It’s that time of year again, when seasonal RVers say goodbye to their campsites at their parks and resorts, and pack up for the winter. Along with saying goodbye to our neighbors and meticulously packing up the RV, it’s important to properly close up the campsite, too. For the veteran big rig RVer, this will be a refresher, but for the new RV and campsite owner, this can be just one of many guides as you wrap up your first season.

First and foremost, you’ll want to clear your lot of any personal items that might not survive a blustery Michigan winter. Lawn ornaments, tiki torches, or any other miscellaneous items that are fairly light should be stored. If you don’t have them already, consider investing in some protective covers for your lawn furniture, especially any pieces with cushions.

If you have the space, consider storing your lawn furniture and ornaments in your gazebo (if it has four walls and all-seasons windows), or in your coach house or shed. Storing everything on site will make for a much easier task when you come to open everything back up.

If you have a coach house on your lot, especially one equipped with electrical and plumbing, you’ll want to winterize everything before you depart. Turn off your water, open all of your faucets, and drain your pipes. If your thermostat goes out in the dead of winter, this will help prevent your pipes from freezing. Lower the thermostat to a comfortable temperature – cold, but above freezing – to protect your pipes and to prevent moisture from forming. And be sure to unplug all appliances and electronics.

Similar to your rig, if your coach house has a fridge or pantry, you’ll want to rid it of any perishable food that can spoil while you’re away. Not only will this save you from a nasty cleanup come spring, it will also deter rodents or any other unwanted pest that might be attracted by the smell of food.

You should wash and wipe down everything – not just the counters. Floor to ceiling, you’re going to want to clean it all. Any mess left behind will become much more difficult to clean up after it has sat all winter. And who wants to spend opening weekend cleaning last season’s spills anyway?

After collecting your outdoor furniture and lawn items, and cleaning, you’re going to want to secure all doors and windows to your coach house, shed, or gazebo. Be sure all shades are drawn – this will protect your fabrics from the sun – and doors and windows are locked securely. At the same time, check all seals around doors and windows, and grease any exposed metal – this will help prevent rust from forming.

And finally, as your packing take note of any miscellaneous items you might need to purchase or discard for next year.

 

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