We bought our RV back in 2009 and used it for family trips for the first few years. As my two girls got older, their activities prevented us from really using the RV. I had it parked at our storage lot, with a cover on it but needles to say, I neglected it for a few years, like 5 to be exact. I would check on it from time to time but the battery had died so I couldn't start her up.Last week I needed to go over and remove the old cover as it had become tattered and fell down. I decided to pick up a new battery and see if she would start and to my surprise she fired right up but sounds rough. I went back today and started her up again and let her run, and while I did that I walked through the RV and around it and really looked things over. Other than being dirty, it looks much like it did when we parked it.I need to put some more air in the tires before I could even drive it around the block but any advice from people who may have had a similar situation our bought a used one that had sat.What do I need to get her back running and usable? Was going to take it and get an oil change and tune up and have them give it a good looking over but any other advice?Thanks

Almost certainly Tires and Brakes. You might be able to run tires 8 years if you USED the coach. With that much standing, the oils have left the sidewalls and maybe more. I'd also be surprised if brake caliper pistons and slides aren't stuck. If the generator had gas in the carb, you'll need to replace it.Re-seal the roof.

I would drain the gas tank and put in fresh.

Thanks. I was going to have the brakes looked at as part of the tune up and oil change. The tires were new the last year we really used it so the tires are about 5 years old but I understand what you are talking about and even though they look new, I don't think I would trust them more than driving them to the shop that did the work the last time which is luckily only about 7 miles from where I have it parked. The gas is one of the reasons I was trying to run it to try and burn out the old and then get some fresh in there. I'll have to take a look at the roof but probably will need to be re-sealed. We are getting to the point now that we can start using it again so I'm trying to figure out what I can be doing between now and the spring when we would start camping again.

What year/make/model of RV is it?I'd strongly recommend removing the old gas- siphon, remove lines, etc.The longer it runs with old gas, the worse it gets. If things aren't all messed up now, get the old out and the new gas in, maybe it will clean up.Pull your air filter and clean it and the filter box and all the tubes from any mouse or squirrel nests (likely). You don't want to pull that into your intake.Since you've run it a little, if you can get any plugs out easily, check each of them for oil, wet (not firing), burnt, etc.The rest depends on the kind of RV itself.

Getting it Road Ready | Good Sam Community

DrewE
Explorer II
Dec 03, 2017
j-d wrote:
Almost certainly Tires and Brakes. You might be able to run tires 8 years if you USED the coach. With that much standing, the oils have left the sidewalls and maybe more. I'd also be surprised if brake caliper pistons and slides aren't stuck. If the generator had gas in the carb, you'll need to replace it.

Re-seal the roof.

What oils in the tires? I've heard this claim a few times, but it makes no sense whatsoever; the rubber is made from oil (petroleum products), but it does not contain liquid oil. If it did, the tires would leave oily marks when the vehicle was parked on e.g. concrete for a long time, or when the tires were stored for a long time on a piece of wood or whatever, or when the tire was damaged and the rubber torn apart; yet these do not occur, or at least I've never encountered them

Using the vehicle would also tend to force the oil out of the sidewalls due to centrifugal force, wouldn't it?

Tires age because of time, UV light exposure, and ozone mainly. Certainly old tires should be replaced or inspected as appropriate for safety.
DiskDoctr
Explorer
Dec 03, 2017
What year/make/model of RV is it?

I'd strongly recommend removing the old gas- siphon, remove lines, etc.

The longer it runs with old gas, the worse it gets. If things aren't all messed up now, get the old out and the new gas in, maybe it will clean up.

Pull your air filter and clean it and the filter box and all the tubes from any mouse or squirrel nests (likely). You don't want to pull that into your intake.

Since you've run it a little, if you can get any plugs out easily, check each of them for oil, wet (not firing), burnt, etc.

The rest depends on the kind of RV itself.
beachball42
Explorer
Dec 02, 2017
Thanks. I was going to have the brakes looked at as part of the tune up and oil change. The tires were new the last year we really used it so the tires are about 5 years old but I understand what you are talking about and even though they look new, I don't think I would trust them more than driving them to the shop that did the work the last time which is luckily only about 7 miles from where I have it parked.

The gas is one of the reasons I was trying to run it to try and burn out the old and then get some fresh in there. I'll have to take a look at the roof but probably will need to be re-sealed.

We are getting to the point now that we can start using it again so I'm trying to figure out what I can be doing between now and the spring when we would start camping again.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Dec 02, 2017
X2 on draining gas tank.
Ductape
Explorer
Dec 02, 2017
I would drain the gas tank and put in fresh.
j-d
Explorer II
Dec 02, 2017
Almost certainly Tires and Brakes. You might be able to run tires 8 years if you USED the coach. With that much standing, the oils have left the sidewalls and maybe more. I'd also be surprised if brake caliper pistons and slides aren't stuck. If the generator had gas in the carb, you'll need to replace it.

Re-seal the roof.

Forum Discussion

Getting it Road Ready

About Motorhome Group

Related Content

Getting ready to start camping again....

Toll roads

NSA Ready Brake Issue

It's getting easier

Colorado Roads