Maintenance & prevention
Store it so it survives the off-season
How you put the trailer away matters as much as how you use it. A few steps before it sits keep the tires, batteries, seals, and interior from quietly going bad while you are not looking at them for three months.
Protect the shell and tires
- Out of the sun if you can UV is hard on sealant, tires, and clear coat. Covered storage or a quality breathable cover buys years. Bare polished aluminum can sit out, but clear-coated panels and decals would much rather have shade.
- Take care of the tires over a long sit Tires flat-spot and age from sitting still. Keep them inflated to spec, off bare wet ground, and covered from the sun for a long layup. Moving the trailer a few feet every month or two helps too.
Keep moisture and pests out
- Dry inside, vents cracked Leave moisture absorbers inside and a roof vent cracked under a cover so it can breathe. Sealed and damp is exactly how mold gets started in a closed-up trailer.
- Seal the mouse highways Stuff steel wool or foam into the gaps where wires and plumbing enter the belly, and set deterrents in the bays. A winter of mouse damage to the wiring and insulation is a brutal, expensive spring surprise.
Batteries and seals
- Set the batteries up for the layup Lead-acid wants to be full and on a maintainer, since it sulfates if left low. Lithium is the opposite: store it around half charge and simply switch it off or disconnect it, no float charger needed. Either chemistry, keep it above freezing.
- Do the sealant walk Storage is the natural time for the twice-a-year sealant inspection, so a slow winter leak does not rot the floor while the trailer sits.
Helps to have on board
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