preparing for winter storage

[Flyingscotsman1]

hello all , can anyone advise me on preparing a Heritage 640I for winter storage ,draining fluids etc.Also any thoughts regarding are fabric covers worth fitting to the exterior.

[limecc]

I always wash and polish it before fitting the cover. I'm fortunate to have it connected to the mains so I don't actually drain anything down. The first winter I set the Alde heating to 5 degrees but I think this contributed to the pump's early demise so nowadays I have a cheap fan heater set to the same and it keeps frost out of the van. I don't think the cost is too great because the inner/outer temperature differential will not be that extreme and the van is well insulated.

Make sure you leave the taps open. I had to replace the kitchen mixer due to a mistake when the van was unplugged and not reconnected until the following day. Water froze in the body and split the ceramic cartridge. Although these are replaceable it also pushed the spout past the retaining grub screw and it was never the same despite a new cartridge so I got a new one. Ouch.

This year I also plan to get some moisture traps but there's a wide variety and I haven't been able to decide which to get yet.

[Flyingscotsman1]

cheers limecc, agree with the opening of the taps not sure about covering the caravan.We were quoted £490 for a fitted cover at the caravan show on Sunday.
Not sure about covering the outside due to the solar panel as i do not have mains,do you have to drain the Alde? i thought that was the reason it is filled with anti freeze.
We purchased some dehumidifies so hope these can keep the moisture at bay, think your advise about polishing and washing the outside is the way we shall go.
Do you know how to drain the water tanks on a Heritage 640 i or any other precaution i should take with this model, the owners handbook is a little bit vague on preparing for winter storage, so any help/advise appreciated.

[limecc]

Hi, you don't have to drain the heating system it has the antifreeze as you say, but you do need to drain the fresh water out of the boiler. There is a flip-up tap for that.

Mine hasn't got an onboard water tank, a disappointment when I got it so can't advise on that sorry. Have gone off the idea of fitting one either inside or outside. What point unless you are going to let the waste overflow? I usually empty the grey in the same journey as filling the Aquaroll, even better to use the mains kit I purchased this year.

My cover is worth every penny of the price you were quoted. Caravan (and cover) are still in excellent condition 5 years later.

I think I would run it low and add pink antifreeze to the flush tank if I were off-mains rather than draining it. This would protect the motor.

Make sure you check each black window frame's top edge (on the van sides), that they are sealing and not growing moss in the natural water trap. This is a known weak point for water ingress. Mine won't be any bother now I resealed them with Polyurethane and got rid of the mastic. Maybe I could have got away with just beading it around the edge instead.

I'm intending to buy some winter covers for the fridge vents. These are a hefty price but not from Bailey so I just have to work out which ones then I'll buy and pass the info on.

One other thing is I always leave the hand brake off, I've no need to chock the wheels, and there's a good slope side-to-side so no chance of any standing water on the roof. I leave the legs up to discourage mice ingress.

[Flyingscotsman1]

Hi limecc , re fridge covers cannot believe plastic covers cost so mutch. Best site i have found is the caravanaccessoryshop.co.uk.
L S 300 covers 480 x240 are £ 24.95 each, have you found any cheaper ? the also sell the turnbuckles.
Have decided to buy a cover from Specialised Covers but the delivery is 6 weeks.My fault for waiting until this time of the year.
I have used their indoor covers on my old Norton Motorcycles and they certainly keep them in good condition.
Have you placed your caravan into storage yet?

[limecc]

Well Dometic do both grill and winter cover paired for £33, also same on Amazon with free postage.
http://www.thedometiccentre.co.uk/domet ... overs.html
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dometic-LS300-F ... B00QVAUYDQ

The question is what is the difference between LS300 and L300? I think they are the same size. Bailey are selling a single OEM cover for £8. I'm trying to determine what we need, may post a question on the Bailey forum or may just go for it.
https://www.bailey-parts.co.uk/ProductL ... CatId=900r

The van would normally be under wraps now but I still have a week's holiday to take before I bring it home and lay it up. We are late, too much self-build going on at home this year.

[limecc]

OK. I looked at this site and am convinced the L300 vent is what we have:
http://www.obrienscamping.co.uk/articles/vents.htm
Look at the application table on the bottom of the page.

So if we look on the Bailey site we need part no 1132682
https://www.bailey-parts.co.uk/Product. ... er=1132682

Remember the cover doesn't shut off the entire grill so it's not the same size but smaller to allow reduced circulation.

[AllanandJackie]

I just couldn't bring myself to spend the money they were asking for those flimsy covers. I made mine from some off cut white Perspex then stuck some Fleetwood decals on them to jaz them up a bit.

[AllanandJackie]

Here's a picture of the covers in situ