Summer will be here before you know it, and what better way to enjoy those sunny days than to take yourself and the family out for a nice camping trip.

The term “camping” is a bit relative these days though; things aren’t how they used to be. Kids today don’t really experience the roughing it aspect of camping like I did, one trip to El Paso really comes to mind — tents, sleeping bags, and using leaves as toilet paper. Now days, RVs are more common and make for a bit more comfortable vacation (god forbid we can go a few days without television right?).

Owning an RV is an amazing luxury to have, but it’s also a huge expense. You invest a lot when you make the decision to buy a RV, so you want to make sure you take care of that investment. In-between hitting the road you need to pay special attention to how your RV is stored, that way in will be ready for its next adventure.

When it comes to RV storage, that main thing you want to do is make a check list. Most of the things you are going to be doing are small, but all are very important, so is imperative that you hit each one every time. Hopefully once you get the hang of it all these things will just become habit.

You should start with the utilities, turning off things like the heat, electricity and AC circuit breakers. These should be no brainers but they will make a big difference in battery life if you forget to do just one – you also could go right to the source and simply unplug the battery, your call. You should also unplug any electrical devices inside the RV, as well as switch off the propane tanks.

Depending on how long you think your RV will be in storage, these next couple tips may not be quite as standard. However, if you know that it will be a long time before you’re out on the road again (i.e. during winter), these steps are vital.

The biggest are the cleanout jobs, which include the sewage tanks, water tanks, and if you can manage it, emptying out the gas tank. In addition, it’s a good idea to thaw out the freezer so that you don’t return to an inch or two of water inside your camper.

Finally, it is probably a good idea to purchase an RV cover, especially if you are storing it outside. On the other hand, if you use a self-storage facility for safe keeping, then this is obviously something you will not need.

Good luck, and take these tips to heart as they are sure to extend the life of your vehicle for many more years.