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Avondale Caravan Winterisation

How to prepare your Avondale caravan for winter storage.

This excerpt and advice has been taken directly from the Avondale caravan handbook.

For detailed step-by-step instructions with pictures you get my new book “Prepare Your Caravan For Winter” available for Kindle here and Paperback here.

Winter Storage

If the caravan is to be stored for any length of time, e.g. over winter, the following is recommended.

  1. Park the caravan on a well drained base, preferably where vegetation will not grow up underneath.
  2. Remove the wheels and support the caravan on axle stands and corner steadies, not on the corner steadies alone.
  3. Lower the corner steadies.
  4. Release the handbrake.
  5. Rotate the wheels from time to time to keep the bearings lubricated.
  6. Smear grease on all chassis components such as corner steady elevating screws, brake linkages and hitch connections.
  7. Protect the hitch head and 7 pin plugs by covering with a waterproof cover.
  8. Remove the gas cylinders and connecting pipe and store in a safe place.
  9. Fit a protective cap to the gas nozzle to stop water from entering.
  10. Drain water heater, sterilise the system, then pump all the water out of pipes and ensure that all waste water is drained. Leave all taps open.
  11. Fasten all windows and rooflights securely.
  12. Clean the interior of the caravan thoroughly, removing any stains on the upholstery and carpet plus any traces of food.
  13. Bedding should be stored either in a warm dry place or placed in the caravan so that air can circulate freely around it.
  14. Clean the fridge and leave the door ajar to ventilate.
  15. Drain and sterilise the Thetford Cassette toilet, where fitted.

It is worthwhile giving your caravan an occasional inspection during the storage period, ventilating the caravan whenever the weather permits. You will find the use of moisture absorbing crystals will help greatly to protect against damp and mould.

In particularly damp and warm weather conditions mould spores, which are always present in the atmosphere, can quickly develop. It is important, therefore, to inspect the caravan regularly and, if in doubt, it should prove helpful to heat the caravan thoroughly for several hours whilst ventilating well. Attach by mould is not covered by warranty and can occur in caravans of any age.

Should you require further assistance with the process of winterising your Avondale caravan, you could purchase our downloadable book, Prepare Your Caravan For Winter.

We also have a video course on how to complete a thorough damp inspection of your caravan.