7 STEPS TO GETTING YOUR CAMPER OR RV READY FOR THE CAMPING SEASON

Now it’s time time to plan the days, the camping days that is. How many trips can be enjoyed in the Spring, Summer and if I am lucky (weather wise), right into the fall and beyond. First thing after the planning is the preparation of the home away from home for it’s first outdoor adventure of the year. We have a 24.5-foot Denali and here are the seven main steps I take to prepare.

1. START BOOKING YOUR CAMPING SPOTS

It’s time to do the camping mambo, so to speak.  We turn to our calendars, or in my case my cell phone’s digital one.  I plan all my trips in that handy, trusty little box, that does such a good job that I have now enlisted it to telling me when to book.  This year I want to camp in a BC Provincial Park, so I will go online to BC Parks reservation system to make a booking. They have information on their site about how far in advance you can book and which sites require a reservation.  I check with friends to see who will join in, and then enter my data and book it as soon the reservation system allows me.  If you prefer you can call the BC Parks call center, but remember there is an additional charge for this service and the wait times can be lengthy, my advice is to book online.

Reservations for 2024 are already open for Parks Canada sites, and private campgrounds are already booking up fast. Get more information on most campgrounds in BC here.

2. AIR OUT THE UNIT AND GIVE IT A GOOD CLEAN

So now I’ve booked my site, and it’s time to “wake up” my home away from home.  It’s been a fairly mild fall and winter so it’s time to think about the unveiling of the RV, Motorhome or even the tent.  Who says you can’t bring out the tent and dust it off, set it up and make sure that all the zippers, pulls and guy wires are intact?  Great time to give it a wash and really air it out. Tenter’s often don’t give a thought to their sleeping accommodation until packing the vehicle for the trip or worse, they arrive at the location and find that its missing pieces or it has “had” a winter stow-a-way.  Let this year be different – a prepared year.

It really doesn’t matter what your mode of camping is, they all have similarities that need attending to.  Chances are your RV or camper has been closed up, unattended for the last five months. First thing to do is take off the protective covering you used for storing.  But before pulling it off, why not give it a really good shampoo and a hose down and let it dry, before packing it away for the next five plus months.  You will feel better about storing the cover clean, so when it comes time to put the RV to sleep for next winter it’s one less thing to do. 

3. TIME FOR MAINTENANCE ON YOUR TIRES

We have finished washing and drying the cover which is stored for the season -– what’s next?  Tires.  The vehicle has been leaning on them for the winter and they might just be a little “tired”, so why not take the time now to inflate, rotate, clean and grease the bearings.  Checking over every inch of the outside is the best place to start.  Make sure there are no new problems that need attending to both on the outside you can see and the inside tire wall you cannot.  We also apply tire protectant to the walls of the tire.

4. WATER SYSTEM ON BOARD? TIME FOR A GOOD FLUSHING

If you have a travel trailer, tent trailer, fifth wheel, motorhome or even a truck camper, chances are you have a water system attached that you winterized for the winter.  You probably used a non-toxic antifreeze in the late fall designed for RVs and will now need to flush the system out with fresh water until there is no more pink water flowing.  Once this is done, some people like to add a ¼ cup of liquid bleach and run it through the tank and then flush it once again with fresh water.  Once this is done, it is now time to turn the heater’s bypass valve into the operating (normal) position and check each and every tap and faucet for leaks.  Better to find it now rather than on a camping trip.

5. CHECK YOUR BATTERIES

Always wear protective safety gear when checking batteries at any time.  First, make sure you have disconnected the hook-up power (the 120V power cord) and then make sure that all power is in the OFF position.  We trickle charge our trailer all winter to maintain charge to the battery – other friends remove their batteries in the fall and keep them stored with a trickle charge in their shed or garage. Check the battery connections to make sure that they are clean and that the terminals have not corroded over the fall and winter.  Check all sides including the bottom of the battery for cracks, as this sometimes happens during a severe winter freeze.  Replace all cracked batteries.  Check the battery fluid levels and only use “distilled water”.

6. INSPECT PROPANE TANKS

Propane tanks are the next item up for inspection.  Make sure the tanks are in the off position.  This is where you want to check hoses, regulators and valves for premature aging and/or drying out.  Check the date stamp is within ten years as they cannot be filled if older, unless they are re-valved. If you notice any of the above, replace and then proceed to testing the refrigerator, stove and furnace all work when the propane is engaged.

7. CLEAN THE INSIDE

Final things to do, is give the whole inside a complete wash, vacuum and wipe out all cupboards and drawers. I always do a thorough clean before putting the RV to sleep for the winter but I also do a spring clean to freshen the trailer. It allows me to check for leaks, mold or if an unwanted pest has entered. I then open windows to air out the rig to make sure I have clean air for the first trip. As well as inside, I clean out the pass-throughs and repacking this allows me to confirm I have all items needed for the first camping trip and to purge unwanted items.