Seasonal maintenance on your rig

[IrishIroamed]

Hi Ladies -
Just wondering something, since I've just spent the last 2 1/2 days doing fall maintenance around the house (cutting bushes, raking leaves, putting on storm doors, etc), just curious if there are seasonal things you do to you rig if you full time besides the regular engine maintenace, like oil changes, etc. Guess the question also is, is living full time in your RV, more or less work than an S&B?
Thanks for the input.

[Liz]

Less work for sure! My RV gets a good wash and wax job at least once a year. Twice a year is even better, but doesn't always happen.

[LisaH]

Since I am new to owning a RV, I was wondering if I need to "winterize" the tanks after I take a last trip for the winter? It seems that even though it will only get to freezing about 2 times where I live, and will warm up during the day, it could still be a problem if the holding tank for fresh water were to freeze and expand. Right?? Anything else I should know??
Thanks,
Lisa

[Bethers]

Since I am new to owning a RV, I was wondering if I need to "winterize" the tanks after I take a last trip for the winter? It seems that even though it will only get to freezing about 2 times where I live, and will warm up during the day, it could still be a problem if the holding tank for fresh water were to freeze and expand. Right?? Anything else I should know??
Thanks,
Lisa

It's not the tank you really have to worry about - as I use mine in cold weather - but the LINES that you don't want to freeze. If you keep your rv near your house, and only have a couple times where you hit freezing, you shouldn't have any trouble. And to safeguard you could always go out and turn the heat on overnight on those nights (to the lowest possible setting) to make sure the lines don't burst. (And the only way your water holding tank could freeze and expand and really have a problem is if you have it full - as it's the water in it that will expand. If it's not full, there is room for that expansion.)

Since you're in CA - aren't you going to use the rig year round?

[monik7]

I'm here in sunny California. I don't plan on winterizing this year. Last year was my first winter with an RV and I got worried and decided to winterize when it got down to 30-32 for a couple nights. I don't think I'll do it so quickly this year. Being a real newbie last year, I didn't want to take a chance. While I'm still a relative newbie, I have a little more confidence now and won't be so quick to do it this year. It was good, however, to learn how to do it last year.
Sandi

[LisaH]

Thanks for the replies. I'll have to remember to not leave the holding fresh water tank less than full. Beth, I know it looks like I have my RV at home, but it's really stored at a friends house about 20 miles from me. I live in town. I made a deal with my friends that if I can store it there for free, they can use it for free a couple of weeks a year. They loved that deal. I'm sure they can turn on the heat for me if I need to. I'm glad I probably don't need to worry too much about cold weather.
I learned when I went to Pinecrest last summer that my whole neighborhood knew I was gone camping cause they saw me packing and leaving. A friend couldn't find me via phone, email, or text and got worried and called the Police. The police could look in my garage and see both cars so they rang the doorbell and didn't get an answer. Then, they started going to the neighbors and were told I went camping. That taught me a lesson that everyone knew I was out of town. Now, I'll just load my car in the garage, and go to my RV and leave from there.
Thanks!

[Bethers]

I'll have to remember to not leave the holding fresh water tank less than full

The exact opposite of this - you don't want the tank full when it's going to be really, really cold. You need to leave room for expansion.

I doubt very much you'll have anything to worry about - but you're right to learn about it.

Nice that people worried, and nice that your neighbors care - but yes, scary that everyone knows and who knows what/who they tell. But if the neighbors hadn't told the police you were gone, they might have broken into your house. If you are on good terms with one of them, you might want to let them know in advance, but ask that they not spread the word.

[LisaH]

Hi Beth,
Yeah, that's what I meant about the tank, I meant to say less than full so that it has expansion space. Having a senior moment. LOL
I had let some trusted neighbors across the street know, but I guess the police didn't ask them. They asked others. The funny thing is that I am a volunteer with the local Police Dept. So, they were extra worried about me. Now, I make sure I let anyone who might be looking for me know that I'm away. That same week, my friends who met me at Pinecrest had their house broken into an hour after they got to Pinecrest. They live in Modesto. Scary when you pack in front of your house and then take off. Might as well put a sign up that says "nobody is home".