Original research

The RV Owner's Year: winterizing searches nearly quadruple in October, A/C repair hits 2.7 times average in July

Name: The RV Owner's Year: winterizing searches nearly quadruple in October, A/C repair hits 2.7 times average in July
Creator: RV Storage Rates
Published: 2026-10-25
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

We summed 12 months of Google search volume, October 2025 to September 2026, across all 50 states and DC for eleven RV topics, and indexed each month against the topic's own average. Winterizing searches run at 3.8 times average in October, RV A/C repair at 2.7 times in July, covers at 1.9 times in October, and RV storage searches peak in January and March.

By the RV Storage Rates research desk · Published October 25, 2026

Key findings

Winterizing is the most seasonal topic. Searches run at 377 (3.8x an average month) in October and 333 in November, and drop to 22 in June.
RV A/C repair peaks in July at 266, after climbing through May (164) and June (199). January sits at 23 and December at 24.
Covers peak in October (193), as owners close up for the season.
RV storage searches peak in January (121) and March (115), and are quietest in November (79) and September (85). December 2025 data showed a spike we could not confirm and is left out.
Rentals, repair and RV parks are summer topics: rentals peak in June (144), general repair in June and July (138), and RV parks, the biggest topic by volume at about 7.5 million searches a year, in June (118).

The calendar

Each row is one topic. A value of 100 means an average month for that topic; 200 means twice as many searches as usual. Because every row is compared with its own average, a small, very seasonal topic like winterizing shows stronger colour than a large, steady one like RVs for sale.

Google search volume summed over the 50 states and DC, October 2025 to September 2026. January to September are 2026; October to December are 2025. The blank RV storage cell is December 2025, left out (see note below).

The topics, ranked by season

Peak and quiet months for each topic


RV inspection	"rv inspection", "rv inspection near me"	80,450	Mar	124	Dec	67
RV storage	"rv storage"	484,400	Jan	121	Nov	79
RV detailing & wash	"rv detailing", "rv wash"	71,010	May	123	Dec	66
RV roof repair	"rv roof repair"	64,140	Apr	135	Dec	61
RVs for sale	"rv for sale", "used rv for sale", "campers for sale"	4,539,800	May	119	Dec	75
RV parks	"rv parks"	7,498,330	Jun	118	Nov	73
RV rentals	"rv rental", "rv rental near me", "camper rental", "motorhome rental"	5,095,710	Jun	144	Dec	61
RV repair	"rv repair", "rv repair near me", "mobile rv repair"	893,330	Jun	138	Dec	65
RV A/C repair	"rv ac repair"	295,670	Jul	266	Jan	23
RV covers	"rv covers"	149,550	Oct	193	Feb	55
Winterizing	"winterize rv"	72,490	Oct	377	Jun	22

Index: 100 = the topic's average month. Volumes are Google's monthly estimates, summed over states. RV storage volume and index exclude December 2025. Download this table (CSV)

Three patterns stand out. Fall is for closing up: winterizing and covers both peak in October and stay high in November. Spring is for opening up: RV inspections peak in March, roof repair in April and May, and detailing and RVs for sale in May. Summer is for trips and breakdowns: rentals, general repair and RV parks peak in June, and A/C repair in July.

Storage is the least seasonal topic on the calendar. Owners search for it all year, with a high in January and a second one in March as people line up spaces for the year, and a low in the fall. If you want a choice of spaces, start looking before the January rush, and compare posted prices in our RV Storage Rate Index.

An owner's to-do list, month by month

January: Check the stored rig after cold snaps: battery charge, signs of mice, roof snow load. Storage searches peak this month, so book now if you still need a space.
February: Book spring service and any de-winterizing appointment before the March rush. Reserve summer rentals and campsites.
March: De-winterize, flush the water system and sanitize the tank. If you are buying used, book an inspection; inspection searches peak this month.
April: Inspect and reseal the roof and seams. Roof repair searches peak in April and May. Run the A/C once, before the hot weather.
May: Get A/C service done now; searches run at 1.6 times average in May and 2.7 times by July. Check tires, brakes and bearings before long trips.
June to August: Peak travel. Keep the A/C filters clean, check tire pressure before each trip, and watch the roof after hailstorms. See our hail risk map.
September: Reserve a winter storage space. Compare covered and indoor options and posted rates.
October: Fit a breathable cover if the rig will sit outside, and winterize before your local first freeze, using our winterize-by calendar. Both cover and winterizing searches peak this month.
November: Winterize if you haven't; searches are still at 3.3 times average, which often means owners are late. Move the rig into storage and disconnect or maintain the batteries.
December: Visit your stored rig after the first big storm. If you are still looking, check outdoor lots and monthly RV parking.

The infographic

How we did this

We pulled monthly Google search volume from DataForSEO for 25 RV search terms in each of the 50 states and DC, for October 2025 to September 2026, and summed the states to national totals.
Topics combine closely related terms (for example "rv rental", "rv rental near me", "camper rental" and "motorhome rental" for RV rentals). The table lists the terms behind each row.
For each topic, each month's volume is divided by the topic's 12-month average and multiplied by 100. Months are shown January to December; October to December are from 2025 and January to September from 2026.
Google groups some terms: "winterize rv" and "dewinterize rv" return identical volumes, as do "rv inspection" and "rv inspector", so each pair is counted once. December 2025 storage volumes spiked in most states at once; we could not confirm the spike, so the storage row is indexed on the other eleven months.
Search volume shows interest, not purchases. Google's volumes are rounded estimates, and a single year can include one-off effects.

Sources

Google Ads search volume by state, collected via DataForSEO, accessed October 25, 2026. October 2025 to September 2026
RV Storage Rates analysis, October 2026

Cite this: RV Storage Rates, "The RV Owner's Year: winterizing searches nearly quadruple in October, A/C repair hits 2.7 times average in July," October 25, 2026, https://rvstoragerates.com/rv-owners-year/

Spotted an error or have newer data? Tell us and we'll check it and update the page.

Questions people ask

When do most people winterize their RV?

Searches for winterizing peak in October at 3.8 times an average month, with November close behind at 3.3 times. The right date depends on your local first freeze; our winterize-by calendar gives a date for each city, set so there is a 90% chance you beat the first frost.

When is the best time to look for RV storage?

Storage searches run highest in January (1.2 times average) and March (1.15 times) and are lowest in November and September. Looking in early fall, before the winter and spring rush, gives you more choice of spaces. Compare posted rates before you sign.

When should I service my RV air conditioner?

Before May. Searches for RV A/C repair reach 1.6 times average in May, 2.0 times in June and peak at 2.7 times in July, when repair shops are busiest. A quick test run in April catches problems before the rush.

When do people search for RV rentals?

Rental searches are highest in June (1.4 times average), with May and July close behind, and lowest in December. If you want a specific rig for a summer trip, book in late winter or early spring.