Getting Ready for the Spring Camping Season

Soon, the weather will be warming up in our area, and it’s time to get the RV back on the road!

Of course, some things must be done to ensure your RV is camp-ready. Some of these tasks must be saved until the weather warms up and you’re about to head out on your first trip, but a few are things you can be working on right now. Doing these tasks now will help pass the time while you wait and, more importantly, will save you time later when you’re itching to get on the road again.

Not sure what you should do during the off-season to prepare for the next camping season? Here are some tips.

Make Repairs

 

First and foremost, you will want to use the off-season downtime to make repairs to your RV. While you’re just sitting around anyway, you can…

• Send your RV to the shop now and take advantage of these months you aren’t using it.
• Make all DIY repairs while the weather is dreary in preparation for spring.
• Replace appliances and broken parts.
• Reseal things.
• Replace filters.
• Change the oil where needed.
• Perform any other maintenance tasks you’ve put off.

Doing these things now will help you pass the time until you can finally camp again, and they’ll help you get on the road as soon as possible when the sun starts shining again.

Clean Up

You probably don’t want to wash the outside of your RV until the snow has finished falling. That said, if you didn’t deep clean the interior of your RV before putting it in storage, now is the perfect time to do just that.

Parking in the middle of nowhere really does a number on an RV’s interior. Dirt and dust get carried in left and right, and try as we might to keep up with a broom and dustpan that day-to-day cleaning can’t keep up. For this reason, we recommend using the winter months to clean things like curtains, carpets, furniture, window screens, and all the nooks and crannies you don’t necessarily worry about while camping.

Doing so will leave you with a bright and shiny camper that is nice to stay in when you finally head out on your first trip.

   Update Your Look

If cleaning isn’t enough to make your RV feel inviting, you might consider using this time to update the interior of your home-on-wheels.

Even simple things like changing the bedspread or shower curtain can make a big difference. New window coverings can also add a nice pop of color, while rugs can cover stained floors, and peel-and-stick wallpaper or tile can cover ugly brown or gray walls.

Making simple but colorful changes to your RV will make it feel more at home so you can fully relax while on your RV adventures this spring and summer.

Plan Your Springtime Adventures

Believe it or not, now is the best time to start scheming and planning for spring and summer. Where will you take your RV? Where will you stay while you’re there? When will you go, and what route will you take?

Make these decisions now and start booking campgrounds and attractions. Because camping has become so popular, some camping reservations are hard to get unless you’ve booked them in advance. On top of that, some attractions (such as national parks) require timed entry tickets, which must be booked far in advance. PSST…Tennessee is a great state to visit, and we’d love to have you at Volunteer Park & Campground!

De-Winterize Your RV

Finally, as the days get warmer and hard freezes become a thing of the past, you will want to start de-winterizing your RV. You can do this all in a single day or spread it out over several days. Just make sure you get it done before you hit the road.

The most important de-winterization tasks include:

• Recharge and reinstall your RV batteries.
• Replace alarm batteries and test the alarms.
• Test all appliances.
• Test RV lights.
• Check tires for damage and add air to them if necessary.
• Refill and reconnect propane tanks.
• Check all seals and reseal anything that needs it.
• De-Winterizing RV plumbing by connecting to city water, running all faucets until the water runs clear, filling fresh water and repeating the process using the pump, flipping the water heater bypass to open, and allowing the tank to fill again.

You may also want to clean the exterior of your RV, sanitize your freshwater tank and lines, change your water heater anode rod, and do any other maintenance tasks due to be taken care of.

HAPPY CAMPING!