Long term storage

I'd take it for a spin just to fight the pandemic boredom.

I'd use this time to go through it from top to bottom and make a list of anything that needs attention.

I assume you don't have an onboard gen, otherwise you would have been exercising the gen every month.

If you have the time, go say "hi" to it in storage and make it feel loved.

Gdetrailer wrote:
Leave well enough alone.

It is stored indoors out of sun and possibly extreme cold weather/winds/snow/rain ect.

Tires do not "need" to be isolated from concrete, wood, stone, gravel that is nothing more than an old "wives tale".

As long as your storage does not have extreme moisture concerns, I do not see any reason as to why you would worry about "running" things like furnace, fridge and so on just for making sure..

As far as wheel bearings, they are reasonably sealed from moisture and they should have plenty of grease and you are storing indoors, there is no reason to go to the hassle of hooking up and towing 10 or 20 miles.. They will not go bad or freeze or break sitting.

Tires losing pressure is normal, 1-2 PSI per month is considered normal, simply add pressure to sidewall max rating periodically which you have already done.

You didn't mention the battery, as long as you have a multistage converter, leave it plugged into shore power or disconnect battery and use a manual charger once every three months.

Thats it!

By the way, the 30+ yr old TT I am using sat on a campground lot for 10 yrs before I bought it. All I did was fix a broken brake wire, replace the breakaway switch and add pressure to the crusty cracked tires and towed it home 18 miles that way..

^ This 100%. Batteries and mice would be the only 2 things I'd be concerned about.

Lwiddis wrote:
Yup, get it out and drive around for an hour and run every system. Flush the fresh water tank, water lines and water heater.

And please for Lwiddis sake, post a youtube vid of yourself driving a 5th wheel trailer!

MFL wrote:

Gdetrailer wrote:


As far as wheel bearings, they are reasonably sealed from moisture and they should have plenty of grease and you are storing indoors, there is no reason to go to the hassle of hooking up and towing 10 or 20 miles.. They will not go bad or freeze or break sitting.

IIRC...you posted pics a while back of your pitted bearings! This is mostly do to sitting long term. You claimed cheap bearings. Yes, some bearings are higher quality than others, but most will serve you well, if you take care of them, and best to use them, not letting sit long term. The tires will also benefit from a good warmup.

I do agree, the bearings will not break or freeze! :S

Jerry

Sorry, you have the wrong person.

Never posted pix of "pitted bearings".

Never claimed anything about "cheap bearings".

There are folks who insist on special name brand bearings, the reality is those more expensive name brand bearings come from the exact place the cheaper bearings come from and a good chance from the SAME factory.. China.

I did once have an issue with bearings on a 4x2 truck, the vehicle manufacturer made a cost savings move to reduce the lip the grease seal touched.. That allowed water to easily make it's way into the bearings and grease. The grease was full of rusty water.. Had noting to do with quality of bearings though.

Gdetrailer wrote:


As far as wheel bearings, they are reasonably sealed from moisture and they should have plenty of grease and you are storing indoors, there is no reason to go to the hassle of hooking up and towing 10 or 20 miles.. They will not go bad or freeze or break sitting.

IIRC...you posted pics a while back of your pitted bearings! This is mostly do to sitting long term. You claimed cheap bearings. Yes, some bearings are higher quality than others, but most will serve you well, if you take care of them, and best to use them, not letting sit long term. The tires will also benefit from a good warmup.

I do agree, the bearings will not break or freeze! :S

Jerry

If you winterize with pink stuff, I'd add some more. If you air-blow it, I'd leave the plumbing alone.

Leave well enough alone.

It is stored indoors out of sun and possibly extreme cold weather/winds/snow/rain ect.

Tires do not "need" to be isolated from concrete, wood, stone, gravel that is nothing more than an old "wives tale".

As long as your storage does not have extreme moisture concerns, I do not see any reason as to why you would worry about "running" things like furnace, fridge and so on just for making sure..

As far as wheel bearings, they are reasonably sealed from moisture and they should have plenty of grease and you are storing indoors, there is no reason to go to the hassle of hooking up and towing 10 or 20 miles.. They will not go bad or freeze or break sitting.

Tires losing pressure is normal, 1-2 PSI per month is considered normal, simply add pressure to sidewall max rating periodically which you have already done.

You didn't mention the battery, as long as you have a multistage converter, leave it plugged into shore power or disconnect battery and use a manual charger once every three months.

Thats it!

By the way, the 30+ yr old TT I am using sat on a campground lot for 10 yrs before I bought it. All I did was fix a broken brake wire, replace the breakaway switch and add pressure to the crusty cracked tires and towed it home 18 miles that way..

I’d rather know now if any appliance has given up the ghost rather than wait until I was ready to go camping. Plenty of time for repair.

Being stored inside, I'd not be concerned about operating appliances. I would be more concerned about turning the tires/bearings. I'd tow it at hiway speed for 10-20 miles. To do this you would have to operate the landing gear, and while out, you could also run the slides out/in.

Jerry

Yup, get it out and drive around for an hour and run every system. Flush the fresh water tank, water lines and water heater.