​6 Things That May Save Your Trailer This Winter

The Gulley collection is located in Arkansas and includes over 5 dozen Airstreams.

Will your vintage trailer be ready to go next time you want to take off? You do not have to be MacGyver to turn ordinary household items like WD-40, copper wool, and a light bulb into objects that will preserve your vintage trailer any time it is stored away.  Most vintage trailers have limited charging or plumbing systems and do not require technical winterizing. Still, you should do these simple things when storing your trailer to safeguard it and ensure it is ready when it is time to go to a rally next year. 

A collection of approximately 80 trailers fills two warehouses. The climate controlled environment is ideal for preserving trailers in top condition.

1. Your trailer should be stored on a solid surface like concrete, blacktop, or minimally compacted gravel. Parking your trailer on dirt or grass may deteriorate tires and shorten their lifetime. Covering your tires will protect them from sun damage. A cover, or better yet indoor storage, will preserve the exterior of your trailer from the negative impact of sun, rain, snow, and debris. If you must park your trailer outdoors, clear weeds from around the base, keeping a safe distance from larger foliage that may scratch the trailer when it sways in the wind. Avoid using a tarp to cover your trailer if possible.

The collection includes several dozen trailer models other than Airstreams.

2. Wasps and bees love to make nests in furnace and water heater vents. The best way to keep bees and other insects from getting inside in the first place is by covering up all exterior openings where they could enter. Mesh covers are available for your furnace vent, fridge vent, water heater, etc. WD-40 is also useful in killing and preventing wasps around the home and RV. Spray some WD-40 around all of your RV's vents to help keep wasps from nesting.

The Gulley collection includes a lot of period gear.

3. Ants. Leave ant traps in cupboards and closets to avoid an infestation.

This room is dedicated to The Wally Byam Airstream club and contains many rare pieces.

4. Mice and rats like to burrow and spend the winter in the warm insulation. Snakes will sometimes follow the rodents in their search for food. Remove any human food from the trailer, so you are not attracting rodents. Rats and mice can chew through almost anything but will generally follow the path of least resistance. Plug any possible entrances with copper wool. If you discover an infestation, clean and repair the damage ASAP. If there are droppings inside a cabinet, pull everything out and carefully clean it all. Rodent droppings can carry diseases. Wipe everything down the area with a weak bleach and water solution. Check for further damage, such as chewed holes and patch them. You can fill them with copper wool and then cover the hole with an aluminum patch and/or fill it with expanding foam. Traps are preferred over poison. A rodent can die in a wall with poison and cause a horrible stench and be impossible to extract. If you use traps, check them frequently to avoid a rotting carcass.

5. Control the interiors moisture. Dehumidifiers and moisture-absorbing products will prevent your trailer from unwanted smells. A comment on our blog offered this tip… "another common trick of boaters is to leave a 115 VAC light bulb on (it needs to be old fashioned incandescent to provide heat)…". ​

The Gulley collection includes rare trailers like this pre-war Masonite Airstream and the Gold Airstream. www.goldairstream.com

6. If you are in a climate where freezing temperatures are likely, prevent damage to your trailer's plumbing with a few simple steps. Use heat tape on pipes and hoses. Wrap your freshwater hose and sewer hose with heat strips to keep the lines warm and prevent freezing. Valves and connections are most at risk of freeze-ups. You may also add foam insulation in addition to heat tape for extra protection. If you can do so safely, use a space heater to warm the interior. Open your cabinets that contain plumbing fixtures, so your trailer's heating can keep your internal plumbing warm. Allowing a small drip from faucets can help combat freezing by keeping water moving. Adding a small amount of antifreeze in holding tanks can protect the valves from freezing.

Add your storage tips and comments below.

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