How to Protect Your RV from Sun Damage During Storage

If you plan to store your RV for a long period of time, especially in an outdoor lot, it’s vital to protect it from the sun’s harmful rays. If you don't take the right steps, the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays can do a lot of damage to the outside and inside of your RV. This detailed guide will talk about the best ways to protect your RV from sun damage while it's being stored, focusing on outdoor storage choices like Lockaway Storage - Celina.

Understand the Impact of Sun Damage

Before you take steps to protect your RV from sun damage, it's important to know how the sun can hurt it. UV rays can:

• Cause Exterior Fading and Cracking: If your RV is out in the sun for a long time, the paint, stickers, and fiberglass can fade, crack, and break down.
• Degrade the Roof: The sun can do a lot of damage to the roof of your RV. If you don't take care of it properly, leaks and water damage can happen.
• Shorten the Life of Your Tires: UV rays can dry out and crack the rubber in your tires, which can shorten their life and cause them to blow out.
• Damage the Interior: Sunlight coming in through the windows can fade furniture, bend wood, and cause permanent damage to any tech inside your RV.

Knowing about these risks makes it even more important to take safety precautions when storing your RV outside.

Use a High-Quality RV Cover

Putting on a good RV cover is one of the best ways to protect your RV from sun damage. RV covers are specially designed to protect your vehicle from UV rays, dirt, and water. This is what you should look for in an RV cover:

• UV Protection: Make sure the cover is made of materials that don't let UV rays through, like polyester and vinyl.
• Breathability: A cover that lets air pass through keeps wetness from building up, which can cause mold and mildew.
• Fit and Durability: Pick a cover that fits your RV well and is made of long-lasting, weatherproof materials that can handle the weather.

You can protect your RV even more from the strong Texas sun when you park it at Lockaway Storage - Celina and make sure it’s securely covered.

Apply a UV Protectant to the Exterior

Besides using an RV cover, another good idea is to put a UV protectant on the outside of your RV. These protectants are meant to be put on vinyl, paint, decals, and plastic to create a barrier that keeps them from flaking and fading. Look for a high-quality wax or UV protectant spray that is made specifically for RVs.

Waxing your RV regularly, especially before putting it away for a long time, can greatly protect the outside from UV rays. Waxing creates a protective coat that protects your RV from sun damage. When you do this easy maintenance job, your RV will stay safe from heat and harsh light, keeping it looking brand new.

Protect the Roof

One part of your RV that is most likely to get sun damage is the roof. To keep it safe:

• Inspect the Roof Regularly: Before putting your RV away for the winter, check the roof for damage like cracks, tears, or worn seals. Take care of these problems right away to stop more damage.
• Apply a Roof Coating: An RV-specific roof coating can aid in protecting your roof from UV rays and create more longevity. Some coatings can be applied to rubber, aluminum, or fiberglass roofs, while others can only be used for certain kinds of material – do your research before buying.
• Use a Roof Cover: If you can, use an RV roof cover along with your full RV cover to protect it even more. A lot of RV owners choose unique roof covers that are designed to protect solar panels and air conditioners.

Lockaway Storage - Celina has outdoor storage choices for RV owners so they can do regular maintenance on their vehicles, like inspecting and coating the roofs to keep them safe.

Cover the Tires

Damage from the sun is especially likely to happen to tires, where UV rays can break down the rubber. To keep your RV tires safe while you store them:

• Use Tire Covers: Buy good tire covers that keep UV rays out and keep the rubber from drying out. Make sure the caps fit tightly and go over the whole tire.
• Maintain Proper Inflation: Make sure the tires are properly filled before putting your RV away. If you leave tires that aren't filled enough in one place for too long, they can get flat spots and become more likely to get damaged.
• Tire Rotation: If you're storing your RV for a long time, you might want to rotate the tires every so often to keep them from getting flat spots and to make sure they wear evenly.

Covering and taking care of your RV tires will make them last much longer and make sure they're ready to go when you're ready to go on another trip.

Protect the Interior

The sun can hurt more than just the outside of your RV. It can also do a lot of damage to the interior. Here are some ways to keep the sun off of the inside of your RV:

• Close the Blinds or Curtains: Keep the blinds or curtains closed to keep sunlight out of the room and prevent harsh light from fading the furniture, flooring, and other surfaces inside.
• Use Sun Shades or Window Covers: To protect your RV even more, use sun shades or window covers that reflect light and block UV rays. This will keep the RV cooler.
• Apply UV Protectant to Interior Surfaces: Just like you would on the outside, use a UV protectant on interior surfaces like the dashboard, steering wheel, and leather seats to keep them from cracking and fading.

Schedule Regular Check-Ups

Taking care of the inside of your RV while it's being kept at Lockaway Storage - Celina will help it keep its value and give you a comfortable place to stay when you're ready to go on the road again.

Regular upkeep and inspections are important for keeping your RV in good shape, even when it's not being used. Visit your RV every so often to:

• Check for Damage: If you can, start the engine and run the air conditioner, generator, and other systems to keep them in good shape.
• Recharge the Batteries: Make sure the batteries in your RV are charged and in good shape so they don't get damaged from not being used for a while.

You can access your RV quickly and conveniently at Lockaway Storage - Celina, which makes it easy to do these important maintenance tasks.

Consider a Covered Storage Option

Lockaway Storage has both outdoor and covered storage for RVs in Celina, TX. For maximum protection, upgrade to a covered storage choice. Covered RV storage protects your vehicle from the sun and other harsh weather. Taking better care of your RV may cost more in the short term, but the long-term benefits often beat the cost.

There are safe, convenient, accessible storage options at Lockaway Storage - Celina that are perfect for protecting your RV from the sun. This way, you can keep your vehicle in great shape until you're ready for your next trip. Take the time to put these safety steps in place, and your RV will give you years of adventure.