How to Winterize a Camper (5 Easy Steps)

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Winters can be harsh on a lot of things, including our campers! This is why it’s important to prepare your camper or RV for the winter months.

In this guide, we’ll show you step-by-step how to winterize a camper quickly and easily. Plus, download our printable checklist to ensure you don’t miss an important step.

Did you know…
You should winterize your camper before the temperatures get below freezing, 32 degrees, for 24 hours. Check out our guide on when to winterize an RV for more information.

What You’ll Need

To start the winterization process, make sure you have the following supplies on hand.

• Non-toxic RV antifreeze (2 to 3 gallons)
• Water heater bypass kit
• Water pump converter kit
• A wand to clean the black tank or the holding tank
• Basic hand tools to remove and install stuff

Steps to Winterize Your Camper

Important: Before we begin, this guide is for winterizing your camper for storage. If you’re a full-timer, you still need to winterize the RV if you live in it. However, the process is different. Check out our guide on how to winterize a camper to live in for more information.

Step 1: Start by Draining Water in the Pipes

This is a fundamental step because you don’t want the water to freeze and destroy the plumbing.

• Start by removing any water filters.
• Then, drain both the black and the gray water tanks. Use the wand to clean the black one.
• You also need to drain the water heater but make sure that it’s turned off and let it cool down. Then simply remove the drain plug and open the pressure relief valve. I like to loosely replace the drain plug instead of leaving it off over winter.
• Finally, open all the hot and cold faucets and low-point drain lines. This will ensure all the remaining water is drained and out of the system.

Step 2: Bypass the Water Heater

After draining all the water, you need to bypass the water heater before adding the antifreeze in the next step. This step is mandatory to prevent any anti-freezing material from reaching and ruining your water heater.

Check if your camper has an installed bypass kit. If it doesn’t, you can install one or have it installed by a local RV facility.

Valterra P23505LFVP Water Heater by-Pass Kit

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Step 3: Add Non-Toxic Antifreeze to Your Camper System

• Start by installing the water pump converter kit, or you can just remove the inlet of the water pump and place it inside the antifreeze container.

Camco Pump Converter Winterizing Kit

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• Then close all the faucets and drain lines that were previously opened.
• Turn on the water pump to take the antifreeze into the water system.
• After the system is pressurized, open each faucet and turn on the hot water, you will see pink antifreeze.
• Do the same with cold water.
• Repeat the process for the cold water and hot water.
• Close the water pump and open all the faucets.
• Pour some of the antifreeze down the drains of all the sinks, the shower, and the toilet itself, and flush it. It’s important to check that the water heater is turned off and all faucets are closed.

Step 4: Clean the Camper from the Inside

• Remove all food to prevent insects or mice from using your camper as a shelter
• Wipe down all the counters and the seats
• Clean the fridge and turn it off for winter
• Check for any holes in your camper and if you find any, fill them with caulk. Check out our guide to keeping mice out of your camper for a more detailed explanation for sealing your camper. Trust us, you don’t want to open your camper in Spring and find a rodent infestation.

Step 5: Shut Down Any Components of the Camper

• Make sure that all awnings are clean and taken down. Check out our guide on how to clean RV awnings for the quickest and easiest way to do this.
• Shut off any gas tanks
• Inspect and fix any leaks in the roof. Check out our step-by-step guide to replace a rubber roof on a camper.
• If applicable, change the oil before storing the camper.
• Lastly, we want to remove the fully charged battery from your RV and check the water levels (filling it up if needed). Store the battery in a warm location and hook up a battery maintainer to keep it properly charged. Check out our guide on how to store an RV battery for winter for the complete process (with important tips).

Tip: Check out our huge list of RV storage facilities to find the perfect storage solution for your camper!

RV Winterizing Checklist

We’ve taken the extensive winterizing steps above and put them in a handy checklist that you can print off and use as many times as you like!

The RV Winterizing Checklist is a must-have for all RV owners. This downloadable and printable checklist provides a comprehensive guide for winterizing your RV, ensuring it stays in top condition during the off-season.

How Much Does It Cost to Winterize a Camper?

The cost to winterize a camper trailer, fifth-wheel camper, or RV will depend on the size and class of your vehicle and whether you plan to do the work yourself or take it to a professional. With that said, you can expect to pay a professional at least $125 for smaller campers and RVs and over $150 for larger ones (like Class A). No matter the size, you could save a little money and do it yourself. The cost will be determined by what supplies you need.