RV storage tips for Calgary winters

Storage options

At home

Storing on your own property is convenient for checks and battery maintenance. Before you do, check:

• City of Calgary bylaws and any community rules. The City has rules about where recreational vehicles may be parked on residential property and on streets. Check calgary.ca for the current bylaw, and check any condo, HOA or architectural controls in your community. Rules in surrounding municipalities differ.
• Access and clearance. Can you get the RV in and out with snow and ice on the ground?
• Neighbours and sightlines. A large RV beside a driveway can block visibility for drivers.

Outdoor storage lots

Usually the lowest-cost option. Look for security features (fencing, gates, lighting, cameras), easy access in winter, whether they plow, and whether you can visit to check on the RV. Ask about insurance requirements.

Covered storage

A roof overhead protects from snow load, sun and much of the hail risk (RV hail damage in Calgary and Alberta: prevention, inspection and repair), while costing less than fully indoor storage. Wind can still drive snow under the sides.

Indoor (heated or unheated)

The best protection, and the most expensive. Heated indoor storage means you could even skip full winterizing (follow the facility's rules), though most owners still winterize as insurance against a heating failure.

Prices and availability vary a lot. Call around early, as demand for indoor spots in the Calgary area typically peaks in fall.

Prepare the RV

1. Winterize fully (How to winterize an RV for a Canadian winter (step by step) and Winterizing your RV for Calgary: chinooks, deep cold and freeze-thaw cycles).
2. Clean inside thoroughly. Crumbs attract mice. Empty the fridge, pantry and any toiletries that can freeze.
3. Prop fridge doors open and leave cabinets slightly open.
4. Moisture control: moisture absorbers in the main rooms and bathroom.
5. Close blinds to reduce UV fade, and close roof vents (unless they have vent covers that allow some airflow).
6. Turn off propane at the tanks, and cover the regulator.
7. Retract slides and awnings.

Keep mice out

Mice are probably the biggest storage threat after freezing. They chew wiring, insulation and upholstery, and can be hard to evict.

• Crawl underneath with a light and look for gaps where plumbing, wiring and propane lines pass through the floor. Plug them with steel wool or copper mesh and sealant. See rodent deterrents.
• Check around the slide-out floors, the furnace exhaust, the water heater and fridge vents, and the shore power cord hatch.
• Remove all food and anything with a scent (soap, dryer sheets are debatable).
• Set traps inside if you can check them regularly.

Batteries

• Charge fully before storage.
• Remove and store somewhere above freezing on a maintainer, or leave connected to a maintainer if power is available, or disconnect them.
• Never leave a lead-acid battery discharged through a Calgary winter.

Tires and chassis

• Inflate tires to the correct pressure. Cold weather lowers pressure.
• Use tire covers against UV.
• Park on boards or pads rather than directly on frozen ground or gravel if possible.
• Chock wheels with wheel chocks, and use a coupler lock on trailers.
• Motorhomes: follow the chassis maker's storage advice for fuel (fuel stabilizer, full tank), engine and generator.

Covers

A breathable, properly fitted RV cover helps against UV and grime. But a loose cover flapping in a chinook wind can scuff paint and damage the roof. Fasten it well, and inspect after windstorms. Never use a non-breathable plastic tarp directly on the RV, because it traps moisture.

Snow on the roof

• Check your owner's manual for roof load information and the manufacturer's advice on snow removal.
• Use a soft roof rake or broom with an extension from the ground or a safe platform. Don't climb onto a snow-covered or icy roof.
• Never use metal shovels or scrape down to the membrane.
• After chinook thaws, look for ice dams around vents.

Mid-winter visits

Every few weeks, if possible:

• Look for roof snow load, damage from wind, and loose covers
• Inside: check for water stains, condensation and mouse signs
• Battery maintainer working
• Tires holding pressure
• Doors and compartments secure

Coming out of storage

When spring arrives, follow How to de-winterize your RV in spring: flush, sanitize and system checks and Spring RV road-trip prep for Alberta: the complete shake-down checklist.