Winter will inevitably be here and it will be time to store your DROPLET teardrop trailer for the season. With a DROPLET trailer, the process couldn’t be more straightforward. Here’s how to winterize your DROPLET trailer.
We all dread the last camping trip of the season but like it or not, winter will come and your travel trailer will hibernate for the winter.
For many RV owners, the winterizing and de-winterizing of their trailer is an afternoon of messy frustration. Smelly antifreeze, switching water heater bypasses, and searching cabinets, storage areas, and underbellies for signs of mice. Since this is such an undesirable task, most choose to pay a dealer to do the twice-a-year work.
With a DROPLET trailer, the winterizing process is quick and easy. This means owners don’t have to schedule appointments and pay before starting and ending their camping seasons.
Why Do We Winterize?
There are 3 main reasons to winterize your RV for winter:
- Protect the water lines and plumbing system
- Safeguard against mice and vermin
- Ensuring the longevity of your RV (and investment)
Protect plumbing systems
The main reason for winterization is to protect the plumbing systems in RVs. Water lines running through walls and under cabinets risk breaking if water left in them freezes during storage.
Plastic water lines, faucets, and connections are all susceptible to breaking. Water in the system will expand if it freezes resulting in damage to the components. The solution to this is to add antifreeze to the system to prevent freezing. This is the most time-consuming task and the one most people aren’t sure about so they end up paying someone to do it.
Droplet trailers and their minimalistic design makes this part of the winterizing process much easier than most RVs. Eliminating the large complex plumbing systems eliminates most of the work.
Prevent rodents
In addition to protecting the plumbing system, rodent prevention is another big step in winterization. During colder months, an empty trailer makes a perfect home for rodents. Taking steps to deter possible unwanted guests can save you chewed wires and holes being chewed in walls and floors.
Protect your investment
As a part of the RV winterization process, the final checks and inspections are done on your trailer before storing it. There is nothing worse than getting ready for your first trip of the season and finding an issue that could have been dealt with prior.
How To Winterize Your Droplet Trailer
The goal of DROPLET trailers is to have a functional trailer that is easy to tow, set up, and use. In producing a trailer that does just that, you also end up with a trailer that requires less maintenance and extra work. More time camping, less time working on your camper.
Along with the maintenance being minimal, the winterizing process is as well. No antifreeze, winterizing pumps, or valves to switch.
Kitchen and plumbing
Since DROPLET trailers have no bathrooms or waste tanks, the messy work is eliminated. The small galley kitchen and sink are your only concern making things much faster and easily done yourself. For those who wonder how to winterize your DROPLET trailer, this is the part they are probably wondering about.
Winterizing the water system in a DROPLET really couldn’t be easier.
- Removable water container – simply disconnect, empty, and store under the sink.
- Water line and faucet – easily drain with a couple of pumps and that’s it! The water supply is dry and safe for storage.
- Drain line – if not already drained, simply pull from under the sink and empty on its own.
There is now no water in the system anywhere to freeze. The rest of the kitchen gets a good cleaning and the fridge is emptied of any food. A box of baking soda can be used to control any odours from forming in the stored fridge.
Pest control
Your Droplet trailer is so comfy and cozy and critters and rodents know it. It can be challenging to keep these small visitors at bay while you are away but there are steps that can help.
- A good cleaning is the first thing to be done. Vacuuming out and wiping down the inside of your DROPLET will remove any small bits of food or smells that could attract rodents.
- The outdoor kitchen area should be well cleaned as well so that there are no temptations for hungry critters. There are multiple products and tricks to use to deter rodents but starting with a good cleaning is a must.
- Dryer anti-static sheets are a popular way to prevent mice from making homes in stored trailers. They are cheap and easy to spread around the space. The scent is supposed to deter mice and it seems to work well. Not only this, but your DROPLET will smell fresh in the spring when you open it up!
Clean and inspect
Giving your DROPLET a good bath before winter will remove any dirt and grim that has built up on the exterior. It will also give you a good chance to carefully inspect all surfaces for any issues. Pay attention to windows, doors, and seals for leaks after the wash.
As part of the winterization process, it’s good practice to give your DROPLET a good inspection. The small simple design makes this task easy and quick as well. Do a final check of tires, suspension, seals, and overall condition before storing. Completing an easy fix now will save you from rushing to do it in the spring.
Until Next Season
Winterizing your trailer means the end of a season and hibernation for your DROPLET. Unless you are a four-season camper, in which case, happy winter camping!
Typically, once a regular RV is winterized it’s parked for the winter due to the in-depth winterization process. Since the winterization is so simple on DROPLET teardrop trailers, if you get some unexpected warm winter weather and want to head out it’s easy. Just fill up the water container, hook up the battery, and hit the road.