Should I move my 5er just to move it?

[Dano1955]

When staying somewhere for an extended period (several months) should I hook up and move/haul the 5er every once in a while?

How often?

[Sam_Spade]

DutchmenSport wrote:

Keeping the tires rolling will also help prevent dry rot too.

The compounds used for modern tires do NOT "dry rot".
Well maybe in 50 years or so. 😉

[rhagfo]

The only thing I would move is if you have hydraulic slides and in a damp area I would run the slides in and out to keep the ram clean.

[BB_TX]

Ours typically sits from Sept to April, and has every year since new 8 yrs ago. Never a problem of any kind including tires.

[DutchmenSport]

Yes, in the Northern States campers will sit all winter and never move. In the winter, I don't go more than 2-3 months without moving it (it sits in my driveway). Our last camp is usually the end of October. We then do winter camps and go to Florida over Christmas and South Carolina early March.

Sometimes, in-between, I will simply go ahead and hitch up and take the camper for a 15 or 20 mile "ride" to keep the tires from getting flat spots, and keep the camper "exercised."

I don't know if this is REALLY necessary, but it makes me feel better knowing the bearings, the tires, the suspension is getting a little work out.

Keeping the tires rolling will also help prevent dry rot too.

But, I do know a lot of folks put their campers on seasonal - permanent sites and they never move too.

[boogie_4wheel]

My trailer didn't move for 19 months when I lived in it away from home on weekdays for a work project.
The tires sat on the gravel/dirt with tire covers over them, and nothing more than the stabilizing jacks being down. After that period of time, I checked the tire pressures and added a few pounds as necessary, hooked up the truck and pulled it over 300 miles home.
No bearing issues, no flat spots on my tires, no rubber leaching, no seized up brakes.

[Sam_Spade]

Jack_Diane_Freedom wrote:
In a large part of North America they sit for months all winter. What is the difference? Or sit on dealers lots. I fail to see the advantage of 'exercising' a trailer.

I'd say: Only if you need to hook up for some other reason.
I move my C a few inches every month but only because I'm there anyway to exercise the engines and charge the batteries.

[bg71361]

Jack_Diane_Freedom wrote:
In a large part of North America they sit for months all winter. What is the difference? Or sit on dealers lots. I fail to see the advantage of 'exercising' a trailer.

Agreed! Let it sit, get a good book read it instead.
Good luck!

[Jack_Diane_Free]

In a large part of North America they sit for months all winter. What is the difference? Or sit on dealers lots. I fail to see the advantage of 'exercising' a trailer.

[Gearitis]

This is really a good question. I must say that if you jack up each wheel and spin the bearings a bit, and then just keep it in shape to move in an hour or so, then I would say no. But the "old timer" in me says, yes, move it 10 miles or so to keep it "excercised" and it will let you know if something else is wrong if you plan to use it on the road more often.

[RustyJC]

Some would probably say so because it might be detrimental for tires, wheel bearings, etc. to sit stationary for extended periods. Personally, for 2 or 3 months, I probably wouldn't since much of the load is carried by our 5th wheel's 6 point leveling system.

Rusty