A practical guide to caravan winter storage in Australia. Five steps to prep the van, plus where she actually sits for the next four to six months.
For most Australian caravan owners, winter storage starts somewhere between late April and early June. Once the autumn trips wind down, the van sits parked for four to six months until spring. How you prepare it for that quiet period decides what shape it's in when you hitch up again.
This guide covers caravan winter storage Australia-wide. The prep work, the trade-offs between home, commercial, and private host storage, and what to think about depending on whether you're in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, or somewhere regional. Skipping the prep tends to mean a flat battery, mouldy mattresses, or a slow leak you only find in October.
In most of southern Australia, the practical window runs from May to September. North of Brisbane, the wet season changes the calculation, but the same principles apply for any stretch the van isn't used.
A useful trigger: if the van won't move for more than six weeks, do the full prep. Anything shorter and you can skip a few steps. The first decision is where the van will sit. That shapes everything else.
Wash the exterior and scrub the awning. Inside, strip beds, remove all food, vacuum every surface, and wipe down benches and cupboards. Leave the fridge door propped open with a tea towel. Make sure everything inside is bone dry before closing up. Stand mattresses and cushions on edge so air can move around them.
Drain the fresh water tank, hot water service, and grey water tank fully. Leave taps open so residual water can escape. For the house battery, either connect a smart trickle charger, remove it and charge at home, or rely on a working solar setup. Turn off all gas bottles at the valve and check whether your storage agreement requires them to be removed entirely.
Inflate all tyres to the recommended pressure. Park on timber boards rather than bare concrete to reduce flat-spotting. Use tyre covers if the van sits in direct sun. Park level on the jockey wheel and chocks, release the handbrake (chocks firmly in place), and optionally wind down the corner stabilisers to take pressure off the suspension.
Block any gap wider than a pencil with steel wool, particularly around the gas locker and water inlets. Avoid poisons inside the van. Leave roof vents slightly open if the van is under cover, and place moisture absorbers like DampRid in each room. If the van sits outside, use a breathable caravan cover rather than a tarp.
Call your insurer to confirm your comprehensive caravan policy covers the van at the specific storage address. Check whether the policy requires a 'secure facility' and what that means in the fine print. Keep a copy of your storage booking confirmation alongside your insurance documents in case of a claim.
Need a place to park her for winter?
Browse local caravan storage spaces on findcaravanstorage.com.au.
Free if your council allows it. Many inner-city councils restrict caravan parking on residential property to specific zones or short periods. Check your local planning rules first.
Secure, monitored, and well-suited to a fixed three or six-month winter commitment. Typical rates run $180 to $350 per month in capital city outer suburbs.
Local homeowners with a covered garage, shed, or secure yard. Prices typically run $80 to $200 per month, with flexible month-to-month terms. Browse spaces at findcaravanstorage.com.au.
In most of southern Australia, winter storage runs from May to September. The practical trigger is whether the van will sit unused for more than six weeks. If yes, do the full prep covered in this guide. North of Brisbane the wet season changes the timing, but the same principles apply for any extended period the van isn't used.
Every four to six weeks is enough. Run the tow vehicle's engine, check tyre pressures, look for any leaks or pest signs, and run the fridge for a few minutes to keep seals working. If you can, move the van a short distance to avoid tyre flat spots and brake seizure.
No. Long periods with the handbrake engaged can cause the brake drums to seize against the shoes. Use wheel chocks instead, on level ground, with the jockey wheel down and the van fully stable.
In Sydney (hail risk) and Melbourne (damp winters), covered storage is generally worth the $30 to $80 per month premium. In Brisbane and milder regional areas, a breathable cover on an open hardstand space is often enough. Compare your insurance excess for hail damage against the cost difference.
StorageFinder lists private caravan storage spaces from local hosts across Australia, including covered garages, sheds, and secure hardstand. Browse spaces by suburb on the caravan-specific marketplace at findcaravanstorage.com.au. Typical pricing runs $80 to $200 per month depending on cover type and location.
Browse local caravan storage spaces from verified hosts. Covered garages, sheds, and hardstand. No lock-in contracts, clear pricing.
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