Getting it Road Ready

[beachball42]

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

[Majestic31]

Since I bought this RV,Four winds Majestic 2011 28a. Replaced ALL the tires, Wheel alignment, Back up camera,Vent covers,Bilstein HD shocks front and rear, Radiator overflow tank,
heavy duty SUMO SPRINGS bump stops front and rear made the ride 100%better no more steer corrections every few seconds,nor more swaying on corners no more rocking when trucks go by, TV bracket and new TV, Water filter system

[Bordercollie]

Have brake system checked for sticky calipers, flush and change brake fluid. Have tires checked for serious sidewall cracking, replace tires if needed. Tires may thump until you drive some distance at moderate speeds, if thumping continues, tires may have tread separation. Check cooling system belts and hoses.You probably have to replace propane gas alarm. House battery(s) probably need replacing. Test run generator with roof AC plus microwave on. Test run furnace and fridge. Change fuel filter after some driving.
Other recommendations are good.

Our rig hasn't been driven much in last 3 years, but I ran engine, generator, roof A/C and furnace and drove it to have it smog tested recently. Getting back into RV'ing after two knee replacement and other surgeries, our rig needs TLC also

[beachball42]

Thanks for all the replies. My wife and I are debating on if we will keep it or trade it in for something else. We have tossed around the idea of going back to a pop up for a few years and then going back to a smaller Class C or Class B.

I'm inclined to more likely hold onto it for another year or two. I'm fairly handy with small repairs but engine's aren't my thing so that was what had me the most concerned with having it sit for so long.

The gas tank is just above half and I had thought about putting some conditioner in it while I try to burn off the old gas. I am heading over to it again this weekend to put some air in the tires and run it again but probably won't drive it just yet. I don't want to do unnecessary items but want to make sure its safe to drive.

Lot's of good advice so I appreciate the feedback.

[fireflock]

Assuming your goal is to keep it and not sell it, the first thing I would do is change the oil in the engine and generator. You don't need a "tune up" on the 2009.

Second thing I would do depends on how full the fuel tank is. If it's close to full, I'd drain and refill it and then replace the fuel filter after 500 miles. If it's closer to empty, I would probably put some fuel conditioner in the tank and fill it with premium. Then replace the fuel filter after 500 miles.

Third thing I would do is keep an eye out for a tire sale. They will need to be replaced sooner rather than later.

After that, I'd probably start driving it for short trips (errands around town) and see how things go. Work up to short overnight trips. It's not worth (IMO) replacing a lot of parts that might be fine.

You don't need a full plan before you start. Take care of the most important items and see how things progress.

[time2roll]

I would not over think this. Top off any fluids and the air in the tires and go. OK don't go too far or just bring it home and continue to check all systems work or need work.

[OLYLEN]

Full fluid change ALL systems includes brakes and transmission. New air cleaners Gen and main motor and new fuel filter.Flush and sanitize water system and check gray and black tank dump valves. Check all propane systems. New house batteries. Personally and being fugal-cheap I would have the tires replaced they are near 7 years old and sitting is more damage than driving.

LEN

[TyroneandGladys]

DrewE wrote:

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.

Per Tire Tech website
Don't store a vehicle with weight on its tires for extended periods of time. Long-term inactivity is more harmful to tires than weekly drives that flex the tires and help maintain oil dispersion within the rubber compounds.

[Tom_M1]

Since the battery was dead, the engine may run rough because the engine computer has to go through a re-calibrate cycle to adjust the parameters. Drive it around a while at different speeds and let it shift through the gears a few times.

[beachball42]

@DiskDoctr it's a 2008 Four Winds Chateau Sport. We bought it in 2009 and used it a lot the first two years. In 2012 I had put new shocks and tires on it anticipating more use, then I had a job change so that put a dent in things. The next summer my daughters activities really took off and prevented us from using.

Before I fired it up I did look through the engine compartment to see if I could see any nests or debris but didn't find anything.

I watched it closely the first day I started it back up and no warning lights or anything came on. The temp seemed normal after running for about 20 minutes and the same again when I ran it yesterday.

On the tires, they were covered by the RV cover I had on it so they really didn't have any exposure to the sun and at most times, there were other units on either side of me to also help block the sun. If you looked at the tires right now, the sidewalls show no sign of fading or cracking. The old tires I took off were in worse shape. Still not sure I trust them due to sitting and age despite the looks.

We wouldn't be really using it until April at the earliest so was trying to at least have it running so I could bring it home a few times on weekends to start cleaning it up and get all the interior stuff checked out.

[TyroneandGladys]

We had great luck on a vehicle that had sat for while and was running rough when started back up and the check engine light came on. Filled it up with high octane and put a bottle of Techron in it and drove it about 30 minutes. Next day still running rough but better drove it again for 30 minutes and the third day it was running smooth and the light was off.

[DrewE]

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]

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]

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]

X2 on draining gas tank.