Here'n'There
Texas
Senior Member
Joined: 10/09/2008
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
 Offline
|
DW and I are full timers but have been invited to spend a month at my Sister's lake house - they will be snow birding so the house will be ours.
We've never left our 5th wheel alone for a month and was wondering what preparation there are...
I don't have to worry about temperatures below freezing so winterizing isn't necessary.
The trailer will be parked in the driveway but won't have access to a 15amp circuit. So I plan to "shut" the battery off (I have a switch I can throw for that). Yes.. we will be emptying the fridge / freezer out.
What about the tanks? The gray and black tanks will be mostly empty. Can I leave them "MOSTLY" empty?
What am I forgetting? Knowing me... there must be something else.
Thanks and we'll see ya.....
Here'n'There
Dodge Ram 3500 Quad Cab Long Bed Diesel Dually
Carri-Lite 36SBQ 5th Wheel
On the road with Here'n'There
|
Eycom
Fl to NY
Senior Member
Joined: 09/12/2004
View Profile
|
I'm a 2/3 timer... LOL. Occasionally spend 2 - 4 weeks in a sticks & bricks. Weather aside, my holding tanks do fine. Sometimes they have a little contents, sometimes not. I never let them dry out, though.
F-350 PSD
Lance 1121
|
skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
Senior Member
Joined: 12/17/2003
View Profile
|
It's NEVER a good idea to leave storage or holding tank completely empty. Basically though if you're only leaving for a month there isn't much you'd need to do. MOST WEEKEND RVers leave their trailers sit for that long OFTEN without doing much to them. Just make CERTAIN there is no drain on your batteries and the isolater switch SHOULD do the job but if you're not CERTAIN how it's wired, I'd remove a negative lead from the battery so you KNOW it'll still be fully charged when you return.
Good luck / Skip
2004 F-250 SCREW Long Bed (new)
OR 2004 F-150 HD (85,000 towing miles)
Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
We have enough YOUTH...how about a fountain of SMART
|
hotbyte
Barnesville GA
Senior Member
Joined: 08/31/2004
View Profile
|
Make sure fridge is empty and shut-off propane???
Our Web Albums Temporary Web Albums
2006 Yellowstone SE, 1998 Dodge Durango SLT 5.2L and 2002 Glastron GX205
|
MNtundraRet
Bloomington, MN
Senior Member
Joined: 12/06/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
You should check the batteries at least once a month to make sure they have an adequate charge. Recharge if they get down to 12.2 volts. If you have a long extension cord you should be able to reach an outlet in the garage, or home, to allow charging for 8 hours, or so. Also; wipe the refrigerator clean and leave the doors partialy open to prevent mildow from forming while stored.
Mark
Mark & Jan "Old age & treachery win over youth & enthusiasm"
2003 Fleetwood Jamboree 29
|
|
|
denisondc
Alexandria, VA USA
Senior Member
Joined: 02/10/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
I would advise leaving the door of the fridge open an inch after it is shut off. It will prevent mildew or odor build up. If your fridge is the RV type (absorption, not a compressor) you should thoroughly dry it out before storage, so the inside cooling coils wont corrode. I leave a light bulb in it overnight - but still with the door open an inch.
72 Winnebago D22T
|
Wally Walleye
Shohola Pa
Full Member
Joined: 11/29/2005
View Profile
|
Empty your fresh water tank. Any water left sitting for a month is not safe. You may want to sanatize it with bleach then rinse well before you start out after a month of sitting. Check for any opening around pipes and wire entry. Steel wool to seal the holes will help keep out any little hitch hiker criters want to stay warm for the cooler weather.
|
Here'n'There
Texas
Senior Member
Joined: 10/09/2008
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
Oh yeah... saw a few things I wouldn't have thought of....
* TURN THE PROPANE OFF!
* DRY OUT FRIDGE / PROP DOOR OPEN!
* DISCONNECT THE NEG LEAD ON THE BATTERY!
* LEAVE A BIT OF LIQUID IN BOTH TANKS - MAYBE ADD A BIT OF ANTIFREEZE JUST TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE
* DRAIN FRESH WATER HOLDING TANK
Come to think of it...I have a written checklist for everything else.. now I'll write one for "Leaving the trailer for a month"!
Thanks all and we'll see ya.....................
|
John&Joey
Northern MN
(Baby it's cold outside)
Senior Member
Joined: 05/20/2007
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
|
You also now have the opportunity to pour some all natural(non caustic) drain trap cleaner into the shower drain. About a week before going back on the road give it a try.
|
