Putting Your Motorhome Away for Winter? Check These Things First

The touring season is beginning to wind down. For many motorhome owners, that means one last clean, taking out the holiday bits and parking up the vehicle until spring. 

Before you lock the door, though, there are a few jobs worth doing. 

And yes, some of them may sound obvious. But there is a good reason we’re mentioning them. 

As a specialist motorhome insurance broker, we understand the  consequences when seemingly minor jobs are overlooked. A small problem left for several cold and wet months can sometimes become a much larger and more expensive insurance claim. 

Get any windscreen chips repaired 

This one might be surprising. 

Windscreen damage is worth dealing with before your motorhome goes into storage.  A small chip might be easy to ignore when you’re putting the motorhome away, but changes in temperature can place additional stress on damaged glass and allow a chip to develop into a larger crack. 

Check the windscreen before storage and deal with minor damage rather than leaving it until spring. 

Look carefully for leaks 

Water ingress can be particularly troublesome in a motorhome because there are so many possible entry points. 

Check around windows, rooflights, doors, vents and external fittings. Inside, look for damp patches, staining, mould, soft areas and musty smells. 

Also inspect external seals for cracking or deterioration. 

A tiny leak left unnoticed throughout months of winter rain can cause extensive damage to panels, insulation, furnishings and electrics. This is exactly the sort of apparently minor problem that can become considerably more serious when a vehicle is left unattended. 

Drain the water system 

Water left in pipes, tanks, taps or pumps can freeze and expand, potentially damaging the system. 

Follow your motorhome manufacturer’s winterisation instructions and drain the appropriate water systems thoroughly. 

It’s also worth checking your insurance policy. Some policies may contain requirements concerning winterisation when a motorhome is left unused. 

Don’t forget the tyres 

A parked motorhome may not be clocking up miles, but its tyres are still supporting a substantial weight. 

Before storage, check for cracking, cuts, bulges and unusual wear and make sure the pressures are appropriate. Follow the vehicle and tyre manufacturers’ recommendations for prolonged storage. 

Check them again before your first journey next year. 

Make it difficult to steal! 

A motorhome stored in the same location for several months can still be vulnerable to theft, particularly if it is left unattended for long periods. 

NAVCIS, the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service, has warned that motorhomes and caravans can be targeted while in storage, including at sites advertised as secure. That is why it is worth thinking carefully about both where your motorhome is kept and the security measures you use. 

Rather than relying on a single device, consider using several layers of protection. An alarm and immobiliser could be combined with a steering lock, wheel clamp or tracking device, while secure specialist storage, CCTV and good lighting can add further protection. 

It is also worth checking your insurance policy before putting your motorhome into storage. Your insurer may specify particular security measures that must be used when the vehicle is unattended, or place conditions on where it can be stored. 

Has your storage location changed? 

This is easily overlooked. 

If your insurer has been told that your motorhome is normally kept at home or at a particular storage facility, moving it somewhere different for the winter could affect the risk information on your policy. 

If your arrangements have changed, tell your insurer or broker and check whether the policy needs updating. 

Check on it occasionally 

Putting a motorhome into storage shouldn’t mean forgetting about it completely. 

If possible, check it periodically for signs of water ingress, storm damage, tyre problems or attempted entry. Catching something after a week is considerably better than discovering it after five months. 

Before putting your motorhome away, it’s also worth checking your motorhome insurance documents so you know the requirements concerning storage, security, windscreen cover and winterisation. 

None of this is particularly complicated. That’s rather the point.  From our experience supporting motorhome insurance customers, some of the most frustrating claims are those where a relatively small issue has been allowed to become a much bigger problem simply because the vehicle was out of sight and out of mind for the winter. 

And one final piece of advice that probably won’t appear in your insurance policy: make a note of where you put the keys. Spring has an annoying habit of making supposedly unforgettable safe places frustratingly less memorable. 

Make Sure Your Motorhome Is Protected

Whether you're preparing for winter storage or planning your next adventure, having the right motorhome insurance is important. Explore our specialist cover and get a motorhome insurance quote today.