Leaving Holiday Rambler stored

[georgebonord]

We have a 2003 HR Vacationer 34' on a Workhorse chassis. This is the 4th year it will remain stored in the barn. I do start the generator and the Workhorse 8.1 motor monthly.


The gas tank has approximately 50 gallons of gasoline in it. The fuel was treated with a 2 year Sta Bil formulation 2 years ago approx.



We are not going to use it because of the high fuel prices. I think it's advisable to drain the fuel tank to prevent fuel damage to the generator's carburetor and the 8.1's fuel injection system.


What is the best way to drain the tank? Can I siphon the fuel? Did HR install fuel anti-theft devices in the filler tube? Suggestions please! After draining tank, I plan on running both the generator and 8.1 Workhorse dry of fuel.

[Isaac-1]

Be aware it is not just the engine that is prone to issues from prolonged storage, we only put about 100 miles on our coach in 2020, never driving it more than 15 miles in a day, thanks to Covid, and a Cat 3 hurricane with 130 mph winds going over our house, then the first time I drove it further in 2021 (30 miles round trip to buy new tires) one of the brake calipers seized and got hot just was I was getting back to the storage shed.

[Winemaker2]

Agree completely... long term storage with no use is not good for a lot of reasons. Just my opinion and you need to decide...
If it is now fuel $ stopping you from using it even closer to home, you should consider selling it and reconsider replacing it if / when fuel returns to your comfort level.
High fuel prices won't last forever but likewise they will likely never return to our recent past.
If it doesn't fit your budget now it may never fit in the future plus value and ability to sell will decline significantly with long term storage.

[AKIQPilot]

Yes there are anti syphon devices in the Workhorse fuel tank. They are actually a flapper that prevents massive leakage if the coach goes on its side but they prevent syphoning too.

Put a few cans of seafoam in the tank, 3 at least. Start and run the engine for 15 minutes then the generator for about the same time. If it were mine I wouldnt start either again until you were ready to drive it. Without driving the coach you will never get the exhaust system warm enough to blow the condensate out of the mufflers. This will cause the exhaust system to rot from the inside.

I have 2 Workhorse chassis coaches. I use one from Oct to May and the other from May to October. When not in use both coaches are in storage for 6 months at a time. Ive been doing this for 15 years with our Suncruiser. Never once start the engine or generator while in storage. My coaches and generators run perfect and start instantly when I push the button.

Starting the engine and not driving the coach is a mistake IMO. For the dry climates where I live there is no reason to “Exercise” the generator.

[edgewant]

Fog the motor like is done with a boat put up for storage.

[edgray]

Originally Posted by AKIQPilot

……

Put a few cans of seafoam in the tank, 3 at least. Start and run the engine for 15 minutes then the generator for about the same time. If it were mine I wouldnt start either again until you were ready to drive it. Without driving the coach you will never get the exhaust system warm enough to blow the condensate out of the mufflers. This will cause the exhaust system to rot from the inside.

I have 2 Workhorse chassis coaches.

Starting the engine and not driving the coach is a mistake IMO. For the dry climates where I live there is no reason to “Exercise” the generator.

George: all of the above is very good advice , especially about not starting the 8.1l motor unless you can drive it.

I believe the Genset requires monthly running at half load for 30 minutes to “dry out” the generator windings, and the fuel treatments won’t harm the genset motor. Don’t drain the tank, use it to run the genset monthly. Ed

[triplewide]

A lot of good advice here. I would use my coach if at all possible, and it may not be in your case. I would go to a local campsite for a few days every three months. Stay within 100 miles each way to keep fuel costs down. This will help keep all of your systems working.

[Winemaker2]

If stored for extended periods with fuel. & treatment I would certainly fill with non- ethanol + treatment before storage

[Ray,IN]

Originally Posted by AKIQPilot

Yes there are anti syphon devices in the Workhorse fuel tank. They are actually a flapper that prevents massive leakage if the coach goes on its side but they prevent syphoning too.

Put a few cans of seafoam in the tank, 3 at least. Start and run the engine for 15 minutes then the generator for about the same time. If it were mine I wouldnt start either again until you were ready to drive it. Without driving the coach you will never get the exhaust system warm enough to blow the condensate out of the mufflers. This will cause the exhaust system to rot from the inside.

I have 2 Workhorse chassis coaches. I use one from Oct to May and the other from May to October. When not in use both coaches are in storage for 6 months at a time. Ive been doing this for 15 years with our Suncruiser. Never once start the engine or generator while in storage. My coaches and generators run perfect and start instantly when I push the button.

Starting the engine and not driving the coach is a mistake IMO. For the dry climates where I live there is no reason to “Exercise” the generator.

I would drive the MH around for 15 minutes or so to mix the seafoam in with the gas then top off the tank and run genset on the way home to insure treated gas is through the genset. Then do as you recommended.

[georgebonord]

Originally Posted by triplewide

A lot of good advice here. I would use my coach if at all possible, and it may not be in your case. I would go to a local campsite for a few days every three months. Stay within 100 miles each way to keep fuel costs down. This will help keep all of your systems working.

Good advice, but I don't know of any campgrounds w/in 100 miles I'd waste my time and money going to. The few good ones are booked up. I'm caught in a catch 22 situation.

[georgebonord]

Originally Posted by Winemaker2

Agree completely... long term storage with no use is not good for a lot of reasons. Just my opinion and you need to decide...
If it is now fuel $ stopping you from using it even closer to home, you should consider selling it and reconsider replacing it if / when fuel returns to your comfort level.
High fuel prices won't last forever but likewise they will likely never return to our recent past.
If it doesn't fit your budget now it may never fit in the future plus value and ability to sell will decline significantly with long term storage.

Well, it's going to stay where it's parked. I have no intention of using it considering the high cost of fuel. It's priorities. we do intend to sell it when the cost of fuel returns to "reasonable, normal" levels. The decent parks close to home are all booked up for the remainder of the year. What's left is yuck that's not worth staying in much less spending money.

this thing has been my worst purchase!! I regret ever buying it!! Yes, I have lost interest in it because of constant problems and no available spots to take it to. To me the experience involves spontaneity. Having to make a reservation a year out requires planning - lots of it. I don't know what I will be doing next month so how can I plan a year out? Not me.

So, I'm still going to drain the tank since it probably will be parked another 2 years. The approach I use of draining all my small INTERNAL COMBUSTION engines works each year for me. This is the same principle! So, I'm going to continue doing what works for me.


This thread was started requesting how to drain the tank. Siphon? Use fuel line & internal fuel pump? Anything else is not relevant. Your comments are interesting read, but not pertinent for my situation. This IS LONG TERM STORAGE! We don't plan on taking it anywhere!! And the price my wife wants to ask is so unrealistic, it will never sell.

[Tha_Rooster]

Originally Posted by georgebonord

We have a 2003 HR Vacationer 34' on a Workhorse chassis. This is the 4th year it will remain stored in the barn. I do start the generator and the Workhorse 8.1 motor monthly.


The gas tank has approximately 50 gallons of gasoline in it. The fuel was treated with a 2 year Sta Bil formulation 2 years ago approx.



We are not going to use it because of the high fuel prices. I think it's advisable to drain the fuel tank to prevent fuel damage to the generator's carburetor and the 8.1's fuel injection system.


What is the best way to drain the tank? Can I siphon the fuel? Did HR install fuel anti-theft devices in the filler tube? Suggestions please! After draining tank, I plan on running both the generator and 8.1 Workhorse dry of fuel.

My best advise is to use it on short trips. It would be better to drive around town than let it sit there.

[edgray]

Originally Posted by georgebonord

Well, it's going to stay where it's parked. I have no intention of using it considering the high cost of fuel. It's priorities. we do intend to sell it when the cost of fuel returns to "reasonable, normal" levels. The decent parks close to home are all booked up for the remainder of the year. What's left is yuck that's not worth staying in much less spending money.

this thing has been my worst purchase!! I regret ever buying it!! Yes, I have lost interest in it because of constant problems and no available spots to take it to. To me the experience involves spontaneity. Having to make a reservation a year out requires planning - lots of it. I don't know what I will be doing next month so how can I plan a year out? Not me.

So, I'm still going to drain the tank since it probably will be parked another 2 years. The approach I use of draining all my small INTERNAL COMBUSTION engines works each year for me. This is the same principle! So, I'm going to continue doing what works for me.


This thread was started requesting how to drain the tank. Siphon? Use fuel line & internal fuel pump? Anything else is not relevant. Your comments are interesting read, but not pertinent for my situation. This IS LONG TERM STORAGE! We don't plan on taking it anywhere!! And the price my wife wants to ask is so unrealistic, it will never sell.

Hi again, George I completely understand your frustration and I remember all the crap you've had to work thru with this RV.

HOWEVER, if I may speak bluntly, you are making a big mistake by not at least trying to sell it NOW, because used RV prices will never be better than they are right. Many ads all over the internet from dealers wanting to buy. If you consider you don't know what prices may be a year or two from now, the cost of ownership (ins premiums, storage, etc.) and the potential for depreciation to make it worth less 2 years from now, as opposed to today's "high demand" prices (even from dealers who will want to offer less than you can sell it for yourself) situation, I think you are wrong to think selling a coach that has been parked for 2 years sometime in the future will be the better solution to your obvious frustration.

Whatever you decide, I wish you good luck and want to remind you it costs nothing to place an ad here in the classified section of iRV2.com

[triplewide]

X2 what he said (edgray)


Time is not an RV owners friend.