Winter storage etc

[stu_766963]

Firstly, may I wish you all the very best for this season and thank-you for some very informative advice. As a novice 'vanner this site has been invaluable.

So, on to my questions.....

We are able to store our '94 Swift Corniche on the front of our house and as such, have access to mains power. With this in mind, I have the following questions;

1) do you leave a leisure battery attached whilst the van is on mains or is it better to remove it and use dedicated charger in the garage?

2) As suggested by many, we have removed all the cushions etc to be stored in the house (along with all perishable foodstuffs) but what about heating? We know that we have some damp in the van (found-out after we'ed bought it!!) but have since replaced all window seals and had awning rails etc "made-good". Is it worth, as mentioned in some posts, using a low-powered heater during the winter months and if so, should we leave any form of ventilation open? We have 'breather holes' under the forward chest and will leave all doors and drawers open. Is this enough or should we crack one of the windows aswell?

3) Is there a generally accepted form of treatment to help maintain the outside of the van? We do not suffer from tree sap etc and just usually wash the van with soap,water and elbow grease!! Do any of you know of anything that might make this process a little easier?

4) Rotate wheels or remove? I think removing may be better but am I right in thinking that if done so, wheels and tyres should be stored flat? (ie horizontal)

5) Having drained the water system (drain plug on on-board tank, plug out of water heater, taps open. shower head removed) have I missed anything and also, am I correct in thinking that some "cleaners" are not suitable for plastic pipes and should not be left in situ too long?

6) Just where might I find the water filter and how often should it be changed? We use the van around 40 days per year at the moment so what is the lfe expectancy of a filter?

I'll say thank-you now for your answers and advice (as I'm sure I'll get some) and will again thank-you all for "being-there" for us newcomers. Hopefully I'll be able to pass-on my newly learned knowledge to future 'vanners.

regards,

Stuart.

 

[UKHunk]

Hi There

A lot of questions there but will do my best for you,

1.Remove the leisure battery and keep it in a dry area and keep it off the concrete as this discharges the battery and charge a little every 30 days or so.

2,Remove cushions and curtains along with food from the van,Put at least two icecream cartons of salt in the van to help with the moisture,if you suffer from a sunny area,put cardboard uo the windows to keep the light out and reduce fadeing,

3,I wash my van monthly in the winter to keep junk off but as im rebuilding the front end this winter that job wont get done,but i use AUTOGLYM caravan cleaner,(excellent)and then a good polish such as the autoglum range or the Mer range,

4,Remove the wheels if you can and store flatt,I dont i just move my van every few weeks so that they dont stand on the same of trye and change regardless every five years,

5,Drain water system and leave open,open all taps and shower system, and i havent a water filter on mine but my last van it was just above the cold water intake outside the van where you put the water barrel.they say change every 30 days but i made mine do the season and had no problems,Hope this is enough and dont hesitate to ask for any more advice,Happy vanning,Eddie

 

[UKHunk]

Hi There

A lot of questions there but will do my best for you,

1.Remove the leisure battery and keep it in a dry area and keep it off the concrete as this discharges the battery and charge a little every 30 days or so.

2,Remove cushions and curtains along with food from the van,Put at least two icecream cartons of salt in the van to help with the moisture,if you suffer from a sunny area,put cardboard uo the windows to keep the light out and reduce fadeing,

3,I wash my van monthly in the winter to keep junk off but as im rebuilding the front end this winter that job wont get done,but i use AUTOGLYM caravan cleaner,(excellent)and then a good polish such as the autoglum range or the Mer range,

4,Remove the wheels if you can and store flatt,I dont i just move my van every few weeks so that they dont stand on the same of trye and change regardless every five years,

5,Drain water system and leave open,open all taps and shower system, and i havent a water filter on mine but my last van it was just above the cold water intake outside the van where you put the water barrel.they say change every 30 days but i made mine do the season and had no problems,Hope this is enough and dont hesitate to ask for any more advice,Happy vanning,Eddie

Hi its me again i forgot if you have a toilet dont forget to drain the top tank also and the bottom part of the system i bring indoors,

 

[stu_766963]

many thx Eddie. you seem to have confirmed much of what I thought I should do but thank-you anyway. It sounds so much better to hear it from someone else.

Just one point though....

should I charge the battery by using the van's charger (ie, re-install the battery) or buy a stand-alone charger for the battery?

cheers again.

Stu

 

[UKHunk]

many thx Eddie. you seem to have confirmed much of what I thought I should do but thank-you anyway. It sounds so much better to hear it from someone else.

Just one point though....

should I charge the battery by using the van's charger (ie, re-install the battery) or buy a stand-alone charger for the battery?

cheers again.

Stu

Re your Battery Chargeing,It dont matter on or off the van,but of course if its off its easy to charge it up indoors,and it also saves running the old cable out to the van and you can get one for around a tenner,,any more info just ask,regards,Eddie