Community Forums

lostinfla · 10-04-2014, 07:07 AM

Hello from sunny (rainy) Florida! My wife and I started out with a very small pull behind we called our "cramper" because we couldn't pass each other inside. Then graduated to a class C Jayco which was used and abused so it required a lot of work on my part to get it livable. Used it for around 6 years, then made the step up to a 14 Newmar Baystar 3103. Planning on using it next weekend on a short trip to test it out. We love the new coach, but I have a couple of questions for the seasoned here.
1. Is it detrimental to leave the coach on the leveling system in the back yard? (I have a 42' concrete pad that it sits on and it's plugged in to a 50 amp service 24/7) Didn't know if the pistons would have a problem being exposed for any length of time.
2. Is there a problem with leaving the slides out for long periods of time? (It has the over slide awnings)

I am also considering a full cover to protect the roof and paint from this unrelenting sun. Any and all observations are appreciated! Thanks, Jim.

John H... · 10-04-2014, 07:19 AM

Welcome to the forum. No reason to have jacks extended, especially on a concrete pad. Don't see any problem leaving slides out... Congrats on the new coach.....

bokobird · 10-04-2014, 07:25 AM

I leave my coach slides fully extended with jacks down so the coach is solid on the ground plus it requires a slight bit of leveling to be just right. It's that way between trips and I spray a little silicon on the jacks and wipe it off just prior to raising them. Keeps them sliding up nicely. I've not read of any detriment in leaving the coach this way for stretches of time.

DieselTech39 · 10-04-2014, 09:35 AM

Glad you're aboard. Congrats on the new rig. Enjoy your adventures and be safe.

myshaggydog · 10-04-2014, 10:02 AM

Welcome to the Forum and we hope you have many great camping adventures. I agree with what Carl stated in his reply. You might also want to cycle the levelers every so often - maybe once a month but clean the extended poles first. Best of luck.

Happy RV'ing

Skip426 · 10-04-2014, 10:11 AM

Welcome to iRV2.

I leave the levelers down, so the sat. finder will work, so I can have television when working on the coach , but always clean the shafts before retracting. Clean them anytime they're extended for more that a week.

**JohnRR** · 10-04-2014, 10:51 AM

Enjoy your new coach.

Dutch Star Don · 10-04-2014, 10:59 AM

I look at it differently. When I'm at home (coach parked alongside the house), I leave it plugged in, but everything else is closed and the jacks are up. I also cover the furniture with old bed sheets. I just don't like the unnecessary wear and tear on the jack shafts and the exposure to sun on the slide toppers. You also can get birds/bugs nesting under the toppers.

A day before a trip, I turn the sat on and let the DirecTV box catch up with updates and programming.

lostinfla · 10-04-2014, 11:31 AM

Thanks for all the welcomes and opinions! I am in a few other forums related to guitars, motorcycles, etc... and have found them to be a wealth of information. I see you have the same support system here, and I am grateful for all the help I can get. This is my first class A, and I appreciate ya'll helping a newbe.

Angler3041 · 10-04-2014, 04:07 PM

I'm with Don on the jacks up, slides in, and plugged in 24/7. Just makes sense that if those return springs are extended all the time it would shorten their life..at least weaken them.

lostinfla · 10-04-2014, 06:07 PM

I was thinking about the return springs also. I really don't think the coach will sit for more than a few weeks at a time before we use it again. Since the wife is still working, we only take short hops for a couple of days at a time, but we try to make it once a month or so.

wracinti · 10-04-2014, 06:37 PM

I think also jacks up and slides in until ready to go. I use corrosion X on jack slides, about every 4-6 cycles. I wipe them clean and apply!

MCJones · 10-04-2014, 06:38 PM

I like to keep my slides in during storage - the slide out awning will wear out fast enough. Concerning jacks, I just want to pass along a tip from a full timer friend. Whenever his jacks have been extended for an extended time, he wipes them down before bringing them up. I do it now with a little bit of jack fluid on a paper towel especially if I've been sitting on the outer banks with blowing sand all week.

Theberrys · 10-04-2014, 06:46 PM

If you couldn't do the things you asked about, then your coach wouldn't be useable for full timing. I'm pretty sure Newmar didn't build a coach like that unsuitable for full time use.
Dick