PREPPING THE RV FOR CAMPING SEASON: Our 13 Tips to Help You Hit the Road with Ease

[@shiftfocus1]

I drain the antifreeze out of the low point drains into a clean container, and store it to re-use next fall. I recover almost 1/2 the antifreeze each year, and it makes the flushing process go faster.

[@SF-fm7ov]

Like another viewer, we use compressed air to empty the lines before winter. Between my Dad and I, we've been doing it for about 50 years with no problems. Less chemical and less cost. I use a max of about 30 psi. Antifreeze in the drains only.

[@bluegrasscountryliving7598]

After dewinterizing and sanitizing be sure to check for fresh water leaks. Check torque on the lug nuts, check air pressure, lube slide gears, have propane bottles filled. Looking forward to a great camping season. See you out there and thanks for all you do.

[@lucaskremer9396]

I open my relief valve on my water heater and spray some lubricant in it and then close it. I also inspect my AC unit on top of my camper and make sure no rodents or anything made it's way inside the cover.

[@CleaningLady1972]

Super important to check your grease fittings on the axles.

[@markh6490]

I'm up in the cold north (Canada) and I use an air compressor for my lines. I used to do antifreeze, but I figured less chemical (even though they say their safe) the better. We get some harsh temps up here and I've never had an issue. Pink only goes in the traps and the toilet. Jealous of your nice weather!

[@howardduke9388]

Thanks!

[@WanderingWeekends]

Thank you! Very much appreciated.

[@ricardopelo6385]

Torque check the lug nuts , hitch bolts and check the spare tire pressure. Have a great first trip. Cannot wait until our first trip. Lots of work to be done before hand though. New tow vehicle f350 7.3. Weight distribution, hitch set up needs to be adjusted to the new ride. Hope the 7.3 treats us as well as the old 8.1 GMC gasser did.

[@peterbloss4707]

I flush via the city water connection and do hot first; with HWH bypassed, that will flush most of hot and cold lines. Then I fill the freshwater tank to sanitize and then flush lines again to sanitize. Leave it 6 hours then fill HWH to flush and sanitize. Then drain and refill twice to get good fresh water throughout. Other thing to remember is to charge your gadgets. Charged up my TST tire pressure monitoring system yesterday and ensured the sensor batteries were good.

[@wmcnett]

Great video. I'm so thankful we don't have to winterize! You had some great points and I would add that a yearly inspection done by a service station is well worth the cost. Brakes, bearings, roof seal, propane lines, etc. all need a good thorough check before camping season.

[@KeyserTheRedBeard]

tremendous content Wandering Weekends. I smashed the thumbs up on your video. Continue to keep up the high-quality work.

[@WanderingWeekends]

Thanks a ton!

[@tommcl386]

I lubricate the stabilizer jacks; check battery fluid levels; check roof and check grill/griddle.

[@dledbdledb3807]

The one Big ticket item that we do besides of all the great tips in the video and comments below, we wash and wax the RV along with the roof and awnings/slide toppers in the Spring and also another good wash in the fall and any time that it is required in between. Like you guys, we are weekend warriors, looking forward to longer trips once the virus thing is gone, we get back to normal and campgrounds are not full to the max.

[@dannyscobee6530]

I clean/replace air cond filter & a good inspection of power cord & plug. Check batteries & top off with distilled water if you have lead acid batteries.

[@webcompanion]

I like to take a can of compressed air (or an air compressor with a blower nozzle) to the furnace and water heater burner areas to get any hidden spider webs or other nests out of there before turning on the gas to test them. I also like to sanitize the fresh water holding tank with bleach & water overnight then flush with vinegar and water solution before the 1st time out.

[@kevinburroughs6583]

We always check the tv and change out the kids clothes we keep in the Rv as they outgrow them. I also grease the hitch ball and check it for proper function. We boondock some so we also make sure our generator is working properly. I also fill both my LP tanks before the season and check my gas stove [in and outdoor, and the oven) .

[@ckgonzales6743]

Very helpful video. Thanks!

[@WanderingWeekends]

Glad it was helpful!

[@firesideweekenders]

Great video. Definitely watching this when we get ready for our season. Still 2 months out :(.

[@RV_There_Yet]

I set up the brakes, and check the bearings. This could save your backside, especially in the mountains.

[@WanderingWeekends]

Good tip!

[@kenwiltsie6920]

Nice shorts!!

[@WanderingWeekends]

easy there hot rod... haha. I'm married

[@timf6916]

In the last 30 years of camping I have NEVER winterized any of my RVs. We live in the Central Valley of California and we don’t have weather like you guys. Nice to see your wife and son. Ask your son how much does he charge.

[@vdub3235]

Great content as always. Thanks for what you do. 🧡

[@WanderingWeekends]

Glad you guys watch!!

[@jrandyoutdoors]

Great vid my friend. Always enjoy your content. Thanks for sharing Cory!

[@coreymerritt7742]

I do pretty much the same thing but I jack up the trailer check and adjust brakes and add grease to axles if necessary plus like you check all appliances to make sure all in working order also change batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide cheers.

[@WanderingWeekends]

Good call checking the batteries!!

[@CookingwithCatLover0330]

Great video. We are new to the RV camping. We did have our RV in dry storage last winter but in Oct of 2020 we bought a home with land and kept our little Autumn Ridge outside. We did winterize it like we did in dry storage. Now with nice weather, my husband was getting it ready for camping and realized the water heater isn't working. :/ I was super cold out this winter so maybe something broke. Thanks for all your hints. If you are ever in IL let us know. We know a great state park to camp at.

[@WanderingWeekends]

Sounds like a plan!

[@jamescox7490]

I use air to winterize all the lines, they sell an adapter that you take the plug out it your not water tank and you just plug an air line on it and blow air thru the system just open each value in your kitchen and bath until all the water is gone. We live in Ohio and never had a problem doing it this way.

[@scottmichel9582]

I love that drawer box, but $466.00 that's a lot of money for a storage unit. 👍👌great prep. Video.

[@WanderingWeekends]

It’s a chunk of change but you’ll never have to buy another one.

[@matthartlage3463]

Hey did y’all mention checking propane tanks? We need to fill ours before we head out next month.

[@richardnixrvtravels5097]

How happy are you with the lippert road armor over the morphed 3000. I’m going to do one of them:

[@WanderingWeekends]

I’ve had them both. I like the Lippert better. Heavier build and a tad better performance.

[@CarlasLovingWife]

Love the mustache!!

[@eddiemontgomery1119]

Good information

[@outbacker292]

Great tips!!!

[@WanderingWeekends]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ijblessjourney]

Hello, we are planning a cross country trip from MD - Washington State. We are using most of the tools you recommended so thank you. We have 9 weeks to complete this trip there and back, can you mention a couple of places you think we SHOULDN’T miss. We are going the WS to visit our family and will spend a week with him. Thank you in advance - Ivan

[@frankstith7800]

Depends on your route, of course. Here are some fantastic places to see and do: Gateway to the West or Gateway Arch in St. Louis, MO; Pike’s Peak, Garden of the Gods, and the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, the Royal Gorge in near Canyon City, CO; Corn Palace in Sioux Falls, the Badlands and Mt Rushmore, SD; Little Big Horn Battlefield in Montana; Coeur d’Alene, ID (one of the most beautiful lakes in the country). Some of these are “drive thru” or “drive by” attractions, like the Badlands or Coeur dAlene or maybe Little Big Horn. But many are get out and experience kinds of attractions. If you do go to CO, look up Bishop’s Castle...not in a town, on a state highway near Rye, CO. My first time to see it was in the early 90’s. It was 2 stories and a couple of turrets back then. It is much more than that now, all built by one man, Jim Bishop. You can Google it. It is amazing!

[@ijblessjourney]

@@frankstith7800 wow this is going to be so helpful and yes we are going to MO to spend a couple of days with friends, CO staying at the Academy for 3-4 days, if we can get reservations), Utah (driving Route 12 scenic bypass). That’s how far I’ve planned, I will definitely use your other recommendations, thank you very much for your help- Iván

[@patcave9067]

Be sure to grease your bearings every year at a minimum.

[@joebarnett6493]

You may have mentioned this before.. But where does your Dog ride when traveling?

[@WanderingWeekends]

She rides between the kiddos in the back seat.

[@joebarnett6493]

@@WanderingWeekends Thanks for the reply!!

[@ogleo8775]

How often do you lube the Road Armor suspension system? Do you prefer it over the CRE3000? Why? Thanks again for all you do!!

[@WanderingWeekends]

Every 6 months or so. It's likely time. Yes, I've had both suspensions and while they both perform similarly I have more confidence in the build of the Road Armor.

[@ijblessjourney]

Hey guys we are weekend campers as well and this summer we are going cross country from MD-Washington State approximately 9 weeks. This video will definitely help with prep, how about one or two places you recommend we visit in route? Thanks

[@WanderingWeekends]

Love Silver Falls State Park in Oregon. Unfortunately I am not sure how they fared with the recent wildfires... :-(

[@ijblessjourney]

@@WanderingWeekends Thank you my friend greatly appreciate the feedback. As new RVer’s we are prepping our RV for the season using your video, thanks for sharing. Ivan

[@jeffeltzroth351]

Check all seals and seams on roof.

[@bradschak]

Do you have 30/50 amp at your house or are you using a 15 amp adapter?

[@WanderingWeekends]

We had a 50 installed. Love that I can run the AC while packing.

[@bradschak]

@@WanderingWeekends I plan on doing the same.

[@garyking4887]

Where did u get the screens for outside water heater to prevent stuff from getting in

[@WanderingWeekends]

They're linked in the description box below the video. Make sure you know your measurements as there are several different sizes.

[@thomaselmore3481]

Amazon

[@lcampm2]

What kind of spring shackles do you have

[@MikeB9771]

Made by Lippert

[@Chevy-hw6lw]

Just use air to blow out the lines , easy , cheap.. some antifreeze for p traps .

[@WanderingWeekends]

Antifreeze is cheap insurance and doesn’t take any longer than blowing the lines out of you know what you’re doing. Knowing my luck I’d have some residual water gather in an elbow and freeze.

[@smertz04]

What mattress do you guys have? Do you recommend?

[@WanderingWeekends]

We have a Tuft and Needle. We would recommend if you like firm support. The kiddos have Tochta mattresses. They are a step up from the Tuft and Needle.

[@kevinburroughs6583]

Do you have anything you do to prep the truck?

[@WanderingWeekends]

We’re doing a truck build now... stay tuned 😊

[@leahlovestswift]

quick question, my family just bought a 2019 2800BH grand design imagine, what year do you have? also thanks for the tips!

[@WanderingWeekends]

Ours is a 2018 built in mid 2017 😊

[@leahlovestswift]

@@WanderingWeekends thank you!! your channel is very helpful!

[@WanderingWeekends]

Appreciate you watching!

[@hayezeus]

I have an RV hack that I think would be well received by everyone who follows your channel but I don’t know how else to connect with you other than youtube given I’m one of those ant-Facebook people. If you have a general WW email address I can send some pictures to it would better explain the issue than what I could do in writing. It’s a fix for those crappy thermostats where you’re having to smash the buttons to adjust temperatures.

[@WanderingWeekends]

Here you go... [e-mail]

[@johndias6614]

Grease wheel bearings.

[@TheMasterMUF]

I don’t think that bleach is good for your water pump or rubber seals. You may want to use something else to sanitize.