How to Winterize a Camper in Chaffee County Before It Sits on an Open Lot
Jimmy Bedoya • November 10, 2026
How to Winterize a Camper in Chaffee County Before It Sits on an Open Lot
CHAFFEE COUNTY CAMPER WINTERIZING GUIDE
⏱ 5 min read ·
📄 #986 words
River season is over and the camper is headed to open-air parking for the winter. Here is a Chaffee County winterizing checklist written for a lot with no power: water lines, batteries, propane, rodents and the wind off the Collegiate Peaks.
Winterize it, pull the battery and leave the camper ready for spring on the river.
I
f your camper is spending the winter in Chaffee County, the simple answer is: drain and protect the water system, take the batteries home, shut off the propane, seal out mice and lock down anything the wind can grab.
Nights get cold fast at this elevation, and an open lot means no power to keep batteries charged. Buena Vista Self Storage
at 27040 County Road 310,
at the US-24 and US-285 junction in Johnson Village, offers gated open-air parking month to month. Call or text (719) 435-5644, see our RV, boat and trailer parking, or rent online.
Key Points:
•Keyword focus: how to winterize a camper in Chaffee County
•Plan for no power: our open-air spaces have no electrical hookups, so take batteries home
•Water lines first: drain, bypass the water heater and add RV antifreeze or blow out the lines
•Open-air spaces at 10x20, 12x20 and 12x22 fit rigs up to about 22 feet including the tongue
•Fenced lot, keypad gate and security cameras in Johnson Village
•Month to month, so keep the space just for winter
A camper parked in a garage gets some shelter. One parked in open air takes every cold night, snowstorm and gust straight on. Any water left in a line, a pump or a low point drain can freeze and split. Without shore power you also cannot leave a battery on a charger or run a heater, so the rig has to be ready to sit on its own until spring.
The good news is that a camper that is properly winterized handles an open lot well. It just takes an afternoon before you tow it over.
Chaffee County camper winterizing checklist
1. Drain the water system
Empty the fresh tank, open low point drains and faucets, and drain the water heater. Turn the heater bypass valve so antifreeze does not fill the tank.
2. Antifreeze or air
Pump RV antifreeze through each faucet, the toilet and the outdoor shower until it runs pink, or blow the lines out with low pressure air. Pour a little into every drain trap.
3. Empty and flush the tanks
Dump and flush black and gray tanks before you leave the dump station, then add antifreeze to the tanks so valves stay protected.
4. Take the batteries home
With no power on the lot, disconnect and remove the batteries and keep them charged somewhere above freezing.
5. Shut off the propane
Close the tank valves and cover the regulator. Check your owner's manual for whether to remove the tanks.
6. Seal out rodents
Remove all food, prop open the fridge, and plug gaps around plumbing and wiring with steel wool or mesh.
Wind, sun and snow at the Collegiate Peaks
Retract and lock the awning, and secure slide toppers, antenna and vent covers. Wind on open ground is hard on anything left extended. Put tire covers on to slow UV damage, and chock the wheels on both sides. A breathable RV cover can help, but tie it down well or skip it, since a flapping cover can scratch the finish.
Check the roof seals and caulking before winter. Snow sitting on a small crack all season is where many spring leaks begin.
Will your camper fit?
Our open-air spaces are 10x20, 12x20 and 12x22 on an unpaved, gated lot, so they fit rigs up to about 22 feet including the tongue: most small campers, teardrops, pop-ups and smaller travel trailers. Measure from bumper to tongue and text (719) 435-5644
if you are close. Need a roof and a door instead? We have one 15x25 drive-in garage plus 10x20 and 10x30 drive-up units set up for vehicles.
No. Our open-air spaces are on an unpaved lot with no electrical hookups, so plan to remove batteries and charge them at home.
Do I need to use antifreeze, or can I just drain the lines?
Draining alone often leaves water in low spots, pumps and traps. Most owners either add RV antifreeze or blow out the lines with air. Follow your camper's manual.
How long a camper fits?
Spaces are 10x20, 12x20 and 12x22, which fits rigs up to about 22 feet including the tongue. Text (719) 435-5644
your length if you are close to the limit.
Can I rent a space just for the winter?
Yes. Parking is month to month with no long-term contract, so give notice when you are ready to tow it home.
When can I get my camper out?
Any time. Gate access is 24/7, and each tenant gets a personal keypad code. Questions? Call or text (719) 435-5644.
Where do I see prices and availability?
Live parking availability and pricing are in the rental list on our home page, or call (719) 435-5644.
A careful afternoon now means a camper that is ready for the first warm weekend on the Arkansas. Winterize it, pull the batteries and park it inside a gated lot in Johnson Village. Buena Vista Self Storage
is ready when you are. Call or text (719) 435-5644
or see parking options.
A practical checklist for anyone moving to Buena Vista or Chaffee County: when to rent storage, how drive-up units and 24/7 keypad access work at Buena Vista Self Storage, and what to do with the gear that will not fit yet.
How open-air RV, boat and trailer parking works at Buena Vista Self Storage in Johnson Village, what fits in a 10x20, 12x20 or 12x22 space, and a short winterizing checklist for the Arkansas Valley.
A plain-English guide to choosing between a 5x10, 10x10, 10x15, 10x20 and 10x30 drive-up unit at Buena Vista Self Storage, with what fits in each and how to avoid paying for space you do not use.
