5th wheel full time ?'s

[dynoguy]

Possible long post warning.

So I have been motorhoming for a number of years and can get through most ordeals. However, my daughter and her boyfriend are embarking on a life journey that will put them full time in a 2011 37ft Montana 5th wheel trailer.

This past weekend we got the trailer parked for their next 8 month stay in Ogden Ut. They purchased this trailer about three months ago and has been stored since. Dealer they bought it from did them a little dirty in that the holding tanks were left 1/3 to clear full...
We did get them emptied flushed and treated. Now for questions.

1. When Parked this long, what is preferred method to care for the tires?

2. Do they leave black and grey tanks closed until say, half full then dump Or??

3. Hot water side has sulfur smell. I have read where this can be caused by a reaction from the annode and stagnant water bacteria. How do they get rid of it?

Thanks for any help. Any other full timer tips will be welcome...

[Old-Biscuit]

1. When Parked this long, what is preferred method to care for the tires?
Tire Covers to protect from sun.....maintain proper air pressure for tire load

2. Do they leave black and grey tanks closed until say, half full then dump Or??
Leave closed until Full/Near full. High volume/gravity flow moves stuff down and out when dumping

3. Hot water side has sulfur smell. I have read where this can be caused by a reaction from the annode and stagnant water bacteria. How do they get rid of it?
IF Suburban with Anode Rod.......OEM rod is Magnesium and can react to give off sulfur smell. Drain/flush and swap to an Aluminum Rod
If Atwood and NO anode rod.....drain/flush. Might have to do a Vinegar Soak

[twogypsies]

They're staying 8m in winter in Ogden, Utah?

It's going to be very cold and lots of snow so they need to be prepared for it. They'll spend a lot of money on propane for heat. If the park allows it they should arrange for a large commercial propane tank to be delivered to them.

If the windows are not dual pane they'll need to use insulation of some of them to keep in the heat; especially at night.

If the park allows it, skirting around the underside helps to keep the RV warm from the underside.

Pipes will freeze if not protected with insulation.

Don't leave out a dump hose or it will crack from the cold. Store it until needed.

Fill the fresh water tank and run off it & store the hose which will freeze.

If the RV gets cold inside at night, leave the piping cabinet doors ajar so pipes get some heat.

Do a Search on this site for many posts on "wintering in a RV"

Good luck to them since it's their first experience!

[Gary RVRoamer]

1. When Parked this long, what is preferred method to care for the tires?

Keep the tire pressure at the max load psi shown on the sidewall. Use tire covers to protect from UV where needed. The surface where the tire rests should be well-drained.

2. Do they leave black and grey tanks closed until say, half full then dump Or??

Black tank should be at least half full before dumping. Gray can be left open if desired, but best practice is to close it a day or two before dumping the black tank so as to have gray water to flush the waste line after.

3. Hot water side has sulfur smell. I have read where this can be caused by a reaction from the annode and stagnant water bacteria. How do they get rid of it?

Sulfur smell is hot water is nearly always caused by a harmless bacteria that thrives in hot water. This is independent of having an anode and occurs in heaters that don't have any anode at all (Atwood/Dometic heaters). The water system should be sanitized (treated with chlorine) to remove the bacteria.

There is also some possibility that the magnesium anode of a Suburban brand heater reacting with minerals in the water will cause an odor. A new anode and flushing the tank should clear it up, but it is likely to return as lng as the same water source is in use.