Winter Storage

[soundsuperio]

Placing the rig into winter storage on 10/30 in Northern Indiana and want to make sure I am not missing anything that needs to be done or doing something wrong.

The coach is a 2011 Ventana on a Spartan chassis.

My plan is to winterize the coach, fill the fuel tank, park it in an unheated metal building with a cement floor, plug it into 110 volt/15 amp electric ( it may be 20 amp but not sure until I look at the service panel), turn off main propane valve and walk away until the end of April.

I am hoping this will preserve both the coach and chassis batteries.

Undecided whether to put plywood under tires or not. I know the arguments both ways but cannot decide.

Do I need to use a diesel fuel stabilizer?

Thanks for any input.

Steve

[mricet1005]

At Camp Freightliner they recommend using Sta-Bil Diesel as stabilizer. Also recommended putting barrier under tires. I bought cheap plastic cutting boards to put under each tire. Also, don't forget to check water levels in the batteries.

[cvbdsl]

If you have access during the winter be sure to check the batteries with a meter, I thought my charging system (while plugged into 30 amp) was working but it cost me $300 in the spring when the batteries discharged and froze. (No, never checked them from Nov to Mar) I now use the Amp-l Start and it seems to be working.

Check them every couple of weeks if possible and if stable you should be good for the winter.

P.S. check the water levels in the batteries before storing as well.

Chris

["007"]

If you have means to keep your batteries charged keep your BCO switch on at all times so Bird System can monitor both battery banks and keep them charged. Link found in QT's # 3.
You need to check water levels while you run Gen and AC's periodically.
Use something between your tires and surface they are set under my tires, last 13 years by doing this and properly inflated.

[JMonroe]

You didn't mention anything about winterizing the plumbing system, a must.

I agree about the sta-bil, there is one made specifically for diesel.

If it's plugged in you shouldn't need to isolate the batteries but if they are the flooded type you should check on them, perhaps after the 1st 30 days, perhaps sooner, to make sure they are not loosing water or top them off if they are.

I'd also suggest some kind or rodent repellant. For the basement compartments nothing will beat moth balls. I used to buy a box of those and a package of women's shear "socks" - you know the ones they'll wear under slacks so it looks like they have nylons on, but they're only as high as socks. Put half a dozen or so of the moth balls in each, tie them off and distribute throughout the basement, perhaps on top of the generator and a few in the engine compartment.

You don't want to use the mothballs in the "house". For the house I'd recommend a product called "Cab Fresh". This was originally designed to keep critters out of farm equipment that would sit unused for months at a time and it has a pleasant smell. You can buy it on-line or in one of the farm supply stores, such as Tractor Supply, Fleet Farm or Farm and Fleet.

Lastly, keep saving your pesos toward retirement. The best way to "winterize" is driving it south for the winter.

[roadtraveler]

Originally Posted by mricet1005

At Camp Freightliner they recommend using Sta-Bil Diesel as stabilizer. Also recommended putting barrier under tires. I bought cheap plastic cutting boards to put under each tire. Also, don't forget to check water levels in the batteries.

Why do you need wood or plastic under each tire? Mine has always been on concrete. Does that hurt something?