Community Forums

Purplefans & Harvey · 10-24-2010, 10:38 PM

Would the jacks get rusted or anything in the winter weather if they are down? I plan on using the dryer sheets - great idea, and getting those smelly things and putting them by the drains. I think a previous thread had said store with slides in and jacks up. Oh I wish I didn't have to store it at all and could go year round!

Romeo · 10-24-2010, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purplefans & Harvey

Would the jacks get rusted or anything in the winter weather if they are down?

Mine have not rusted in the two winters that I had them extended, and worked just fine when I took it out of storage.

**NLOVNIT** · 10-24-2010, 11:36 PM

DH slathers Wolf's Head Red Grease on the extended jacks.

We've never had a problem with rust & they operate perfectly after 6 months of winter slumber.

Lori-

"007" · 10-25-2010, 02:57 AM

I found that wire mouse traps with peanut butter will take care of any mice.
Have tried everything else without much luck.
Place them under cabinets, behind fridge, Gen cavity, compartments, even in engine area they do like wiring it seems.
Had to dispose of 12 mice one winter.

GaryKD · 10-25-2010, 06:10 AM

Hi radams,
I just saw your question, sorry about not answering sooner.

All gas/diesel engines need to be thoroughly up to running temperature or premature wear and tear may result. The oil temp is what is most important. Getting the engine up to operating allows contaminants to be suspended in the oil and carried to the oil filter and the oil pan. It also allows moisture that is present, in an engine that is idle, to be burned off and out the exhaust. This applies to the exhaust system as well as the engine.

The generator has another requirement that the parts that generate electricity need to do just that for about one hour at 1/2 load to maintain their ability to perform.

All this means the engine must be driven to get all the parts and oil up to operating temp. The generator could be run for one hour at 1/2 load.

JMonroe · 10-25-2010, 07:07 AM

Gary is right about not starting the engines over the winter. You'll do far more damage than good.

As for the dryer sheets, we've had critters make nests out of them. I'm going back to moth balls in the basement areas and I'm trying something called "Fresh Cab" in the 'house'. I don't like the idea of having to slog through the snow every day to check traps. I'd just as soon keep them out in the first place.

radams · 10-25-2010, 07:55 AM

Thank you for the response Gary, I understand much better now. I have been guilty in the past of starting everything up but I'm sure I didn't exercise it enough to accomplish what I wanted. Probably did more harm than good. Now I know better, thanks to you.

smokeater75 · 10-25-2010, 08:16 AM

Hi guy, we are in Winnipeg and have the same problem. We leave for Palm Springs CA. in Feb. the morning we left the temperature was -43, I didn't want to have any problems so I tried to do everything I could to make sure when we needed to leave we could. I have synthetic oil in the 8.8l cummins as well as my Onan gen. The tranny oil is also synthetic. I take the rv out every two weeks and I found that on the cold days it takes about 60 miles for the oil temp and tranny temp to reach operating temperatures. I have a portable furnace as well as a small space heater that I run of the gen. so it gets its exercise. I am able to plug the block heater in the day before I take it for a run. I installed a 50amp service at home and once a month I bring it home for a few days so the batteries can get a full charge. I also have nitrogen in my tires. It works for me as we had no problems when we left for Palm Springs. Just my two cents,Smokeater75

Romeo · 10-25-2010, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by "007"

I found that wire mouse traps with peanut butter will take care of any mice.

I havent noticed that I have any problems with rodents...yet. However, since it seems to be something that one should consider; what would be wrong with using a DCon type of poison in the basement or other areas where household pets could not get them?

"007" · 10-26-2010, 04:16 AM

Dcon will work but if you forget where you might has place packs may bounce around and spill.
The mouse traps make for a cleaner operation and if you forget where you place them they will trip if bounced and grab something.
Have never smelled a mouse they just dry up.
Most of the time they grab the mouse.

JMonroe · 10-26-2010, 10:09 AM

My concern about the DeCon is two fold. One, the critters can curl up and die somewhere you can't get to them, but you sure can smell them. Second, we have pets.

Romeo · 10-26-2010, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by "007"

...if you forget where you place them they will trip if bounced and grab something.

Yea, like my toe when my foot is searching for my slipper in the dark!

Romeo · 10-26-2010, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMonroe

My concern about the DeCon is two fold. One, the critters can curl up and die somewhere you can't get to them, but you sure can smell them. Second, we have pets.

Well, my understanding of d-Con is that it makes the critters thirsty and when they go out to search for water they hemorrhage and die away from the poison location. I have used it in my shop and have never seen a dead mouse, but have had an empty d-Con container.

As far a dead mouse smelling... YES THEY SMELL when they die in a confined place.

When I was in grade school, we lived in an old house that my dad remodeled. Unfortunitely, there must have been some holes that mice could get into and into the walls. They must have built a nest in the second floor outside wall. On a somewhat regular basis, in the summer, we would start smelling a dead mouse smell that increased in intensity for about a week or two. I remember all the AirWick bottles placed around my sisters bedroom in an attempt to eliminate the smell. It never did, and I think it made it worse to smell sickeningly sweet, dead mouse...

We never did figure out how to get at the nest area... but eventually built a new house and let the new owner worry about dead mice.

CJ7ole · 11-28-2010, 05:58 AM

I considered storing it up on the jacks, but after seeing a MH with rusted cylinders and thinking about having the jack system under full pressure (over 1000 psi) for months at a time, I leave mine on the ground. I wouldn't grease the cylinders as it could affect the seals. Most I would put on them is ATF.