Winterizing your travel trailer will keep you safe and comfortable during cold weather and can be done in eight important steps: Prepare your winter essentials; empty the water tanks, water lines and holding tanks; dispense antifreeze into the water lines; find a suitable location for parking; attach plastic sheeting to the windows; use thick acrylic fleece curtains; cover air vents and exposed pipes; and cover the lower part of your trailer.
The winter season can be oppressive to travel trailers and bothersome to its occupants. Although Jayco travel trailers are great for outdoor living, they are not immune to the harsh effects of cold weather. Cold weather can cause trouble for your automobile’s engine and water pipes and can even result in insulation problems. To avoid the hassles common in the winter season and to save your travel trailer, it is good to know how to prepare your automobile for extreme changes in the weather. Follow these simple steps to winterize your travel trailer and motor home.
Step 1: Prepare your winter essentials
Some things you should secure for car maintenance are antifreeze, a blow-out plug and an air compressor. Because travel trailers normally lack the appropriate insulation for extreme weather, you should also secure acrylic fleece curtains, plastic sheeting or vent covers, pipe jackets and plywood. Keep all these winter essentials on hand and readily available before the winter season kicks in.
Step 2: Empty water tanks, water lines and holding tanks
Fresh water tanks usually have drains underneath the vehicle. These should be drained out and emptied completely. To empty your water lines, use a blow out plug and an air compressor. First, connect the air compressor to the nozzle found on one end of the blow out plug. Check the air pressure and ensure that it does not exceed the water pressure limit. The air hose must then be connected to the blow out plug. Turn on all the faucets to drain all the contents from the water lines. Holding tanks should also be drained just in case its contents freeze.
Step 3: Dispense antifreeze into the water lines
After your tanks and water lines have been completely drained, antifreeze can then be poured and circulated into it. It is important to refer to your trailer’s manual to know the right amount of antifreeze to be used. Activate the vehicle’s water pump, turn on all the water fixtures and let the antifreeze flow into the water lines.
Step 4: Find a suitable location for parking
If you intend to camp out in your motor home through the winter months, it is advisable to find a suitable spot for parking. Find a location that is bordered by trees or structures that will not directly expose you to strong winds.
Step 5: Attach plastic sheeting to the windows
You should pay attention to openings found in your trailers; the most obvious ones being the trailer windows. Secure your trailer’s windows by attaching durable plastic sheeting on them. Sealing your windows will keep the cold from entering your trailer, hence properly insulating its interior.
Step 6: Use thick acrylic fleece curtains
After sealing the window surface, it is good to use thick curtains over the windows. Thick acrylic fleece curtains are advisable and will provide the additional insulation needed inside the trailer.
Step 7: Cover air vents and exposed pipes
Air vents must be closed and secured using vent covers specially made for your trailer models. If vent covers are unavailable, you may make your own by cutting plastic sheeting and attaching it using double-sided tape. Cold weather also causes cracks and damage to pipelines and sewage lines that are exposed. It is important to cover them using pipe jackets.
Step 8: Cover the lower part of the trailer
Since a good deal of heating inside the trailer is lost through the floor, it is good to use plywood and cover up the area between the ground and your trailer. Measure the distance from the trailer’s bottom to the ground and cut the plywood based on the measurement taken.
Cold weather does not have to ruin your idea of camping or living outdoors. Winterizing your motor homes and travel trailers will save you a lot of trouble during the bothersome winter months.
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