How do you deal with storage?

[rough road]

During the off season is your rv under cover-(I love the way that one guy raised an inexpensive fabric shelter for his coach,) covered with a baggie or do you simply let it deal with winter (?) on its own.

And, do you change oil before the dark season, start it up every now and again or take it for a short ride and 'pretend'?

[WeatherTodd]

mines under an awning but I dont have a winter season.
You should NOT start the coach if youre not going to drive it. And you should have fresh oil in it prior to storage.
If you cant charge the batteries in the coach during storage... remove them and
put them on a trickle charger.
Any coverage you get over the roof is better for the roof/trim life.
Indoor storage is preferred.

[golden]

Mine is stored outdoors for eight months every year (actually for an entire year because I just go once place in the summer and stay there)and every month I exercise it. Oil is changed about a month before I leave for the summer. In other words, I DON'T change it when I come back home. Since I don't have electricity available in storage, my batteries aren't on a trickle charger. However, since I have a small solar panel for my house batteries, I do use a Battery Minder for my chassis battery.

Since my answers are obviously different than the one above me and may be different from those who follow, you will see the answers can be all over the board. It also depends on where you are, the availability of storage services, cost, etc. If you maintain your RV properly it will last that much longer. Ideally, storing it indoors and using it at least once a month would be ideal.

[sdennislee]

Mine is stored at home. This will be the last year for the cover as we are building a garage to house the MH. I change the oil before storage to remove and possible contaminants and fill the fuel tank to prevent condensation in the tank. I blow the lines out with air and use RV antifreeze in the drains and to protect the tank valves. Last year for this as well as the garage will be heated.

I like the cover to prevent ice formation around roof seals. Haven't covered yet this year only winterized as we are heading out again at the end of the month. WIll cover when we get back in mid February.

[rough road]

Perhaps someone with mechanical expertise will comment on starting on a regular basis but not taking the coach for a drive-I have been told that with fuel injected engines this is not an issue but....

Also I would be interested in hearing why, if the coach can be easily removed from cover and if the roads are clear, one would NOT take out the coach for a spin to flash off anything in the oil and to give the transmission and rear end some more oil on the working pieces.

Just how much oil remains on bearing surfaces after a lengthy period of storage and does bringing the engine up to near opeating temps by idling offer net benefits or liabilites?

Ditto this for the genset also.