Exercising your RV while at campsite

[ricelake922]

Hello. Numerous people on this site say that a RV (class A Diesel) should not sit for a long period of time. How long is long? What if you are at a park and not planning to go out of the park in the immediate future. Is running the RV in the park enough exercise and if yes for how long? If no how long does one need to drive it out of the park to give it the required exercise? Thank you in advance.

[Nutinelse2do]

Both Newmar and HWH recommend exercising the jacks, and the slides at least every 30 days.
Follow Mr Wolfe's advice on the engine.

[DutchmenSport]

I haven't done any "exercise" since I got out of the Army 29 years ago! I said once I got out, I'd never run another mine, do another push-up, or sit-up ever again! I decided to just never exercise ever again, PERIOD! It hasn't hurt me to sit for 29 years!.... oh ... sorry ... um ... you're talking about a different type of exercise! :B

(Do home construction, home remodeling, and chop your own firewood every year and you won't need to "exercise" either!)

[wallynm]

I follow Wolf's advice and always drive it at least 30 miles before returning to its parking spot. I want everything operating and rotating at road speed for a while.

[ScottG]

It is better to exercise them by driving a sufficient distance to warm them up good. It also keeps the air brakes from locking up.
Just starting it and letting it run in place is useless.

[Bigdog]

Another old wivwes tale is that you need to run it for 20-30 minutes before you pull out of your campsite. Start it up, let it run enuff to air up the suspension and then shut it off. It'll finish warming up as you leave the campground and drive to the highway.
I drove school bus for a number of years and the guys from Thomas told us that was all we needed and any more was a waste of fuel and helped with global warming.
Oh wait, we don't have to worry about that for another 4 years. Hee, Hee.

[Hank_MI]

Starting the motorhome, gas or diesel not recommended. Onboard generators, it is recommended. Not to exercise the engine but to warm up the gen, dry it out and remove any corrosion from the brushes.

It's almost impossible to heat the crankcase oil up to operating temp by idling the engine. The coolant will heat up but without a load on the engine the oil won't. The oil typically get's hotter than the coolant when the engine is under load and that dries out any moisture. At idle it just doesn't happen and you just add more moisture.

[Ivylog]

I have a 1972 Cat D7 bulldozer that has sat for several years between jobs many times... I recently cranked it up and moved it to my shop and the engine has never been apart. Every winter farm equipment often sit for 5-6 months without starting.

While snowbirding for three months I start the engine the day before I plan to leave to go home, mainly to air it up. Occasionally it has sat for six months without being started. Not being able to use it bothers me more than not starting it.

Starting a MH every 30 days should be considered a old wives tail... about like changing the oil every year regardless of miles driven once out of warranty.

PS: I do not exercise my generator every 30 days either... it has a diesel engine. I have a portable welder that sits outside and it's older than my D7 and guess what... it's sat for years too and still works. OK, sometimes I have to put a battery to the leads because the magnetism has collapsed.

[Jack_Diane_Free]

What do the thousands of diesel motor home owners do all winter in the north. They just sit in storage or on the dealer lot. What about farm diesel equipment sitting all winter freezing. These are never "exercised".

[RWjSIM2003]

When we were living in our DP I would run the engine up to temp at least once a month letting it run for 30-45 mins until temp was up to normal. I would run the Gen at least once a month for about the same amount of time. I also moved the RV and took it for a short 20-25 mile run down the Interstate every 3 Months at least if parked for very long. Did not have to do that much as we normally went some where before the 3 months time. JMO

[wolfe10]

NO, both Caterpillar and Cummins recommend against starting the diesel unless you can drive a minimum of 25 highway miles. It takes that much to get the oil (not just coolant) up to operating temperature. Anything less and you just add moisture to the crankcase.

Also, suggest keeping the diesel fuel tank full to reduce condensation.

The generator can be exercised anywhere-- just get it going and turn on a minimum of 50% load to exercise it.

[Johno02]

I think it is good idea to run it for a while occasionally, but please do so during daylight, and if possible when the wind will carry exhaust funes away from other campers. If you are parked in a restricted space, with others nearby, then I probably would not. I also like to exercise the genny occasionally, but not when it would annoy others close by.