I'm just about finished with my annual ritual.  Living in northern
Wisconsin, I take extra care with my camper with regards to protecting
it from the harsh winters.

First, I unload everything.  Especially anything that mice might find
good to eat or nest in.  All the mattresses and seating cushions come
in and get stored in the basement.

I vacuum and mop the floor and wipe down all hard surfaces.

I put a few of those small wedge shaped packages of  "D-Con"
inside a number of the storage compartments.

Make sure your tent material is clean and dry.

Obviously, drain any water supply lines and tanks.

Using a floor jack, I raise the rear end of the camper and place jack
stands underneath, remove the tires and spare, storing them in the
garage, on their sides, with a piece of cardboard between them.

I wash the exterior of the camper, blow dry it with a leaf blower and
let it air dry for the rest of the day.

Take WD-40 or silicon spray and it the wheels, lug nuts, folding step,
crank, hitch tongue, etc.

Finally, I take a GRAY heavy duty plastic tarp, cover the camper and
tie it down.  I've read that gray will reflect more of the sun's heat
and not absorb as much as one of the blue tarps will, possibly
preventing heat build up and subsequent damage to the interior of the
camper while it's covered.

Have fun!

Mark

I have used mothballs...a few tied in the toe of old socks in key places
in the camper..to try and keep critters out in the winter.  I have no
evidence that his really works, but I also have never had critters in
the camper!

I have heard NOT to use a tarp over a camper, because of moisture
condensation.  If you want to use something, get a cover that is the
same as the material used in the better car covers:  it breathes and
there is less condensation underneath.

I agree with putting the camper up on jacks...to keep the axle pressure
off of the wheel bearings.  My camper manual recommended taking the
wheels off of the camper for the winter, but I never did.  UV light
degrades tires, so if you are leaving it outside, make sure the tires
are covered with something (they make expensive tire covers, but some
pieces of plastic material tied around them should suffice).

I guess I wonder about how deep the snow gets in Iowa, and if you need
to worry about melting snow getting inside the camper...through holes in
the bottom of the camper or around the door, for example.  If that is a
worry, some simple exterior plywood pieces propped around the base of
the camper would suffice.

If you can find a place that will store it for the winter, this may be
the best bet.  A relative in Maine stores his pop-up for $12 a foot for
the season...indoors, not heated, access to the camper guaranteed (i.e.
it is not behind 23 others come Spring).  I would check on their
insurance, though.

I'm glad to see some new posts on here.

I found a warehouse that will store my PU for 17.00 a month.  No heat
but its dry and I can have access anytime I need the PU.

I guess I should look into new tires as they are the originals and
the PU is 12 years old now.  I really don't put many miles on it
anymore.  I only use it 2 times a year these days.

Haywood

We live in South Dakota and the winters are very tuff.  Long periods of
cold.  I pay the price and store our pop up for at least 6 months (Oct -
March).  I drain the hot water heater and disconect the hoses to it.  I've
made a by pass hose that connects the two water heater hoses together and
then I fill the water hoses with RV antifreeze.  You have to open the
outdoor shower knobs and sink knobs and pump from the jug of antifreeze.  We
have a water filter at the sink too so I take that out and by pass that for
the winter.  I toss the filter and replace in the spring.  My wife uses a
box of dryer sheets, like Bounce, and spreads them all over the pop up.
Mice don't like them.  I've seen a pop up that one mouse wintered in and it
chewed the heck out of just the window screen.  I take the battery out and
store it at home in my shop.  Not on the cement floor though.  Useally just
on 2x4s.