Newbie question#4: Winter storage

Wannabes · 12-01-2012, 07:55 PM

It appears that we will be storing our 2363 in an unheated pole barn with concrete floor over the winter. What's the best way to store it insofar as the tires are concerned: should we put something between the tires and the floor? What about tire pressure? Once again, any and all comments about winter storage are welcome!

pugman · 12-01-2012, 08:14 PM

I have my camper sitting on pressure treated wood but my camper sits on gravel. I don't know if it's worth it for you it wouldn't hurt if you did. I keep my air pressure at max all winter and move my camper just a little bit so I don't get flat spots on my tires. and keep tire cover on.

**Sunline Fan** · 12-02-2012, 12:02 AM

I'm basically in the same situation- unheated garage. It is just sitting on the concrete. Maybe not the best for it, but that's how it is. I do have the jacks down too, to kinda eliminate too much frame sag over time. The jacks are down on wood though, so the bottoms of the jacks don't rust.

I took the battery off and brought it home too, where it resides, heated, and on a battery tender.

Tires are at max sidewall pressure, which in my case is 65. No tire chocks or anything- it's a level pad, jacks are down, it's not going anywhere. (I think if it does, we have bigger problems!). I don't cover them inside either, really no light gets in there unless we open the doors, which is rare.

Trailer is fully winterized- blown out well, then antifreeze down all the traps, toilet (and some down in the tank), shower/faucet heads, and a little sucked into the water pump. Nothing is covered to speak of because it's inside. I do have a bunch of dryer sheets all over to deter things from nesting should they get inside the building.

Also have the LP bottles turned off.

Specifically what kind of building are you in? If the barn isn't sealed real well and has exposed rafters, you should strongly consider some sort of minimal cover. By this, I mean basically a big sheet of clear plastic. Drape it over the roof of the trailer, but don't tie it down. Because it isn't tied down, it should breath enough to prevent moisture from getting trapped and mold from forming, and you really shouldn't need to worry about it blowing off. Why? You will really thank yourself in the spring when the plastic sheet needs a good scrubbing from all the birds that flew in for some warmth over the winter and took a dump while hanging out on those rafters. Fortunately, I don't worry about that because we had some of the metal exterior siding put up as a ceiling, so nothing can sit up there. Didn't really plan it that way, but I imagine it helped.

On second thought, if the building isn't real air tight and can get drafty, you may want to consider some sort of minimal/loose string on all four corners to hold it. That way if a breeze does get in there, it won't blow off the trailer, but it won't be so tight that you have moisture problems.

jim44646 · 12-02-2012, 06:48 AM

You may also consider some sort of rodent control around the outside of building

PanamaRvers · 12-02-2012, 09:15 AM

I set my tires on untreated boards, but I store my trailer outside with a cover. I second, covering your tires.

**JohnB** · 12-02-2012, 09:53 AM

I agree totally on the tires being at max pressure. As far as being on something other than raw concrete, stored indoors, the jury is still out on that one if it is a urban myth or not. I have heard of a chemical reaction between the rubber and the concrete when stored for months on end. Also heard it is nothing to worry about. Which one is right? Don't know but when I had the T2499 inside my building I had it up on wood rather than be sorry later.

If you are storing outside not under cover, then for sure be up on wood or something else to get the tire out of standing water or dirt.

Something not yet mentioned, make sure the awning is 100% dry before winter storage even inside. Being rolled up for 3 to 5 months even inside it can grow mold if even a little wet. Then come spring it is not a pretty picture when you unroll it.

jim44646 · 12-02-2012, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnB

Something not yet mentioned, make sure the awning is 100% dry before winter storage even inside. Being rolled up for 3 to 5 months even inside it can grow mold if even a little wet. Then come spring it is not a pretty picture when you unroll it.

Amen to dry awning.
i was also reading an article put out by a tire co. ( I wish I would have saved it) that it's a good pratice to increase tire pressure 10 to 12% above max for long storage periods

mainah · 12-02-2012, 06:03 PM

I have stored both a MH and the camper in a garage I don't do any thing special just normal stuff and have never had issues including rodents. I leave all the vents open and a couple of windows so there is no difference in temp between inside and out to avoid condensation.

Gene · 12-02-2012, 06:05 PM

Mine spends the Winter outside but the tires are always on wood.

jim44646 · 12-02-2012, 06:26 PM

[QUOTE=mainah;110438]I have stored both a MH and the camper in a garage I don't do any thing special just normal stuff and have never had issues including rodents.QUOTE]

O just wait till one makes a nest in one of your cushions or leaves black rice in every drawer and cupboard. fun fun fun

264SRinPA · 12-03-2012, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim44646

Amen to dry awning.
i was also reading an article put out by a tire co. ( I wish I would have saved it) that it's a good pratice to increase tire pressure 10 to 12% above max for long storage periods

I go up to 70psi for winter storage. I think it is to allow for loss of air over several months of storage. Luckily the pressure has still been at 70psi in the spring. The original Mission tires would lose pressure when sitting over the winter.

mainah · 12-06-2012, 06:23 AM

[QUOTE=jim44646;110445]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mainah

I have stored both a MH and the camper in a garage I don't do any thing special just normal stuff and have never had issues including rodents.QUOTE]

O just wait till one makes a nest in one of your cushions or leaves black rice in every drawer and cupboard. fun fun fun

That was a real issue outside I had fairly good luck with the sticky pads placed on top of the tires (figuring mice can't jump real high they would have to get on the tires) but since I finished the garage/barn (36X36) I have had no problems between the traffic, cats, dogs and being able to close the doors it pretty well has run them off.

Wannabes · 12-06-2012, 06:32 PM

Thanks for all the advice so far! Given what's been advised in this thread we plan to do the following to winterize:

1. Give the 2363 a good bath and, if we have time, put a coat of Klasse All-in-One as protectant on it and make sure the awning's completely dry before retracting it (never would've thought of that);

2. Take out all "freeze-able" non-perishables;

3. Put it in the pole barn with the tires on wood & the PSI maxed out;

4. Rodent-proof it as much as possible with Bounce around the inside, steel wool in the openings, aluminum foil around the propane lines, and D-con in the pole barn (Don't really like to use D-con b/c of possible harm to other animals but we like the idea of "black rice" & hanta virus even less

);

4. Put battery in our garage and charge with the BatteryMINDER Plus that JohnB recommended in another thread;

5. Anything else that is recommended by you - we really appreciate the advice!

We also wanted to get a Reese WD hitch with Dual Cam before we put the Sunline away for the winter but yesterday evening a deer ran into the front driver's side of the F-150 and wouldn't you know that our deductible is about the same as the price of the hitch...

Poppy & Nana · 12-06-2012, 07:13 PM

Sorry to hear a "white tail" paid a visit to you! But you certainly paid attention to the suggestions!

**JohnB** · 12-06-2012, 08:15 PM

Sorry about the deer. Bummer for sure.

Let us know how the Klasse All-in-One works out. Never heard of that one.

Do you know if your camper has the Krystal kote on it? Being a 2002 odds are high it does.

Thanks

John

Wannabes · 12-06-2012, 09:11 PM

It's hunting season here and in this part of PA hitting a deer is more a matter of "when" than "if".

The Klasse All-in-One is a German product that is not a wax but an acrylic. We've used it on both the car and pick-up for the past year and are very pleased with it, especially on the F-150 b/c it's outside all year round. It is safe for aluminum (and other metals) and is very easy to put on and buff off so we thought we'd try it on the Sunny.

Our 2363 does have the Krystal-Kote on it and we read what the manual says about not waxing it but we also read a thread on this site about whether "to wax, or not to wax." We thought we'd err toward putting something on to protect it and also help prevent black streaks. We're going to give the roof and the gutters another good scrubbing b/c we've read that doing so will really help reduce the streaking. For the record, we don't have bad streaking; the PO kept this Sunline in really good shape inside and out and we just really want to keep it that way too.