I know you have to drain taps etc for winter, but do you leave your blinds open or shut, do you turn your cushion upside down, do you cover vents? What do you do and what do you leave in the van?
I'm thinking of leaving everything and just putting the bedding etc in those space saver bags, that you suck the air out of.
Drain the whole water system - it helps to sterilise it first to prevent bugs. Don't close the blinds, it stretches the springs. And whatever you do don't cover the vents - you want air to circulate to keep the van from getting damp.
We always swap the wheels for older ones - it keeps the road wheels in better nick. Leave the handbrake off to avoid the brake shoes seizing to the drums. Give all locks are squirt of lubricant.
We pull the cushions away from the walls to allow air to circulate. Try to make sure it is aired and dry before you lay it up, eg no wet carpets.
In the summer we shut our blinds to stop the sunlight bleaching the fabrics, winter time we leave them open as the sun is less harsh, also saves the springs as in the rollers as apparently these are a pain to change (if in storage you dont visit as much). Everything else is left in the floor space, all foods are taken out to help keep mice etc out, fridge and freezer doors open, all cupboard doors open to maintain air flow through out. The space saving bags seem a good idea as it prevents any dirt or damp ingress.
------------- I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy every minute of it. But even some days it doesn't feel like its worth chewing through the leather straps
We used the space saving bags last year - worked very well - except that when we took our pillows out this year they were flatter than pancakes and stayed that way (had to buy new ones in the end)
------------- Caravanning is a way of getting a cheap holiday out of an expensive hobby
Apart from the obligatory draining of the system (which in any case, I do everytime we leave a site), I would just remove the bed linen and leave the rest. Many/most of the more modern vans have a 'protector board' that stops the cushions etc coming into contact with the walls of the van - otherwise just pull out the cushions from the side a little. Open blinds, but closed curtains.
When you do drain the system leave the taps in the central position and up i.e. on. Otherwise water will sit inside the tap and freeze when its cold enough - your tap would then be broken.
may not be included in the above,remove shower head or tap top if screw type as water left in can crack these,expensive item.pull out shower pipe fully and leave out to drain.also the toilet header tank must be drained fully from inside the toilet compartment.i add a finger tip of grease to all lock tops to keep out water i suppose you could use Vaseline.put caravan on axle stands.remove ALL cloths,towels,blankets,paper or anything that mice can make a nest from.some say leave cupboard doors open i think this is wrong as they can warp badly and will not shut correctly.any blinds left down may not go back up as the springs have been strained.
------------- the only silly question is the one you do not ask.
D S B you have been very lucky not to have had mouse visitors. MY OH left a packet of rice in a cupboard and the little ******** found it. They also chewed our bedding, towels and anything else they could find
------------- hawk
"Laugh and the world laughs with you, snore and you sleep alone"
I have the body of a greek god - its in my freezer
I dont fancy mice visiting me, but I would like to store most things in the van as I dont have the room at home, hence the reasons for the space savers.
I will take on board all other comments though as its all things I hadnt thought about.
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Topic: Preparing for winter
