We are proud but inexperienced new owners of Escape 5.0. We just back from a long but thoroughly enjoyable drive back from Sumas, WA. Really pleased with our camping experience with our Escape.
We will soon need to park the camper at a storage facility for several weeks - away from home. We have some questions related to that:
What are the steps to take before storing (aside from winterization)?
We have emptied the gray and black tanks, will be emptying the fresh water tank. The questions we have are: (a) Do we turn off the refrigerator or turn the power off to the camper? If latter, how do we do that? (b) How do we keep the refrigerator doors open while it is stored? (c) Any other steps besides emptying the tanks and addressing the power/battery that we should take?
We have lithium batteries in our camper. Our storage is covered but not temperature controlled. The local temperatures can fall below freezing and sometimes remain in teens (Fahrenheit) for week to 10 days. Are there special steps required to protect the batteries?
We would appreciate any advice.
PS: The following is likely a completely irrelevant addition but we got the item in the image with our Escape. What is it and what does it do?
Hello @Kavindra Malik
When storing the trailer for extended periods such as 6 months or longer it is advised to turn off the battery disconnect. See Page 60 in the Escape owner's manual.
a) Turning the fridge off can be done with the on/off button on the fridge. When the lights turn off the fridge is off. The battery disconnect switch is under the dinette bench seat, you must lift the cushion and plywood seat. This is labelled "battery disconnect", red key inserted and turned to the on position, turn this key to the off position which will release the key from the body.
b) The Dometic fridges come with clips which allow the fridge to be propped which can be seen in the picture below.
3. The batteries can be removed from the trailer and stored in a dry cool
place, avoid freezing.
Please send photo to partsandservice@escapetrailer.com as it appears to no longer be available.
Be sure to clean the refrigerator and leave it partially open after turning it off. I don't bother with the blue things to keep the doors open. I just open the doors after I park. Just don't forget to close the doors before moving the trailer.
I've heard lithium batteries are fine below freezing if they are not charged.
We still have the original flooded lead acid batteries in our 2017 5.0 TA. I just turn off the battery disconnect switch and don't bother to plug in to the storage facility outlet. The batteries have been fine for over 6 months of storage. Lithium batteries should work out even batter if there isn't any load on them.
I also crack open the kitchen window and the roof vent to allow a little fresh air to flow through the trailer. The idea is to prevent condensation. So far it has worked.
Thank you so much, Thomas! Very helpful information for us!
Thank you very much, Dustin! It is very helpful.