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While some continue to use motorhomes in the winter, others prefer to stop their practice and put their vehicle in a shed for a few months. But wintering is being prepared. We guide you in this exercise through a video tutorial.
Discover our step-by-step tutorial to prepare your camp for the winter:
Kilometers have accumulated on the odometer, new roads have been crossed… With memories of your escapades, you decide to leave your camp for a few winter months. But to make this seasonal break go as smoothly as possible, you need to start pampering your leisure vehicle. Because wintering is being prepared. Rest assured, there is nothing complicated! Just follow a few basic tips that we send you with the help of a Rémy Frères representative. Here’s how to do it, in three main steps and 20 movements, so you can be sure you’ll be able to leave in peace as soon as the good weather returns.
Step 1 CLEANING
- Remove the beds. First steps: Remove all sheets, blankets and duvets to wash, then store them at home away from moisture.
- Raise the pillows. Similarly, to effectively combat moisture in the passenger compartment, raise all cushions to allow air to circulate freely.
- Clean out the closets. Do not leave food in the kitchen cupboards. A package of cakes or pasta could attract rodents. Empty and dust the closets throughout the car house.
- Wash the fridge. Disinfect the different compartments of the refrigerator with the appropriate product, after emptying it completely.
- Disinfect the toilets. Using a product designed for toilet cleaning, disinfect to eliminate bacteria.
- Release the sunroofs by lifting them slightly. If your motorhome is screened, you can open the skylights slightly to relieve the joints and improve ventilation.
- Install a dehumidifier. Moisture easily penetrates unheated volumes. A dehumidifier will act as a barrier to keep your interior healthy.
Step 2 CLEAN THE WATER CIRCUIT
- Drain the water. Empty the water tank by removing the drain plug. Also run the water on the faucet to evacuate the fluid from the circuit. Then clean the fresh water tank with white vinegar. There are also special cleaning products.
- Leave the mixing valves in the open position. Place faucets (bathroom, shower, kitchen) in the open position to prevent freezing.
- Empty the boiler. After turning off the water pump, drain the boiler by opening the drain valve.
Step 3 Secure and shine
- Break the circuit and disconnect the battery terminals. Finally, the electrical circuit of the cell is broken. If you don’t have a switch, you can disconnect the auxiliary battery terminals.
- Spray rodent repellant into the engine block. Attracted by the starch contained in certain cables, rodents can climb into the engine block and swallow the electrical cable. Use rodent spray to avoid this unpleasant surprise.
- Protect your joints. With a simple silicone grease sprayer, you can protect the seals of all openings in your home (windows, doors, gates).
- Release the parking brake… making sure to put the vehicle in gear. Necessary to avoid possible blockage caused by cold.
- Inflate your tires properly. Pump up the tires and place your home on the blocks to prevent them from deforming. The best thing is to put the car on candles.
- Close the gas bottles. Unscrew the connecting loops of the gas cylinder to prevent freezing. Take the opportunity to check their shelf life.
- Wash the bodywork. Remove all the dirt from the body of your motor home with a hose and a cleaning broom. Avoid high-pressure cleaners that can damage the seals.
- Place the support under the wiper. In the cold, the wipers stick to the windshield. To avoid this, you can put caps or other support to separate them from the windshield.
- Fill up. To avoid condensation in the diesel tank, refuel before leaving the camper in winter. Do the same with AdBlue, if your vehicle is equipped with it.
- Start the vehicle several times during winter storage. To limit the deformation of the tires, if the vehicle is not mounted on a stand, it is good to regularly (once a month) roll the vehicle a few centimeters. Running the engine for a few minutes is also good for the mechanics.
Find a place to spend the winter
Parking your motorhome under cover (garage, carport, hangar) protects it from bad weather. There are several places in France that provide security. To find it, let’s mention the monhangar.fr platform, which connects farmers and artisans who have unused premises with people looking for winter accommodation. This website lists 600 storage locations across France.
Thanks to the Rémy Frères agency, based in Ruffec (16), for the vehicle loan, welcome and valuable advice.