What to do when RV has been idle for more than a year

Here's how I'd approach it:
1. Check the battery and recharge/replace as needed.
2. Top off any automotive fluids before starting.
3. Air up and inspect the tires.
4. Take it to a reputable place and have oil, filter, trans fluid, trans filter, fuel filter, brake fluid and power steering fluid changed. Condensation over time can contaminate these fluids.
5. Drain, fill, sanitize, drain and fill the fresh water tank and system.
6. Go to an RV park or other place with full hook ups and check out all the RV systems just as you would during a predelivery inspection. Pay close inspection to the roof, including all caulking and seals around vents and other roof penetrations.

Once everything checks out, hit the road and enjoy.

Jim

Brake fluid is very important!

Of course check your tires for the year they where manufactured. It will have a 4 digit number giving the week and year they where made. If over 7 years old, they might be more likely to have a blowout when driving over 60MPH. Yes I know the rules really well, but still drove my motorhome with some really old tires all the way from San Diego to Portland OR when the tires where about 11 years old. I kept it slow, at 55 to save gas.

Good luck,

Fred.

IF??? you put it away right? not much check fluids air in tires charge battery ,start her up.

I am assuming it is a gas engine at 33 feet. Start it up and run it. If it runs rough, add a fuel system cleaner such as SeaFoam. Make sure to run the genny with the fuel system cleaner as that will probably need it more than the engine fuel system.

midnightsadie wrote:
IF??? you put it away right? not much check fluids air in tires charge battery ,start her up.

BobR wrote:
I am assuming it is a gas engine at 33 feet. Start it up and run it. If it runs rough, add a fuel system cleaner such as SeaFoam. Make sure to run the genny with the fuel system cleaner as that will probably need it more than the engine fuel system.

Would agree -

12 months is really not that long - Fuel treat is critical IMHO,- but everything else should be fine.

I once bought a couple of 1961 B-61 Mack's - when they parked them they had a load of topsoil in the dump bed - we had to use a chainsaw to cut down the 6" tree growing in the back - added batteries, and air to the tires - drained fuel and started it up and drove it to the job - Had been parked for over 10 years, sold it 10 years later never missed a day.

While it may have been better to run it, it will likely not be an issue.

BOL,

I would swap out the oil, no need to do the filter unless you wanted too. What you don't want is water in the oil on startup. That will take out the lower bearings.

Load it up and go somewhere

Busskipper wrote:


Would agree -

12 months is really not that long - Fuel treat is critical IMHO,- but everything else should be fine.

I once bought a couple of 1961 B-61 Mack's - when they parked them they had a load of topsoil in the dump bed - we had to use a chainsaw to cut down the 6" tree growing in the back - added batteries, and air to the tires - drained fuel and started it up and drove it to the job - Had been parked for over 10 years, sold it 10 years later never missed a day.

While it may have been better to run it, it will likely not be an issue.

BOL,

Absolutely. There is not an iota of difference between a B model Mack and an Allegro.

I would think that if that is Allegro-specific question - it should be posted in Allegro-only forum.
TX has no moisture, unless you are close to water.
Inflate the tires, charge batteries and drive. Than you can worry about scheduled service.
That is what I have been doing on diesel pushers sitting for 7 or only 3 years.

For all of the "experts" what make you think this 33 foot Class A is a diesel :h

Condensation is where the water in the oil would come from. Dallas is a nice freeze/thaw latitude. For the price of 5 quarts of oil (leave filter on)you avoid $$$$$ lower end damage.