Wintering Caravan

[Morganic]

Has anyone any advice on over wintering a caravan?What should I do to ensre its fit for use in the spring?

 

[MikeA]

Hi Morganic,

There was a recent thread which addressed the wet aspects of this issue, it is worth looking at -

http://www.practicalcaravan.com/newforums/fm_messages.asp?FO=1&FM=473231
One common suggestion is to open all the locker doors to ensure that air can circulate.

Make sure the van is secure from rolling, with the steadies and wheel chocks and then release the handbrake so that it does not seize on. Give your electrical connection plug(s) a good spray of silicone based lubricant and make sure they are protected from the elements.

If you leave the wheels on, it is a good idea to rotate them every few weeks so that a different part of the tyre takes the load. There are some people who take the wheels off, putting on winter stands. This is a good idea, but do check with your insurance company first as some policies explicitly require you to have a wheel clamp in place.

Consider taking the battery out and storing it in your garage (not on the concrete floor) where you can give it some care and attention with a charger.

Hope these ideas are of use, I am sure others will add to them and, knowing this forum, challenge at least one of them.

Cheers

Mike

 

[Morganic]

Hi Morganic,

There was a recent thread which addressed the wet aspects of this issue, it is worth looking at -

http://www.practicalcaravan.com/newforums/fm_messages.asp?FO=1&FM=473231
One common suggestion is to open all the locker doors to ensure that air can circulate.

Make sure the van is secure from rolling, with the steadies and wheel chocks and then release the handbrake so that it does not seize on. Give your electrical connection plug(s) a good spray of silicone based lubricant and make sure they are protected from the elements.

If you leave the wheels on, it is a good idea to rotate them every few weeks so that a different part of the tyre takes the load. There are some people who take the wheels off, putting on winter stands. This is a good idea, but do check with your insurance company first as some policies explicitly require you to have a wheel clamp in place.

Consider taking the battery out and storing it in your garage (not on the concrete floor) where you can give it some care and attention with a charger.

Hope these ideas are of use, I am sure others will add to them and, knowing this forum, challenge at least one of them.

Cheers

Mike

Many thanks for the advice. Mine is a basic caravan without battery but the rest applies.

Next question is "What do you do before taking it out in the spring?"

 

[goodoldmrfenwick]

Many thanks for the advice. Mine is a basic caravan without battery but the rest applies.

Next question is "What do you do before taking it out in the spring?"

Hi,the pc magazine has a few good idea's in their Advice Preparing for winter item.

 

[Michael_5123947]

Some interesting points there - thanks. Out of interest why shouldn't the battery be on concrete floor?

 

[Chris_374413356]

I'm with you on this Michael, there is no logical reason to keep it off the concrete floor, perhaps this was supposedly true way back when car battery cases were made of rubber, which the electrolyte could seep through. Placing the battery on a conductive surface, like a wet concrete floor, could complete the circuit and drain the battery's charge.

These days, the hard plastic battery casings make this impossible. In fact, keeping the battery in a cool place such as a concrete floor can lower the rate at which the battery loses charge and give it a longer life.

After all most batteries sit on a conductive shelf in the car, I think it may be good practice to sit it on wood or perhaps a piece of rubber just in case there is leakage, but the concrete floor saga I believe to be an old wive's tale

 

[Chris_374413356]

Or even an old wife's tale!!!