How to prepare your Demountable Camper for Winter Storage

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rubberrat
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How to prepare your Demountable Camper for Winter Storage

Post: # 1903Post rubberrat
November 6th, 2014, 9:43 pm

Number two in the 'How To' series for new users...

Winter Storage Precautions


So, the nights are drawing in and we’ve had the first frost. So for those of you who don’t plan using your demountable over the winter months it’s time to begin the winterizing process. Unless you are lucky enough to have a nice heated indoor storage, then there are a few things to deal with.

Frozen pipes, pumps and taps are pretty expensive to fix, and even a partial freeze could stress a hidden pipe joint just ready to spring a leak in an awkward place next season.

So first step is to completely drain the water tank.
Open the filler aperture to allow free flow of air, then find the dump valve.
Some DIY systems may not have one, so bail the tank out from the inspection hatch.

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Then to clear every drop from the system, try to blow the lines through with a compressor.

Leave all the taps open so any trapped water doesn’t freeze.

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,,,and put the shower head in the sink with the valve held open with an elastic band, or remove the shower head

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Next drain down the toilet flush tank (if separate)

Open the rubber bung in the cassette hatch.

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Once empty, put the cassette back, then run the flush (electric or manual) to clear the last water. Empty the cassette then return to its housing and put a little toilet blue in the bottom.

If you have Alde ‘wet’ heating then this may need attention as some of the feed pipes run close to the access hatch and could freeze. I keep my camper at home so instead of draining down I run the heating on low if it’s likely to be below freezing for a few days. If your camper is stored in a storage facility, then drain it down.

If you plan to run the heating, this is a good time to check the water level..

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Top up above the MIN mark if low.

If you need to drain down, locate the dump valve in the service hatch.

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If you don’t have a storage barn or other hard cover you may prefer to fit a camper cover from one of the many cover makers.

Simple Fiamma ‘tarp’ type cover

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Fitted camper cover

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Until my camper car port is built, then it’s got to live out in the elements, so it’s time to protect the outside.
This type of ‘winter coat’ product from various manufacturers works well enough,
it’s like a mix of wax polish and water and creeps into gaps to seal them. Also means that winter dirt sticks to this rather than the paintwork and is easily washed off at the start of the season.

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Mix 1:4 with water and liberally spray on with a garden sprayer.


Image (spraying)

If you decide to use the camper over winter, there’s no need to wash it off, just wash down the windows and away you go.
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zildjian
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Re: How to prepare your Demountable Camper for Winter Storag

Post: # 1906Post zildjian
November 6th, 2014, 10:25 pm

My ignorance on this alone is shocking.

I relied on hooking my EHU up to the garage and hoping for the best although I can see that would likely not be so good long run.

wish I had somewhere inside

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rubberrat
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Re: How to prepare your Demountable Camper for Winter Storag

Post: # 1907Post rubberrat
November 6th, 2014, 10:49 pm

Being on ehu does keep you out of most trouble as the alde heating is pretty thorough but I would definitely dump the toilet flush as it is quite exposed.
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zildjian
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Re: How to prepare your Demountable Camper for Winter Storag

Post: # 1908Post zildjian
November 7th, 2014, 11:24 am

Ok then, well I should complete the toilets side of it at the weekend,
given up on the cover idea but I'll look at the spray stuff though

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rubberrat
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Re: How to prepare your Demountable Camper for Winter Storag

Post: # 1909Post rubberrat
November 7th, 2014, 11:38 am

Did you try the airbed theory?
I looked at a few stored caravans in Germany that had roof paraphernalia and they cut lots of notched timber battens set six inches apart (crossways over the racking) then ran the heavy tarp cover over them. Tensioned tie-downs and short unbridged gaps seems to overcome the pooling issue.


I noticed that in the top joints on my Seitz windows the sealant had contracted so I ran a new bead across the top of each to keep the dreaded water away/ redid the solar panel input plug and the front air vent too as they looked to have deteriorated.

Might be worth nipping up a ladder this weekend and taking a look.
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zildjian
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Re: How to prepare your Demountable Camper for Winter Storag

Post: # 1910Post zildjian
November 7th, 2014, 2:25 pm

Hmm why not, sure.


No I tried a couple of different ways of supporting a fabric cover over & above the stuff on roof but my best efforts couldn't stop the water pooling here and there so for now and until I see a better idea it will have to go without

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TrueDink
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Re: How to prepare your Demountable Camper for Winter Storag

Post: # 1911Post TrueDink
November 7th, 2014, 3:09 pm

Do you have a link for that 'winter coat' stuff?
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richc
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Re: How to prepare your Demountable Camper for Winter Storag

Post: # 1912Post richc
November 7th, 2014, 3:44 pm

Remember also that if you have a hot water boiler then this also needs draining down.

The drain plug on my Apollo is next to the leisure battery

Although this weekend I will be prepping and testing as we are off to cornwall for lst 2 weeks of the month

Rich

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rubberrat
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Re: How to prepare your Demountable Camper for Winter Storag

Post: # 1913Post rubberrat
November 7th, 2014, 3:57 pm

TrueDink wrote:Do you have a link for that 'winter coat' stuff?

https://www.towsure.com/product/Fenwick ... id_1_Litre

I have used Fenwicks too. I'm not saying this kind of stuff is a panacea for wintering, but it is certainly better than nothing and cost less than in that link if you look around, ebay etc
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Re: How to prepare your Demountable Camper for Winter Storag

Post: # 1921Post martinjdover
November 7th, 2014, 8:27 pm

There's a simple way to stop water pooling on the roof. Don't keep the camper level and put it at a slight crossfall both sideways and forwards to let the water run off - simples!

Martin

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