Warmer weather means the first RV trip of the year is just around the corner. If you were responsible last fall, your RV is probably locked up tight against the elements, parked in a place where tree branches won’t fall on it during storms, and where weeds won’t grow up into its components. It also means there’s a series of processes that need to be undone in order to get your RV back to travel condition. Summerizing (also known in many parts as ‘dewinterizing’) is the process of undoing everything you did to get your RV through winter. Here at Wisconsin RV World, we’ve developed this brief guide to walk you through how to get your RV on the road. If you need any parts or services, stop by our Deforest, Wisconsin location.
Perform a Thorough Check
The first step to summerizing your RV is to perform a thorough inventory of everything that happened over the time it spent in storage. Start by opening up the doors and windows, pulling out the slide outs, and extending the awning. Lubricate the rollers in your slide outs, especially if you feel any sticking as you open them up. If you see any mold or mildew on your awning, scrub it off. Inspect the seals on your windows for cracking or damage, and look for leaks on the ground under your RV. Use a high-quality spray lubricant to lube up any joints, hinges, or locks that could have frozen over the winter, and make sure your tires have correct pressure.
Ready Your Water System
Perhaps the biggest job in the process of summerizing your RV is readying the water system. This is especially true if you filled your RV’s water system with antifreeze, a necessary step for cold Wisconsin winters. You’ll want to start by hooking up your water system to a water supply. This will pressurize the lines so you can purge the antifreeze from each pipe and faucet. Start with the farthest faucet from your water supply, and purge one line at a time until every faucet flows with clean and clear water. Then, add some RV water system freshener or bleach (at a ratio of ΒΌ cup per fifteen gallons) to your system and let it sit for about 12 hours to make sure your system is fully sanitized. Once it’s clean, purge the bleach water from your tanks the same way you purged the antifreeze.
Reinstall Power Supplies
Once your water is fresh and clear, move on to your RV’s ‘power supplies.’ This means filling your propane, filling your generator with gas, and reinstalling all necessary batteries. Keep in mind that this is a step that shouldn’t be done too far in advance of your first trip, as batteries left in an RV for an extra month might run dead, and gasoline can turn sludgy in your generator. If you have DOT propane containers, fill them beforehand and test out all your propane systems. If you have ASME tanks, you’ll need to take your whole RV out. Reinstall your main RV batteries and check to make sure your electrical appliances all function. Fire up your generator, too, and let it run for a half-hour or so at half capacity to make sure it’s operating correctly. Remember, flashlights and smoke detectors may need batteries, too.
Check Your Appliances
Your final step is to check all of your appliances, accessories, and devices to make sure they function. Turn on your furnace, run the hot water, let your fridge cool down, and check your other stove and oven. If you hear suspicious sounds in any of these, it may be time to have your RV checked out by the professionals. This is true for leaky roofs, busted pipes, or any other problems you may find have developed over winter.
Wisconsin RV World is one of Wisconsin’s most trusted homes for RVs, RV parts, and services. We can help you make sure your RV is in peak shape to hit the road, and if there are any major repairs to be made, our skilled technicians work on any model. If you live in Deforest, Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay, or Eau Claire, Wisconsin, stop by our dealership today.
