Parrothead Mike
SW Michigan
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Joined: 09/25/2002
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Planning a February trip south, most likely the RGV. Leaving from SW Michigan. While I'd like to get out of the snow belt areas without dealing with snowing conditions it's quite possible that we could hit something, be it icy or snow-wet roads. What do some of you winter travelers do about getting the road salt/sand/chemicals off your RV once you are finally out of it?
Also, we'd like to take our bicycles along and have a rack that hangs from the rear ladder. Are there any suggestions for keeping them from accumulating road salt?
Maybe we'll try to go down earlier in the future so we don't have to deal with snow, but until then I'd appreciate any help from those that don't go down until the snow is in the air. Thanks.
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SuperDutyFiver
Long Valley, NJ, USA
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My fivers frame has a ton of rust on it from Florida runs-and it's dug in pretty well...no matter how nice it is out you're likely to catch some road spray some place that gets on everything-we've been unfortunate and driven thru some terrible weather. Other than power washing(or having the rig undercoated every fall!) I'm not sure what the solution is-I'll watch here closely to see ideas! I think at least rinsing the frame in Fl wil help for sure-my problem is getting home and it being the middle of winter and not being practical to wash the trailer til spring.
I've heard that the rodent repellant oil that can be applied to your frame will really offset road spray.
As far as the bikes I would spray the heck out of all exposed metal with silicone spray right before you get ready to head south-and then be sure to wash them well when you get there.
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skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
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Just wash everything once you reach Oklahoma. These type of chemicals do not react immediately so no harm will be done.
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GRuss
PA
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See if you can find a semi truck wash bay. That is what my father the snow bird does. think It cost him about $100 to have the whole truck and 42' 5er washed.
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pawatt
Brainerd MN / Mission TX
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Carry the bikes inside the 5er?
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mguay
Northern NH
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Great question Parrothead Mike! We are headed to AZ at the end of Jan for a month and I was wondering the same thing.
Get it undercoated? Get a gal of Rustoleum?
My biggest concern is when I get back at the end of Feb. I will probably winterize in route and then the day after we get back, the 5er will go right into storage.
The temps at that time of year for me avg 0-10 deg so washing is out of the question.
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ronfisherman
SE Michigan
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We have left home in December, January and February. More often than not we have hit salt on the road. We continue until weather is warm enough to get a good truck wash. Or hope for rain to clean off the bottom of RV. Saw another suggestion of pulling a lawn sprinkler under bottom of RV to wash off salt. I have put a coating of Fluid Film on the underside of my MH. May not be a good product for a 5er. Leaves a kind of wet film on anything it touches.
Our bikes go in the toad until we get to a area where there is no chance of salt being spread on highway. Remove front tire and cover it so it will not put marks on anything.
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LakeEffect
Michigan
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We also leave for the RGV in mid-Feb. I store one bike in the basement storage of the 5er and the other in the back of the truck between the hitch and the cab under my folded up tonneu cover. I have to take the front wheels off. Once we hit good weather or get to the valley I then put them on the rear bike rack.
We will pull into a do it yourself truck wash and spray down the rig the best I can. Then wash and wax it once set up in the park.
Have a good trip.
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Fizz
Ottawa, Canada
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Six years of heading south in slush and salt.
Don't worry about it, give it a wash once you get there. If you drive through any rain that will do most of the work for you as far as getting the salt off. The bikes will be ok, wash and wipe them down once you get there.
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Parrothead Mike
SW Michigan
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Thanks for all those suggestions. I was kinda figuring the self-wash truck wash might be the best option, but wondered what others did because I know there are many that don't go down until after Christmas. The bikes will just have to get washed down after getting settled somewhere. I'll cover the seats though or take them off. The rain idea sounds simple enough, but, considering the lack of rain in Texas, how much rain can one expect in the winter?
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