Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Economy Travellers on October 04, 2020, 08:07:38 am
Title: Winterizing coach
Post by: Economy Travellers on October 04, 2020, 08:07:38 am
Looks like we will be spending the winter at home this year. We have never had to winterize the coach. We have had other coaches in the past that we have winterized but they did not have air ride . Should I simply dump the air and let the coach sit on the tires or is there something else I need to do. Thanks in advance Donnie
Title: Re: Winterizing coach
Post by: Cape Bretoner on October 04, 2020, 09:12:24 am
I place 8 8'' Spacers between the frame and let the air out so that the spacers take Load of the coach and there's know air in the air bags I stored a coach on A cement Floor so I drive it up on six wooden ramps that I have to grease it so it keeps the tires off the Cement floor drain water out don't use antifreeze garage is heated
Title: Re: Winterizing coach
Post by: Roger & Susan in Home2 on October 04, 2020, 11:41:53 am
I am not sure you need to block it up if your coach doesn't have significant air leaks. Just level it and turn the HWH system off. But if you are worried about it blocks are OK. Park on something waterproof between the tires and concrete. Lots of choices for this.
If your coach will experience freezing temperatures, drain the fresh tank, empty the waste tanks, drain the water lines and fill all of the water lines, toilet and drains with RV potable antifreeze. Ice makers and washer/driers need to be drained and filled as well.
$20 for RV antifreeze and an hour or so of your time is good insurance against a frozen AquaHot or water heater and frozen water lines.
Title: Re: Winterizing coach
Post by: Old Toolmaker on October 04, 2020, 12:40:46 pm
I place 8 8'' Spacers between the frame and let the air out so that the spacers take Load of the coach and there's know air in the air bags I stored a coach on A cement Floor so I drive it up on six wooden ramps that I have to grease it so it keeps the tires off the Cement floor drain water out don't use antifreeze garage is heated
Cape Bretoner, I don't want this to be taken as demeaning your writing or belittling your ability but I'm going to edit your response to the best of my ability for clarity, because what you wrote is important to all that need to winterize their coach. That and I learned at an early age to understand what my grandmother, Diana Savoy Joly was saying to me.
Cape Bretoner wrote, "I place 8 - 8'' Spacers between the frame rails and dump the air from the HWH suspension so that the spacers take the weight of the coach, and I know there's no air pressure in the air bags, and the bags aren't tightly folded. I store my coach on a cement floor so, for the winter, I drive it up on the six wooden ramps that I use when I grease my chassis, so the tires are not resting on the cement floor. I drain the water tank and the water lines, but I don't use antifreeze because my garage is heated. Edited for clarity, with apologies, Art Joly
I failed high school french because my parents told me my teacher was wrong and my teacher told me my parents were wrong and no one told me the differences between Canadian and Parisean French. All the while my grandmother was telling me to learn to speak English.
Title: Re: Winterizing coach
Post by: kepeters on October 04, 2020, 01:10:16 pm
Does anybody have a picture and dimensions of self made wooden ramps? Specifically how high?
For a 42000 lbs coach the need to carry a load of approximately 6000 lbs each, I assume several 2 x 10 strips bolted together will do that.
Greetings
Klaus
Title: Re: Winterizing coach
Post by: Travelin' Man (RIP) on October 04, 2020, 01:16:18 pm
Title: Re: Winterizing coach
Post by: Roger & Susan in Home2 on October 04, 2020, 01:41:25 pm
My ramps are made from 6x6 treated post cut offs. A 3ft piece ripped on the diagonal to make the sloped parts and 2 2 ft pieces to sit on. All screwed together with big construction screws.So they are about 5 ft long x 12" wide. I have four of them, I use two in front or all four in the rear, one end or the other. And wheel chocks.
Title: Re: Winterizing coach
Post by: Cape Bretoner on October 04, 2020, 07:57:15 pm
Cape Bretoner, I don't want this to be taken as demeaning your writing or belittling your ability but I'm going to edit your response to the best of my ability for clarity, because what you wrote is important to all that need to winterize their coach. That and I learned at an early age to understand what my grandmother, Diana Savoy Joly was saying to me.
Cape Bretoner wrote, "I place 8 - 8'' Spacers between the frame rails and dump the air from the HWH suspension so that the spacers take the weight of the coach, and I know there's no air pressure in the air bags, and the bags aren't tightly folded. I store my coach on a cement floor so, for the winter, I drive it up on the six wooden ramps that I use when I grease my chassis, so the tires are not resting on the cement floor. I drain the water tank and the water lines, but I don't use antifreeze because my garage is heated. Edited for clarity, with apologies, Art Joly I failed high school french because my parents told me my teacher was wrong and my teacher told me my parents were wrong and no one told me the differences between Canadian and Parisean French. All the while my grandmother was telling me to learn to speak English.
Thank you for correcting this ,you wrote exactly what I meant . I have struggled all my life with reading and writing it makes life missable when you can't explain yourself in writing. Thank for your help again
Title: Re: Winterizing coach
Post by: Cape Bretoner on October 04, 2020, 08:12:49 pm
My granddaughter has the same problem at 13 and it makes me cry
Title: Re: Winterizing coach
Post by: Cape Bretoner on October 04, 2020, 08:26:21 pm
The building that it's is stored in is used daily and Has plumbing if the heat fails I can always add antifreeze the coach has a 12 volt pump it's like a house if the heat failed u have to get it repaired as soon as possible
Title: Re: Winterizing coach
Post by: John Haygarth on October 04, 2020, 09:00:01 pm
Rick do not worry about it as you are most probably a very nice, kind person that would not harm or say anything negative about anyone else, which to me is far more important than anything else, especially in this age where there are so many sick people (mentally) who love to try and bring down others by being nasty. You are from good stock, so stay that way. Take care Johnh
Title: Re: Winterizing coach
Post by: Roger & Susan in Home2 on October 04, 2020, 11:13:21 pm
Rick, the time to learn how to do a winterizing task is not when it is freezing out. Like many tasks, do this one when you can take your time, be very meticulous and aren't rushed by an imminent freeze or an inconvenient power outage. Once through the process subsequent goes at it will be much easier and more routine.
I would suggest winterizing in any case. Good task to learn. Best to be safe.