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Topic: Leaving our Full Time for 2 Months (Read 994 times) previous topic - next topic

Leaving our Full Time for 2 Months

Hi all!  Been a while since I've checked.  We have been FT for little over a year now and are loving it & our Foretravel!  She is absolutely the best bus!

I have a few questions I am hoping the VERY knowledgeable & helpful folks here can help me with.

We will be leaving in April for a 2 month vacation - cruising to and 1 month traveling in Europe (so excited!)

We are parking our beloved MH in S Texas - not covered.  As we are FT there will be some staples left in the refrigerator which should be just fine on the propane.

I know we will empty the black & grey tanks.

We are hanging net bags of moth balls in engine compartment & front end to hopefully keep the rats at bay.

Should we empty or mostly empty the fresh water?

Should we disconnect batteries or have someone start the genny (how often ?) to charge the batteries?

Any other things we should do or tips you all have learned would be greatly appreciated.

Christi & Ray Stoltz
1993 U280 40'

Re: Leaving our Full Time for 2 Months

Reply #1 –
What form of battery charging do you have-- you will need something for that period of time, particularly if you leave the refrigerator on (the refrigerator PC board, igniter and gas valve all work on 12 VDC, as does your propane sensor and valve)?
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Leaving our Full Time for 2 Months

Reply #2 –
Were it me, I would find covered and powered storage parking.  See you are near Beeville TX.  We have stored our coach, with power, covered just south of Ft. Worth in Alvarado.  Would think you would be happier with it in the shade at least during those two summer months. 

Contact me if you want info on the storage here, was only $75 when we were there in 2011 per month, with 15 amp power.
Dave Cobb
Buckhorn Lake Resort The Club, #6202, Kerrville TX
check the map.  I do rent it out when I am traveling!
2001, U320, 36' #5887, in Kerrville, FT Club #17006, (7/23 to present)
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Summit, white
EX: 98 U295, 36' #5219, (mid door), (4/13-10/23)
EX: 93 U225, 36' (4/11 to 4/13)

Re: Leaving our Full Time for 2 Months

Reply #3 –
I am not sure that leaving the refrigerator on for two months unattended is a good Idea - I would throw out want you cant consume and shut off the refrigerator and hold doors open after it defrosts. Also shut off propane at tank.
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Leaving our Full Time for 2 Months

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Tim Fiedler –
I am not sure that leaving the refrigerator on for two months unattended is a good Idea - I would throw out want you cant consume and shut off the refrigerator and hold doors open after it defrosts. Also shut off propane at tank.

Good idea. 
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Leaving our Full Time for 2 Months

Reply #5 –
There are NO "staples" that you need to keep for 2 months.  I would certainly empty your fridge and shut it completely down with the doors propped open.  any friends you trust to run your genny or start the coach can be trusted with some frozen food or a jar of mustard.  Just sayin'!!
Carol & Jeff Savournin
Usta have a '93 U225 36', Usta have a '95 U320 40', Usta have a '02 U320 40'
Usta have a 2006 Born Free, Usta have a 2011 Phoenix Cruiser
Usta have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4dr
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."  Steve Jobs

Re: Leaving our Full Time for 2 Months

Reply #6 –
Empty the fridge.  I might consider storing it at FOT plugged in.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Leaving our Full Time for 2 Months

Reply #7 –
Thanks for the suggestions - I did figure out that we could keep it plugged in where we are leaving it.

Never even considered leaving the fridge a problem - it runs 24/7/365 when I am here and I've left my house fridge on whilst away for two months so it seemed natural to leave it on.

Any idea about the water?  I am thinking leaving some and then run it all out and clean system when we return and refill.
Christi & Ray Stoltz
1993 U280 40'

Re: Leaving our Full Time for 2 Months

Reply #8 –
a little chlorine when you leave and it will be fine - I am not sure of the amount to add - Google is your friend, a little more when you get back as it evaporates over time

biocide in fuel not a bad idea if you are storing where is warm, I grew a batch of Algae once, BIOCIDE cheap insurance.

I leave on my fridge when I am plugged in and in storage - I would never leave a fridge running on Propane unattended for that period of time, can't wait to get rid of mine in the spring and go residential electric
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Leaving our Full Time for 2 Months

Reply #9 –
agree with all,
empty fridge, do not leave on propane, what would you need to save for two months? doesn't sound appetizing.
water resterilze with chlorine (can flush out if you don't like the taste) and refill.
for sure dump tanks and would not hurt to put a little something to stop growth/smells
would not worry about generator, batteries should be charged by charger (u might want to check electrolyte levels before leaving)
the 15 amps will keep the battery charged
covered would be nice but not essential
Europe sounds like fun, would be nice if we could take our foretravels for a month or two over there (I think, knowing some streets are not great for them). 
Have fun
Best of Travels

Re: Leaving our Full Time for 2 Months

Reply #10 –
Ditto everything all have said.  But, I would dump the water once chlorinated, and refill with fresh with a tablespoon of baking soda NaHCO3 .  As well, if you do not have a trickle-start battery tender for the start batteries, upon arrival I would turn the boost switch on for a couple of hours before firing up the engine to top-off the start batteries.
Peter & Beth Martin
No Forrest? What have you done?
MC# 15890 until Dec 2016; FMCA #F329677
Cincinnati, OH

Re: Leaving our Full Time for 2 Months

Reply #11 –
Hello...I would do the following: 1) empty the refrigerator and leave door open 2) drain all tanks completely 3) be sure hot water heater is drained 4) be sure all batteries are topped off 5) keep a trickle charge on all batteries 6) put in covered secure storage out of all weather conditions 7) be sure black and gray water tanks are cleaned and drained 8) be sure to keep some water/antifreeze in the toilet bowl 9) goes without saying but just to be safe do not leave water connected to coach especially under pressure 10) may want to leave some mice/rat traps in the coach just to be safe  11) put Decon in engine bay and perhaps under coach 12) do not leave any food, sweetners, etc in drawers that rodents can get too 12) clean coach inside and outside 13) keep your coach vented some way by opening a window slighly on both sides of coach along with fan vent open 14) be sure you have a spare set of keys somewhere on/near the coach just in case something happens 15) may consider turning off propane tank 16) fill fuel tank and use some type of fuel treatment.  Use the philosophy just like it is a summer lake home up north and you are leaving for the summer and you will be safe. Have a great trip....sounds like a fun time!
Steve Mudd
Commander, The Crystal Ship
CEO, Retirement Clearinghouse International
1993 Grand Villa U300 40', Detroit 6V92 Turbo
1997 Jeep Wrangler Sport
2008 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic
2000 Harley-Davidson Wide Glide
swmudd@aol.com

Re: Leaving our Full Time for 2 Months

Reply #12 –
Quote from: Steve Mudd –
11) put Decon in engine bay and perhaps under coach

Steve,

I'm not singling you out - just pulling this part out of your post.  We aren't fans of rodent poison.  It is one of the reasons for severe owl and hawk decline here in Texas and it's also very dangerous for pets.  The problem isn't direct ingestion, it's secondary - the rodent eats the poisoned bait and then the bird or dog or cat eats the rodent. 

Michelle
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Leaving our Full Time for 2 Months

Reply #13 –
100% peppermint essential oil seems to be the rodent repellent of choice based on past threads.
Regards,
Brett

'99 42' Foretravel Xtreme
'14 Brown Motorsports Stacker
'05 Chevy SSR
'02 BMW R1150R

Re: Leaving our Full Time for 2 Months

Reply #14 –
I had a rat infestation at my acreage and I used rat poison which killed many rats, but also nearly killed our dog as she ate a rat that had eaten the poison
previous 1984 35 ft ORED 250 HP 3208 Cat       
previous 1998 40 ft U295 CAI 325 hp Cummins
previous 2003 40 Ft u320 build #6140 450 Cummins M11.                                                         
1999 Mazda Miata
Ron, Nancy, Tipper the cat, Max The dog
1997 U 270 36 ft build number 5174 8.3 Cummins

Re: Leaving our Full Time for 2 Months

Reply #15 –
We also leave for 2 months to Portugal and Spain in May and as we have Solar no problems for batteries and will empty out all tanks and fridge (is now after getting back from Mex and Ariz'). No problems with the weather here, nice and mild and cool nights.
John H
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Leaving our Full Time for 2 Months

Reply #16 –
I appreciate the comments on the rodent poison, will strike that permanently off the list.  Never thought about it poisoning other animals.  I'd hate the though of being responsible for a hawks demise, or my dog for that matter.  Hard to beat a good cat for rodent control. 

Chuck
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS

Re: Leaving our Full Time for 2 Months

Reply #17 –
I do think you need some type of rodent control....at least set some traps.  I've never had a problem with D-con at all and have had several dog and cats around the house and several of my friends use it in their houses, etc.
Steve Mudd
Commander, The Crystal Ship
CEO, Retirement Clearinghouse International
1993 Grand Villa U300 40', Detroit 6V92 Turbo
1997 Jeep Wrangler Sport
2008 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic
2000 Harley-Davidson Wide Glide
swmudd@aol.com
 

Re: Leaving our Full Time for 2 Months

Reply #18 –
A forgotten D-Con almost killed my terrier.  Emergency care saved him.
Regards,
Brett

'99 42' Foretravel Xtreme
'14 Brown Motorsports Stacker
'05 Chevy SSR
'02 BMW R1150R