Motorhome Winterization Help

[coldtrev]

We just pick up our 2016 Sunseeker 2650 on The Ford Chassis in Nov. We have done some winter camping in it but since we live in Canada it is around -25C outside so I think we are done until Aprilish. We have owned a Travel Trailer and have no problems with winterizing the RV components (water ect).

Some questions:

- Do I need to take the batteries out of the unit if I have a solar panel (and keep it free from snow)?

- Never had a generator before is there anything required with it? I know it was recently serviced.

- Anything I need to do with the chassis (It has only been 150KM since the last oil change)

- Should I be starting up both the chassis and the geny once in a while a letting them idol? I am reading mix things on letting your unit Idol in the winter.


The unit is being stored outside in my back yard so I have easy access

[bob caldwell]

If genny is gas, I'd use some gas stabilizer, and start once in a while

[coldtrev]

Genny is gas runs of the chassis gas tank

[bob caldwell]

Then I'd just start both once and a while.....
And use stabilizer...gas anymore doesn't keep as well as it used to...

[bob caldwell]

If it were mine, living in the cold that you see, I'd install a block heater and use it....easy for me to say as I'm in SUNNY Arizona right now..

[gmacklem]

I drive mine for 45 minutes to an hour once a month when stored. I run the genny while I drive it. And as others have mentioned, I keep fuel stabilizer in it. I also put a bucket of Damp Rid in it.

[n-e-d]

I pretty much followed gmacklem's routine last year. Mine was hooked to 20amp outlet thru the winter so I checked the battery water level monthly. This year I covered it after giving it a good run with generator running. Added sta-bil before the run to get it mixed good. If you check your Onan manual I think they like the generator to be run an hour at least once a month with a load. I usually plug in a small heater for the load. Since I just covered it I'll probably wait till the end of January before giving it a run. Congrats on your 2650, for us it's been perfect

[trdutch]

I do all that was mentioned above
(Stabilized non eth tank of fuel and run monthly,with a load)
In SC I just crank up the heat pump for the load and drive it 15-20 miles.
Especially if you keep it plugged in check that battery water level
The constant charging can cook your water level down
Every 100 hours on the gen I change its oil with the Onan oil



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[Fun4ME]

Another question on this thread... Same MH as coldtrev, except 2012, and bought Oct.2016. It has been winterized as above, but I have no way to "drive" it anywhere until spring.. Snowed in. Should I be starting it and letting it run till temp gauge shows normal, or should I just wait for the first trip. I have been running the gen every month, but not the Ford engine. Thanks

[RamblerGuy]

Others may disagree, but I would not run the chassis engine while parked. Even though you can get the coolant up to temperature, you won't get the oil up to temperature no matter how long you run it. Getting the oil hot and keeping it there for half an hour drives off moisture. Running parked just adds moisture to the oil.

Look at it this way. How many motorhomes are parked for months without being driven? Still, you seldom hear of engine problems.

Living in snow country you probably already know to take steps to prevent the batteries from freezing, either by keeping them charged or by storing them in a safe place. Running the generator once per month should keep them all charged, but check the chassis battery voltage to be sure it's being charged, too.

[Fun4ME]

Thinking about what you said, I pass several parking lots where MH are parked for the winter... I can't recall ever seeing them being run or moved for that matter, all winter long. Thanks for the advice..