The Reno Tahoe area has had one of the most extreme winters that we have had in years. With a flurry of winter storms, it has become even more important to build a winter emergency car kit. If you end up stuck in a storm, slid off the road, or in an accident, you may end up stranded in severe temperatures. In these situations, it’s important to prepare beforehand with the proper winter emergency car kit.

At Louie’s Ace Hardware, we carry all the essentials that you need to create an emergency kit for your car. Here’s the items we recommend carrying for winter safety in case you get stuck in a blizzard.

Basic Winter Emergency Car Kit:

This is the basic kit that we recommend having in your car year-round. These essentials also serve in cold weather too. If you need to replenish your safety kit, it’s a good idea to do this before heading out into any kind of severe weather.

1. Water

2. Good first aid kit

3. Basic car tool kit

4. Spare tire

5. Good pair of jumper cables

Cold Weather Bag for Winter Emergencies: 

In addition to your basics, we also recommend having a cold weather bag, specifically stocked with emergency items needed in a blizzard. Here’s some items that you should keep in your vehicle this winter:

1. Water (take fresh water into car that isn’t frozen during each trip)

2. Snacks

3. Battery charger for phone

4. Flashlights

5. Rescue tool (with seatbelt cutter to easily escape car)

6. Back-up phone

7. Ice scraper

8. Flairs

9. Maps

10. Portable shovel

11. Emergency blanket

12. Emergency candle

13. Matches

14. Tow cables

15. Repair manual (keep this in your car always)

16. Tarp/fire Starter kit (if you need to leave the car)

17. Duct tape (this can be used for many purposes)

Emergency Items for Your Glove Box:

In the case of an emergency, you may not be able to access all areas of your car. Keeping your glove box stocked with safety items can give you quicker access to a few basics.

1. Contact book with phone numbers

2. Pen

3. Poncho

4. Aspirin

5. Mini first aid kid

6. Hand warmers

7. Plastic bags/wipes (for sanitation)

Winter Clothing for Your Car: 

In case you must exit your car or walk to get help, it’s important to have proper winter clothing and layers that can keep you warm in freezing temperatures.

1. Warm sweater

2. Jacket

3. Hats

4. Gloves

5. Layers

We hope this check-list helps you prepare for winter storms. Stop by Louie’s for all your winterizing needs. We’d love to help you put together your next emergency kit and choose the right items for your vehicle.

Are you ready to start planning for your spring and summer camping trips? A few months ago we showed you how to winterize your RV  to get ready for the colder months. Now, we'd like to share our best tips for de-winterizing your RV, so that you can be on the way for your next adventure.

Tips for De-Winterize Your RV

1. First, turn the valve for the front water tank off.
2. Fill the water tank 1/3 full with fresh water.
3. Take the hot water plug and put it into hot water tank. Need a hot water plug? Hot water plugs are available at Louie’s Ace Hardware.
4. Use a 16-inch socket to tighten hot water tank. Make sure that you don’t over tighten so that it does not pull the threads of hot water tank. 16 inch sockets are also available in our store.
5. Now, you can go inside your RV and fill the water tanks there. Locate the water pump and check the lines to make sure there’s no leaks.
6. Turn the water pump on. Once water pump builds pressure it’ll shut off.
7. Now, turn on one of taps. Let it run until the pink anti-freeze runs out, and nothing but water comes out.
8. Move from the kitchen and drain all of the other water sources in the trailer including the bathroom and bathtub.
9. If you have an outdoor shower, go outside to fill its tank. The shower is usually located on the outside of the RV.
10. Once you're done pumping anti-freeze, you can fill the hot water tank with water. First, find the hot water bypass valve and turn it. Let it run continuous until water tank fills with water.

Before you go out for a trip, make sure you check your RV for gaps, cracks, and tears. You’ll want to fix these before the season starts to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.

Happy Camping!

After the summer fun is done and the last camping day of fall has passed, it’s time to start thinking about winterizing your RV. Winterizing your RV may seem like a daunting task. But at Louie’s Ace Home Center, we have everything you need to get the job done. If you are staying in your RV, you are going to want to keep your water lines functional. Be sure to wrap your lines with foil and open your faucets slightly if you are planning to stay in the RV. If you are storing it, follow these simple steps to winterize your RV.

• Mind the water lines: You will need to drain and dry your water lines before storage. How do you do this? First, open the “petcock” and allow everything to drain except the water heater. What’s the petcock? The petcock is a small valve used for draining. It’s usually located by the water tank.

• Drain the holding tanks and open the faucets: Flush both tanks simultaneously. Some RVs come with a built-in tank system. If yours doesn’t, clean your tanks with a wand. Take the refuse to a dump station. Toilet, shower, sinks, open them all to winterize your RV. Flush the toilet until you are sure all the water has emptied out.

• Blow out the lines and seal them up: Purchase a compressed air adapter or blowout plug. Attach it to the water intake fitting and use a standard air compressor (like the ones you use to inflate the tires on your car) to blow out your water lines. This gets rid of excess water and prevents the dilution of your anti-freeze. Do this at a maximum of 50 psi. Replace your caps, close the faucets, and close the petcock. As a reminder, the petcock is the valve you opened to drain your water in the first place.

• Detach the compressor and add anti-freeze to your lines: Make sure to detach the air compressor. This is an important step! You can add pink RV antifreeze from the inside with a hand pump from outside. You can also choose whether or not you want to use a bypass (note: bypasses require more anti-freeze). Do not drain the water heater before you have added your anti-freeze. You will use 2 to 3 gallons of anti-freeze. If you can’t bypass your water heater, you will need 6 to 10 gallons. After the anti-freeze is in, turn on your fresh water pump and let it run. This video demonstrates this process thoroughly.

• Turn on your faucets: Turn on the faucets and test the systems until they run pink. That’s how you know the anti-freeze has filled up your lines.

• Don’t forget about other appliances or to re-connect your lines: Toilets, washing machines, icemakers, and showers need anti-freeze too. Make sure they have anti-freeze to winterize an RV. You will drain your water heater last. Take it out of the anti-freeze jug and reconnect it to the fresh water tank.

To fully winterize your RV, be sure to remove any perishables, laundry, trash, and valuable items. Fix anything that is broken as it will make it easier to use the RV when its time. Cover all your vents and holes so pests don’t see your winterized RV as a place to get warm. Cover your RV with an RV cover, and don’t forget your tires, too. Some people lift their RVs to take the pressure off the tires as well.

We hope these tips help winterize your RV. Visit Louie’s Ace Home Center for all of your RV supplies. Have a great winter!