What to start when parked on RV site Florida 6 months

[Renden]

My first long trip with the DSDP - Florida - same RV Resort for the winter

Do start the Gen once a month ?
Do I start the Diesel every 3-4 weeks, idle, how long ?
Do I move it around once in a while ?

Thanks for the help

[RickO]

I think you'll get a wide range of opinions on this but about once per month I will turn off shore power and let the genny power the coach under heavy load (a/c running) for about an hour. At the same time I will start the diesel and let it run on fast idle until it reaches 180*F. If I'm staying somewhere for 3 months or less I don't bother driving the coach.

Rick

[GaryKD]

Hi Renden,
If you call Cummins and Spartan, this is what they will tell you.

1. Leave the engine alone. Let it sleep. If you start the engine and do not get it up to full operating temp, you do much more harm than good. Full operating temp is from the engine to the tail pipe. Contaminates in the oil and moisture in the engine need to be completely taken care of. Only getting the engine up to full operating temp does this.

2. Let the coach sit. For the same reason as #1. There is nothing, in the chassis, that needs to be kept lubricated, for the time period you are referring to.

3. Run the generator once a month, for about 1 hour, at about 1/2 load. This will get the engine parts up to full operating temp. Also, it will allow the parts that produce electricity to maintain their readiness to make electricity. Without use, over time, these parts can loose their ability to make electricity if not exercised. For me, if not used, I run the generator once every other month.

Since 1978 I have had no generator, engine or chassis problems associated with lack of use.

[siggyd]

GaryKD is correct,this is exactly what I have been doing.
Siggy

[Renden]

Thanks Gary - sounds good

Appreciate your input as always - Ren

[Route 66]

I'm with Gary. Run gen only.

[jdocter7]

We're in the same, er, boat! Didn't I read that we should go for a spin monthly for the sake of the tires? Isn't sitting on concrete bad for them?

[goldwingerx2]

Ours is a gas but I park and never start it. I do put a Battery Tender on the Ford battery, run the gen on the first of every month. I also lube the leveling jacks every other month. Just take a rag with some trany fluid on it and wipe them down. Enjoy your winter!!

[Renden]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdocter7 We're in the same, er, boat! Didn't I read that we should go for a spin monthly for the sake of the tires? Isn't sitting on concrete bad for them?

I am not on concrete - I have nice carpets in between the tires and concrete slab

[TXiceman]

Run the generator for about an hour every 4 weeks under at least 50% load. Right before you park it, top off the diesel tank and add a fuel stabilizer. Park it and let the main engine alone. If you want to run the main engine, take the coach out for a minimum of a 30 minute drive on the road. Idling will not get the entire engine and exhaust up to temperature enough to drive the moisture out of the oil.

Parking the tires on carpet???? The carpet will hold water.

It is also a good idea to run the slide in and back our monthly.

Ken

[DutchStar38]

Each month, as a minimum, I take the RV out for an hour drive with the genny running under load, both A/C's running. When I park I have the levelers down far enough to relieve most of the load on the tires. I plug in on the weekend for charging. I also check the batteries water level each month. The battery STORE/USE switch is in STORE when not plugged in.

[GaryKD]

Hi jdocter7,
You are correct. Concrete is bad for the tires. The quick cheap solution is to get the thin plastic cutting boards at Wally World. Let the tires sit on them.

[read & learn]

Should you shut inverter off if you are hooked up to shore power for that amount of time or leave it on?

[GaryKD]

Hi read & learn,
Inverter on or off is personal preference. I leave my inverter on whenever the coach is being used. There are two reasons for this:

1. CG power is a lot like CG WIFI, there are too many times when power glitches hit the coach. With the inverter on, none of the appliances connected to the inverter need to be reset or restarted.

2. For appliances that have solid state parts, the most difficult thing they do is power up from being turned off. Leaving the inverter on, minimizes how often it must power up.