Results for "storage prep"

General Medium 1-2 days for initial setup 220 👍 1

RV Storage on Gravel: Preventing Weed and Moisture Issues

Nobody warned me that buying a house with RV storage meant inheriting the previous owner's 13-year-old weedy, muddy gravel disaster. While considering this location's storage options, I want to mitigate potential issues with weed growth and moisture retention under the RV.

I'm seeking advice on effective strategies for storing on a gravel surface that shows significant weed penetration and moisture retention. Initial ideas include pre-treatment herbicide application and installing a protective barrier, but I want input from experienced RV owners.

My primary concerns are preventing undercarriage damage and managing moisture/vegetation growth. I plan to spray weed killer beforehand and potentially lay down a weed barrier, pending facility approval. What techniques or materials do you recommend to protect my RV during storage? …more

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General Easy 30 min maintenance 136 👍 0

RV Slide-Out Maintenance: Complete Guide to Prevent Wear and Extend Lifespan

Before I even finish extending my 2018 Newmar 2702 slide-out, there's this grinding vibration that kicks in during the final positioning phase every single time. The motor works hardest during that last foot of travel when the slide settles into place.

This observation has me questioning optimal maintenance protocols for slide-out longevity. What are the most effective strategies for reducing mechanical wear on these systems? I'm particularly interested in understanding proper usage frequency, seal maintenance requirements, and whether partial extension during routine tasks like cleaning provides any protective benefits.

Looking for comprehensive guidance on preventive maintenance practices, lubrication schedules, and storage considerations that will maximize slide-out system lifespan while minimizing premature component failure. …more

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Engine Easy N/A 129 👍 0

Ford E-350 vs E-450 Chassis: RV Fuel Economy, Power & Weight Capacity

Last weekend I felt this awful engine strain and heard sluggish acceleration sounds while test-driving a 2017 Phoenix Cruiser #2351 with its E-350 chassis and V10 engine. I'll be doing extensive western touring through mountain and plains regions, which means substantial mountain grades and wind challenges. I'm comfortable driving slowly and want to understand two key things: 1) Will this E-350 chassis handle mountain grades without major issues, and 2) What's the real-world fuel consumption like? I plan to do an initial inspection this weekend, followed by a third-party mechanical review. I'm not overly concerned about fuel economy but want to understand the actual performance limitations. I'd appreciate insights from owners who have experience with similar touring conditions on an E-350 chassis. …more

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Best RV Refrigerators

4.3 (9,200 reviews)

Engine Medium 4-8 hours 103 👍 0

Fix Wasteful RV Kitchen Cabinets - Thick Bottom Boards

After hearing my RV dealer call these thick kitchen cabinet bottom boards "industry standard" while my mechanic buddy insists they're just wasteful space-stealers, I'm completely confused. I've been doing a complete remodel to maximize storage space, but I'm shocked at the poorly designed layout.

The cabinet bottom board is a ridiculous 2 inches thick - that's eating up 10% of my entire cabinet height! Even worse, the drawer cabinet only has about 4 inches of usable space on each side because of how the PEX water lines are routed. It's like they just threw those lines in there without any thought to space efficiency.

I keep hearing about how amazing modern RVs are, but this is just terrible design. Is there any way to actually fix these issues? Can I modify the cabinet bottoms to be thinner and reroute those PEX lines properly? I really need to reclaim this wasted space but I'm not sure where to start or if it's even possible to address both problems. …more

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Electrical Easy 10 min read 98 👍 0

RV Battery Disconnect Switch Guide: When to Use, What Loses Power & Staying Safe

Wondering if I can skip the $400 shop diagnosis for my electrical issues and just figure out this battery disconnect switch myself, even though I'm getting conflicting advice.

Specifically, I'm concerned about what happens to things like my LP gas detector, carbon monoxide alarm, and refrigerator when I disconnect the battery. Will I lose all my radio presets and clock settings? Are there certain situations where I absolutely shouldn't use the disconnect switch?

I want to use it for storage to prevent battery drain, but I'm also wondering about daily use scenarios. What are the best practices to avoid any problems or safety issues? I really don't want to mess anything up or put my family at risk. …more

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Appliances Easy 30-45 minutes 92 👍 0

How to Winterize RV Dishwasher and Washing Machine with Antifreeze - Complete Guide

During my first walkthrough of this RV I bought last month, I discovered the previous owner never properly winterized the dishwasher and washing machine. I've got a Fisher & Paykel dishwasher and a Contoure front loading washer that I absolutely cannot let freeze up.

I know I need to use RV antifreeze, but I'm honestly confused about the exact process. Do I just pour it in and run a cycle? How much do I use? I've read horror stories about people using the wrong type of antifreeze and ruining everything. I really need someone to walk me through the correct steps before I mess this up! …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 2-3 hours 91 👍 0

Stop RV Battery Drain During Storage - Expert Solutions

Planning to store my 2012 Winnebago Tour and there's clear signs of battery drain happening across all six house batteries and two chassis batteries. I'm religious about flipping both the chassis and house disconnect switches before putting her away for storage. Still go out monthly to fire up the generator and top off the batteries.

But here's the thing that's driving me nuts - even with those disconnect switches flipped, my batteries are still going dead! Sometimes I can't even get the engine started and have to hook up a trickle charger just to get things going again. What's the deal? I thought those disconnect switches were supposed to prevent this whole mess. Am I missing something obvious here, or is there more going on that I need to tackle? …more

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Engine Medium 2-4 hours 90 👍 0

Onan 4000 Generator Won't Start Without Choke: Code 14 Troubleshooting Guide

Halfway through another camping trip and trying to decide between babying my Onan 4000 with manual choke every startup or finally fixing this Code 14 nightmare. Let me try again:

Just found out that my 2013 Thor Class C's Onan 4000 generator won't cooperate after sitting since March, and I'm dealing with a nightmare. Been getting Code 14 errors and spent half the morning just trying to get it fired up.

The only way I can get it started is by manually messing with what I think is the choke linkage - otherwise it just won't go. Once I shut it off, same story - won't restart unless I physically manipulate that linkage again. Only has 240 hours on it and was serviced about 2 years ago.

I'm pretty sure the carburetor is gummed up from sitting, but what exactly does Code 14 mean? And more importantly, what do I need to clean to get that choke working automatically again? I really need to get this thing running properly before our next trip! …more

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Engine Easy Planning decision 87 👍 0

When to Replace RV Tires by Age: 6-7 Year Rule Even if They Look Good - Safety Guide

Every time I look at those 2017 motorhome tires I replaced last week, I keep wondering if I jumped the gun when they still looked perfect. I recently purchased it and it came with the original Michelin tires, which puts them at about 7-8 years old now based on the DOT date codes. The previous owner was meticulous about storage - the RV was kept in a climate-controlled garage for most of its life and only has about 27,000 miles on it.

Here's what's puzzling me: these tires look absolutely pristine. I've inspected them thoroughly and can't find any visible signs of aging like sidewall cracking, dry rot, or unusual wear patterns. The tread depth is still excellent, and they hold air pressure perfectly. However, I keep reading conflicting information about tire age versus condition. Some sources say rubber degrades internally even when stored properly, while others suggest that well-maintained tires can safely exceed the typical replacement timeline.

I'm planning some extended travel in the coming months and want to make the safest decision. Should I replace these 7-8 year old Michelin tires even though they appear to be in excellent condition, or is it safe to continue using them based on their visual inspection and low mileage? What do RV tire experts generally recommend for the age-based replacement timeline? …more

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Engine Easy 15 minutes 83 👍 0

2006 Fleetwood Tioga Fuel Shutoff Switch Location: Complete Guide

Tried everything to get my 2006 Fleetwood Tioga running after it started cutting out randomly yesterday, but can't even find the fuel shutoff switch. I think it might be related to the inertial fuel shutoff switch, but I honestly have no idea where to even start looking for it.

Could someone please help me understand where this switch is typically located on this model? I've heard it could be in a few different spots but I don't want to go tearing apart panels randomly. Any guidance on the most common locations would be really appreciated! …more

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Engine Medium 2-4 hours 83 👍 0

Ford F53 RV Fuel Pump Problems: Why They Fail & How to Fix Them Permanently

Got a neighbor with a 2007 Ford F53 motorhome that runs flawlessly while my 6.8L keeps burning through fuel pumps — what's his secret? The fuel pump has failed THREE times in just four years, and I'm scared there's something seriously wrong that's not being diagnosed properly. Each time the dealer just replaces the pump and says everything looks fine, but this can't be normal, right?

I'm starting to wonder if I'm doing something wrong with storage or if there's an electrical problem that's killing these pumps. The last thing I want is to get stranded somewhere dangerous because of another failure. Should I be worried about contaminated fuel? Could my storage practices be causing this? I really need to understand what's actually causing these repeated failures before I spend more money just replacing pumps that are going to fail again. …more

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Best RV Generators

4.6 (18,900 reviews)

Ac Refrigeration Easy 15 minutes 83 👍 0

RV House Refrigerator Storage: Should You Leave the Door Open?

According to the moisture buildup around my residential fridge door seals after just two weeks of storage, I'm clearly doing something wrong.

With my old propane fridge, I religiously propped that door open during storage like every RV manual commanded. But now that I've got this "house fridge" - do I treat it like a regular home refrigerator and keep it closed, or do I stick with my old RV habits and prop it open? I'm probably overthinking this, but the last thing I want is to open it up next season and get knocked over by some horrific smell that could wake the dead. What's the right move here for preventing mold and keeping things fresh during long-term storage? …more

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Propane Medium 4 hours 83 👍 0

Suburban SF-30 Furnace Replacement: Complete Unit vs Core Guide for RV Owners

Somewhere between our freezing mountain trip last month and now, my 2002 Born Free's SF-30 furnace died completely and I'm torn between replacing the core versus the whole unit. I believe it's a Suburban SF-30 model. I've been doing some research and see there are two options - I can buy a complete furnace replacement or just get a replacement core that supposedly slides into the existing SF-30 housing for about half the price.

I'm honestly not sure which route to go. The cost savings on the core is tempting, but I don't want to make the wrong choice and end up with more problems. As someone who's still learning about RV maintenance, would you recommend getting the complete unit or would the core replacement work just as well? Any guidance would be really appreciated! …more

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General Easy Varies by solution 81 👍 0

How to Fix Peeling RV Seat Upholstery: Repair Options & Costs

Last time I looked at my 2013 Georgetown 335DS front seats there's faux leather flaking off everywhere like the outer layer is just disintegrating. I've tried conditioning treatments but nothing seems to help.

I'm hoping this isn't going to be a huge expense, but I need to know my realistic options here. Should I expect any warranty coverage on something like this, or am I on my own? I've heard about seat covers, reupholstery, or maybe even replacing the whole seats, but I have no idea what any of this costs or what makes the most sense.

What's causing this deterioration in the first place, and what are people actually doing to fix it? I need real solutions with honest cost expectations - this RV is otherwise perfect and I don't want crumbling seats ruining the whole experience. …more

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Ac Refrigeration Easy 30 minutes 80 👍 0

How to Winterize RV Residential Fridge Water Filter: Remove vs Bypass

Before winterizing, my RV's residential fridge started making bizarre gurgling sounds from the water filter area that I've never heard before. I had my motorhome winterized professionally, but when I checked afterwards, I noticed they left the water filter in place instead of removing it or installing a bypass plug.

Is this the correct procedure, or should the filter have been removed? I'm worried about potential damage from antifreeze or freezing, but I don't want to second-guess the professionals if this is normal. What's the proper way to handle the water filter during winterization? …more

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