How to Prepare your Caravan for Winter

It’s fine to leave gas bottles in the gas locker of your caravan as long as you disconnect the regulators. If the caravan is going into storage, check the gas cylinder policy. Some storage facilities do not allow you to leave gas cylinders on their sites.

Electricity

You must check leisure batteries all through the winter. If left unattended they will discharge and this shortens the life of the battery. There are various ways of preventing this from happening.

If you are storing a caravan at home, plug it into the mains supply to charge the battery in the normal way. You would do this on a pitch. This will also enable you to run an oil-filled heater, on occassion, to keep dampness and mildew at bay.

In our first year of storing our caravan for the winter we didn’t run a heater.  The following spring there was mould everywhere – even on our wooden spoons! That said, there is a school of thought that you don’t need to heat a caravan during the winter. That's provided there is a little ventilation and you leave locker doors open to circulate the air.

If your caravan has a security system or tracker, then it will need a source of power.  Ensure that you check the status of the battery at regular intervals.

Tyres

When a caravan is standing in one position for long periods, all the pressure on the tyres is of course in one place. This can cause cracking in the side walls, which means you will need to replace the tyres.

To avoid this happening, you can move the caravan forward or backwards. Or jack up the caravan and rotate each wheel, so that it rests on a different sector of the tyre. Which is easier for you depends on the space in which you store the caravan.

Upholstery and cabinets

Storing your caravan upholstery in a heated house means it stays damp-free in the winter. If you don’t have space at home to store the upholstery, do this. Stand each section on its end in the caravan so that there is airflow all around it.

If you can remove the upholstery, there is an added advantage. A caravan with no upholstery is less attractive for thieves.

Give your caravan a good clean, in particular the refrigerator. Our tip: use one teaspoonful of bicarbonate of soda added to half a litre of warm water.

Remember to leave the freezer and fridge doors open to allow airflow. It prevents mould from forming.

Blinds are best left in the open position if they are the spring-coil type. This prevents strain on the springs. If security is a concern, then draw the curtains instead of closing the blinds.

Dampness is an inevitable feature of winter. This is why some people invest in a dehumidifier, or buy the cheaper granular versions. They prevent build-up of damp and mould. Moisture absorbing crystals are ideal. You should replace them often.

Caravan covers

Caravan covers are good for protecting your caravan from the weather, bird poo, tree sap, algae and falling leaves.

Before fitting a cover, it’s essential to give your caravan a good clean. It ensures there is nothing abrasive that could scratch the surface or windows on windy days. It’s amazing how much damage a small piece of grit can cause!

Caravan covers are available in two types, in general: universal fit and made-to-measure. In our experience, the made-to-measure, breathable covers are the best. They fit your caravan. They avoid too much movement and flapping edges that could cause damage on stormy days.

Breathable covers allow the moisture to escape. This prevents condensation and mould building up. Companies, including Pro-Tec and Specialised Covers, tailor covers to fit individual caravan makes.

Avoid using tarpaulin as this is not breathable and can be prone to coming loose in extreme winds.

Security

You’ll already doubtless have a hitch lock and a wheel clamp.  Most insurance companies demand that you use these as part of policy conditions. You can get extra security devices, including locking wheel nuts. Companies including Milenco and Towsure offer a raft of security devices.

It’s wise to remove the radio face plate from inside the caravan if you are leaving it with the blinds open. It won't then attract would-be thieves.

For robust security, fit a good quality alarm. Also, trackers will increase the possibility of getting your caravan back and undamaged. An added bonus is that these security devices can help to reduce your insurance premium.

Make sure that you have registered the caravan with the Central Registration & Identification Scheme (CRiS). And, have an insurance policy that covers every eventuality.

Storage options

There are various storage options to consider. Each has advantages and disadvantages, depending on how often you use your caravan.  And, how much (or little) you want to spend on storage and where you live.

At Home

Storing your caravan on a driveway at home has this advantage. You can connect it to the mains supply for topping up the leisure battery or running heating when the temperature plummets.

Also, it is easier to keep an eye on for security and routine maintenance. And, of course, home storage is super-convenient if you decide to take a short break away during the winter.

The disadvantage is that, when you are away in your caravan, it’s obvious to would-be thieves that the house is empty.  It might become a target.

Commercial storage facilities

Commercial storage sites can offer CCTV security, perimeter fencing, access control and on-site facilities. Whether a storage site is a practical option depends on whether there is a site close enough to your home.

And, of course, storage costs money; the amount you pay varies according to the level of security in place. Check with your caravan insurance provider if the storage facility meets with their criteria. A first port of call is the Caravan Storage Site Owners’ Association (CaSSOA). It represents hundreds of accredited storage sites across the UK. They give UK sites a Gold, Silver or Bronze rating, according to the level of security they provide.

Farm Storage

If you’re lucky you may live near a farm which offers caravan storage. This can be a cheaper option. But, of course, security measures are going to vary. They might have nothing or high-tech surveillance and in-barn storage.

Wherever you store your caravan, remember to inform your insurance company. Otherwise your insurance might be invalid in the event of a claim.