of the plumbing lines.  If you decide to use air, be sure to open every faucet, one by one, and leave it open until only air comes out, including the toilets and showers.

Ensure you use RV antifreeze, follow the instructions on the bottle and consult your owner’s manual for best practices. 

Cleaning - Breakout Your Inner Mary Poppins!

A little common sense and solid hygiene makes this step straightforward. Don’t forget to clean the fridge and prop doors. Make sure you leave them open to avoid smells! The folks at RVLock all like to leave an open box of baking soda where the food was stored to keep things fresh for the next season!

Turn off Electrical Systems

Either remove your 12v batteries or place a trickle charger on them to keep them from freezing.  Remove any batteries in your remotes and unplug all electrical devices. This includes removing the batteries from your RVLock Keyless system. While you are there, be sure to spray a shot of white lithium grease into all key cylinders and on all handles. 

Take Some Weight Off!

No - we do not recommend parking you rig on a teetering jenga of doom.

However, while we are all gaining weight during the holidays - it's important to store your RV in a manner that helps relieve weight on the tires during storage. To do this, park on a hard and level concrete pad. It is possible that parking on asphalt can cause damage to the rubber. 

Avoid parking the rig on gravel, grass, mud, and bare ground. 

Then, use leveling jacks or heavy duty external jacks on concrete to raise your rig. Do not use stabilizing jacks for the winter.  When raising your rig, the goal is to relieve a portion of the pressure by slightly jacking the system while keeping the tires in contact with the ground. 

Close and Cover

Make sure you shut off your your propane tank valve and cover the RV to protect it from UV rays and the cold. 

In a Nutshell

Although every RV is different - these basic tasks should land you in a good place so you don’t have any surprises come the warm weather! Stay safe this winter! 

Over fifteen years ago, the tool trailer for RVLock’s Founder, Cade Harris, was broken into. Thousands of dollars of equipment were gone in an instant. Annoyed, he realized two things about rig door locks at that time. First, just how easily the standard locks on trailers could be forced open with a quick pry. Second, most trailers arrive installed with common key codes, meaning any given RV key could have a shot of unlocking your rig. 

In response, he spent years developing a strong, convenient, and stylish upgrade to the standard trailer door lock. Now the leading keyless handle in the nation, RVLock has helped thousands of expert and novice travelers better secure their trailer. 

Safety and security is something that crosses every traveler's mind, especially when your home is on wheels. Aside from just upgrading your lock, there are other ways you can decrease your risk of theft or break ins. 

If you follow these tips you will become more aware of your surroundings and potentially less of a target.

FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE AREA

First, research the areas you are visiting. Try to get a basic idea of where things are before you even arrive. Familiarity in a location makes you seem confident and therefore less of a target. Look at previous reviews and tips past visitors have posted online at Campground Reviews. Oftentimes, previous campers will leave valuable information regarding the campsite and the surrounding area. You are less of a target when you’re more assertive when navigating the surrounding area.

LOCK YOUR DOORS

No one can deny the safety of locking your doors. This is a simple precaution that can save your RV from getting broken into. Get into the habit of locking your doors both when leaving and staying inside. Breaking a window and doing damage to a rig looks much more suspicious than simply opening the door to walk in. 

CLOSE BLINDS AND SHADES SO PEOPLE CAN’T SEE IN

‘Out of sight, out of mind’. If a thief can’t see what you have inside your rig they are less likely to break in. By closing your shades and blinds others are unable to discern if you are inside or not. This decreases the risk of theft by adding an extra uncertainty to your rig as a potential break in.

KEEP INTERIOR LIGHTS ON

Keeping your interior lights on when you go out combined with closed blinds and shades makes it appear that you are home. This makes the theft process more of a hassle because the robber doesn’t have the luxury of knowing that your RV is empty. 

KEEP EXTERIOR LIGHTS ON

It is also beneficial to keep your exterior lights on. A rig is less of a target when it is well lit. In addition, parking in a well lit area is a great way to increase your security. A thief doesn’t want to be seen and is more likely to be caught when stealing in a bright area. 

BE FRIENDLY WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS

Chat with your neighbors and become friends with them. Talk with them about watching for suspicious activity around your rig and that you in turn will do the same for them. It never hurts to have an extra set of eyes, especially if you go out. 

UPGRADE YOUR SECURITY

Upgrading your standard handle to a Keyless RVLock Handle immensely increases your security. Many RVs have keys with little to no variation in the keycode. RVLock products are the highest quality trailer security products on the market and offer thousands of unique key codes. We provide our customers the comfort and security that are so desired when traveling. 

At RVLock we highly encourage our customers to take these tips and apply them in your travels. Take extra time to be aware of your surroundings and apply necessary precautions. Practicing these simple tips can greatly reduce your chance of break in and keep you and your RV safe. 

At RVLock our goal is for you to feel secure and safe. Our idea of “safe” has changed in the last couple months and has now become focused on health instead of hardware because of COVID-19. We want you to feel informed and aware of how to safely travel in your RV during this time so we’ve dedicated this blog post to exactly that. 

Obtain Information From Credible Sources

We recommend educating yourself with sources that are current and trustworthy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website is updated often and is a great place to find accurate information about the Coronavirus.

How to Safely Clean Your RVLock Product:

One of the most commonly used surfaces on your rig is your RVLock Handle. Each time you go out and come back inside you are likely bringing in foreign germs. We recommend cleaning your RVLock Handle at least once a day to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. Listed below is how we recommend cleaning your lock.

• Clean with soap and warm water. Use a washcloth to gently cleanse and avoid hard pressure and fast scrubbing.
• Disinfect using a product that does not contain harsh chemicals but that can still kill germs. Harsh chemicals can cause deterioration and discoloration of your RVLock.
• Never power wash or use high-pressure tools on your lock, these can cause the paint to chip and peel away.

How to Clean Your RV

Using CDC Guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 here are some tips for disinfecting and cleaning your RV:

Hard Surfaces (sink, toilet, countertops, etc.)

• Clean with soap and water before disinfecting.
• Use alcohol-based products with 70% alcohol, diluted bleach solutions, or other EPA Approved household disinfectants. 

Porous Surfaces (furniture, drapes, carpet, etc.)

• Remove visible debris and clean with appropriate cleaners for the given surface.
• If possible launder items using the warmest water setting appropriate for the item and then let dry completely.
• Use EPA Approved products for porous surfaces.

Electronics (keyboards, touch screens, remote controls, etc.)

• Use alcohol-based wipes and sprays with 70% alcohol to disinfect screens and electronic surfaces that will not be damaged by alcohol usage.
• Dry surface thoroughly.

Laundered Items (clothing, linens, etc.)

• Do not shake dirty laundry.
• Wash items with the warmest water setting possible and completely dry items.
• Disinfect baskets or hampers used for laundry transport with methods mentioned above to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.

How Often Should You Clean?

Surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected frequently, especially surfaces that are touched daily. Handles, countertops, phones, faucets, sinks, toilets, doorknobs and light switches are all surfaces that are touched consistently. We also recommend disinfecting dash controls and the steering wheel or other surfaces that are touched during transportation because there is a possibility of contact with new germs.

Protect Yourself

It is important to keep the items you use daily clean but it is also necessary to put personal practices in place to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.

Personal Precautions

Frequently and thoroughly wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Carry hand sanitizer in case you don’t have access to soap and water immediately.

Avoid touching your face, especially with unwashed hands.

When coughing or sneezing, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or if a tissue is not available use the inside of your elbow. Immediately wash hands or use hand sanitizer.

At RVLock we want our customers to be safe and healthy, especially during this time. Please do all you can to prevent the spread of COVID-19. If you have additional questions visit the CDC Website.