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Subject Topic: Winter Storage help,please…
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PersonWhippetlover
08/10/2023 at 8:13am
 Location: Somerset
 Outfit: Bailey Brindisi View Whippetlover's Profile View Profile   Reply to Whippetlover Reply   Quote Whippetlover Quote  
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Our shiny perfect new caravan will be being shut up for the winter in a few weeks and we won’t be able to get access to her until March 😞 We’ve had four fabulous four day trips in her since purchase, and now we’re getting close to the date the site where our seasonal pitch is closing for the winter.
I’ve got a few questions and am a bit nervous about this! Would really value opinions from those who shut up shop for months, as I’m getting worried about arriving in March and feeling sick if she’s not as perfect as when I leave her at the end of the month 😫

1. Cupboards, completely emptied? Or non material items stay in situ?
2. Cupboard doors open or closed?
3. Lounge seating in place? Pulled forward?
4. Carpets left down?
5. Dehumidifier boxes put in? My concern here is them being full for prolonged period and causing more moisture?!
6. Electrical items left in under bed storage i.e. electric fan?

Gas will be disconnected, toilet tank drained, all food removed, last bit of water pulled from kitchen sink, water and waste containers stored elsewhere. fridge will be dried and door left slightly open.

Any other hints and tips gratefully received!

TIA

TCx

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“It is great to be a blonde. With low expectations it's very easy to surprise people.”

Vango and Outwell Tents > VW Camper and various Vango and Outwell awnings dependent on stay location and duration > Bailey Pegasus Grande SE Brindisi and Vango Air Awning.
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Personiank01
08/10/2023 at 8:45am
 Location: Worcestershire
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We don't bother and leave everything in situ. We even leave the TVs in the caravan.


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Personmarg6
08/10/2023 at 9:57am
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Quote: Originally posted by iank01 on 08/10/2023
We don't bother and leave everything in situ. We even leave the TVs in the caravan.


same here, only thing we do is drop the water, and open the fridge


PersonColin21
08/10/2023 at 10:11am
 Location: East Herts
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We usually just drain all water down, turn gas off at the cylinder, remove all food items, and take the bedding indoors. Lastly we remove the battery and take it in to keep it topped up over winter. Not had any problems yet, and our caravan is 31 years old. All the interior furnishings are original and still in good condition.

One thing we do make sure of though is to leave the fridge door slightly open.

Our caravan is stored on our driveway though so we can check on it from time to time although we rarely need to.

-------------
Best Regards,
Colin


PersonSHANTY SINGER
via mobile 08/10/2023 at 5:29pm
 Location: walton on the naze e
 Outfit: Coachman pastiche View SHANTY SINGER's Profile View Profile   Reply to SHANTY SINGER Reply   Quote SHANTY SINGER Quote  
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Hi Whippet lover. It sounds like you've done everything, abit over the top but never mind. Just remember to put some bright red lipstick on before you give the van a lovely goodbye and wish her a Merry Xmas. It will be there next year. Have fun.


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PersonSHANTY SINGER
via mobile 08/10/2023 at 5:35pm
 Location: walton on the naze e
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I'm guessing it's a covered storage site


Personbofs
via mobile 08/10/2023 at 5:42pm
 Location: Cumbria
 Outfit: Coachman VIP 520 View bofs's Profile View Profile   Reply to bofs Reply   Quote bofs Quote  
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Good point by Colin21 about removing your battery to keep it topped up over winter. Alternatively, when storing outdoors we used a small solar panel in the roof light and connected to the battery to keep it topped up.
Make sure every crumb of food is removed (unless it's tinned) and we blocked any potential access points underneath the van with wire wool (stainless steel is best, so it won't rust) to deter any mice from moving in over winter. We also put the plugs in the plugholes!
We take out bedding, towels etc but leave most stuff in the drawers and cupboards with the doors closed - they have ventilation anyway. We lift the carpets after we've cleaned them but store them in the van, and put down a couple of cheap mats or carpet runners to keep the floor clean in case it's wet/muddy when we"re leaving the van for the last time. We store the aquaroll, waste container, chairs, awning and poles in the van.
I also make a list of what we've brought home and needs to go back to the van, because otherwise several months down the line I don't have a clue what is where!


PersonWhippetlover
08/10/2023 at 7:21pm
 Location: Somerset
 Outfit: Bailey Brindisi View Whippetlover's Profile View Profile   Reply to Whippetlover Reply   Quote Whippetlover Quote  
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Thanks for all the comments. Sounds like we should be ok but the comment about the wire wool is freaking me out about mice getting now 😂

We have a solar panel to trickle feed the battery 👍 x

-------------
“It is great to be a blonde. With low expectations it's very easy to surprise people.”

Vango and Outwell Tents > VW Camper and various Vango and Outwell awnings dependent on stay location and duration > Bailey Pegasus Grande SE Brindisi and Vango Air Awning.
Found our Nivana ❤️


PersonWhippetlover
08/10/2023 at 7:23pm
 Location: Somerset
 Outfit: Bailey Brindisi View Whippetlover's Profile View Profile   Reply to Whippetlover Reply   Quote Whippetlover Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by SHANTY SINGER on 08/10/2023
Hi Whippet lover. It sounds like you've done everything, abit over the top but never mind. Just remember to put some bright red lipstick on before you give the van a lovely goodbye and wish her a Merry Xmas. It will be there next year. Have fun.


Cracked me up 😂😂😂 x

-------------
“It is great to be a blonde. With low expectations it's very easy to surprise people.”

Vango and Outwell Tents > VW Camper and various Vango and Outwell awnings dependent on stay location and duration > Bailey Pegasus Grande SE Brindisi and Vango Air Awning.
Found our Nivana ❤️


Personnavver
08/10/2023 at 8:04pm
 Location: West country
 Outfit: Mondeo View navver's Profile View Profile   Reply to navver Reply   Quote navver Quote  
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Mice are a problem but especially so if it is parked on grass. On tarmac/concrete etc it seems to be less of a problem but still best to try to block all possible entrances.

Insurance often has a rodent damage exclusion clause.

I leave cupboard doors open and seat cushions pulled forward.

When draining toilet flush tank operate the flush until it is completely empty. Any left in pump can freeze. Also some have a small pipe in the cassette locker for draining which is always hard to find but is often tucked away above the access door.


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Personbofs
via mobile 08/10/2023 at 9:11pm
 Location: Cumbria
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Quote: Originally posted by Whippetlover on 08/10/2023
Thanks for all the comments. Sounds like we should be ok but the comment about the wire wool is freaking me out about mice getting now 😂

We have a solar panel to trickle feed the battery 👍 x


Very unlikely, especially if stored on hard-standing, but just in case!


PersonPaul and Nikki
via mobile 08/10/2023 at 9:16pm
 Location: Stoke on Trent
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We usually:

Remove all food items when we leave the van unattended even for a few days

Remove all bedding

Leave ice cube tray in freezer door, which in turn keeps the fridge door open

Put plugs in sinks and shower

Leave handbrake off

Over winter, remove curtains from tie backs and loosen the curtains a bit to prevent mould

Remove back cushion so that they're not touching caravan sides

Leave wardrobe doors and any other internal doors open but don't usually bother with the overhead lockers as it can put a strain on the fastenings

Make sure all window and door seals have been sprayed with silicone spray

Make sure toilet flush is completely empty

Leave toilet blade open

Leave taps in halfway position and open

That's about it


PersonKelper
10/10/2023 at 4:43pm
 Location: Northern Ireland
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De humidifiers are a waste of time.

Humidity inside and outside is pretty close to being the same ... and you just end up with a pile of water, but no change to the humidity level in the air!


Personiank01
11/10/2023 at 7:42am
 Location: Worcestershire
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Even before we had a solar panel fitted, we never bothered with removing the battery for the winter and never had any issues.


PersonColin21
11/10/2023 at 8:55am
 Location: East Herts
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Quote: Originally posted by iank01 on 11/10/2023
Even before we had a solar panel fitted, we never bothered with removing the battery for the winter and never had any issues.


I think that would depend on how long you left the caravan unused. In my case our caravan is rarely used at all between about this time of year round until the end of April at the earliest, and often not until June. As our funds are very limited these days we tend to save up our holiday time until we would enjoy it most, which means when it is most likely to be warm and sunny. That is why I tend to take the battery off and keep it topped up. If you are leaving the van unused for much less than that you probably would get away with leaving the battery in place.


-------------
Best Regards,
Colin


PersonMonty15
11/10/2023 at 12:50pm
 Location: London
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Taking the battery off and keeping at home on trickle charge is the ideal, BUT NOT an option if you have an alarm or tracker on the van, both are usually powered by the leisure battery, IF either have an inbuilt battery it's only intended to power them as a emergency backup if the leisure battery is disconnected or dead flat, it's generally not intended to power them for a prolonged period!

Many insurers insist on a functional alarm, and/or give a discount if one fitted (I know they are akin to chocolate teapots in practical terms, that's not the point - they can invalidate you insurance if not used correctly!).

Trackers often send an alarm signal to base control if the leisure battery is disconnected or goes flat! Likewise you may get a discount on insurance if one fitted, but it must be functional.

Problem is that alarms and trackers draw a little current and this can deplete a uncharged battery over several months, and the winter storage period may result in a damaged battery through over discharge.

Batteries self discharge anyway, but the rate depends upon the specific battery type, so we can't say for sure without knowing exactly what type you have. Statements like 'I leave mine all winter and it's fine' can be misleading, for some batteries it's perfectly true, for others it'd be the death of them!

Only real solution in these circumstances if no access at all possible to check, is a solar panel. It doesn't have to be a big one permanently mounted, a temporary 10-20W one placed in a window (preferably facing the sun) or skylight, should suffice to keep battery topped up. It works well enough on my van to keep battery in good order and alarm functional.



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