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Arizona sun & heat

We are considering a move to the Phoenix area (family connections) and are planning to buy a FT sometime next year. We have heard about the damage that the sun and heat can cause, but don't know any specifics.

What are the effects of sun and heat on a motorhome? Do rubber components such as tires, belts, hoses age faster? What protections can be used effectively? We probably won't have a power hookup when the coach is in storage, so running the AC is not an option unless we install solar equipment.
Royce & Denise, MC #17410
'01 U320 4220 ISM450 Build #5895 SOLD
Toad: '10 Honda CR-V

Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world. - Gustave Flaubert

Re: Arizona sun & heat

Reply #1 –
definitely covered storage, I have seen a roof that sat outside in Phx and you do not want that mess. Tyres too need protection.
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: Arizona sun & heat

Reply #2 –
Almost every new house being built here in Lake Havasu now has a motorhome garage that can double as a boat garage.  Building a house here with "only" a double garage is an extreme rarity.  There are many with 3-car garages AND motorhome garages.  Having my 36' FT inside a 45 by 16 garage with 15 ft ceiling still leaves the inside of the coach too hot to work much in...without opening the door and turning on the motorhome's A/C.  No matter how much insulation, once it gets hot, it stays hot.

If you haven't experienced the desert, everything you own should be under cover to protect it from the sun.  Tires will rot on trailers or cars that are left outside and not constantly driven, batteries die quicker, etc. 

Even the direction the house faces makes a considerable difference in your comfort level and A/C bill.  A house should face either North or South, with no windows on the west side if possible.  Our house faces West, but the only windows in that direction are in the Master bath and the kids bedrooms.  Those windows are all heavily tinted, and we even have the aluminum bubble stuff in them, as it cannot be seen through the heavy tint.  Even having a patio to give you "morning sun" isn't very desirous in the summers as our current LOW overnight temps are still in the 90s.

That said, I have lived here 11 years and love it.  You can't beat our October - March temperatures with no fears of hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.
The selected media item is not currently available.Brad & Christine Slaughter
Was:  1990 U280 36'
Was:  2002 U270 36' (With a bathroom door) Build #5981
Is:  2021 Leisure Travel Van Wonder 24RL
2015 Jeep JKU, 2003 S10 QC 4x4 or 2017 C-Max
Lake Havasu City, AZ (or Gillette, WY)

Re: Arizona sun & heat

Reply #3 –
I have a friend in Phoenix. He usually leaves in summer for Pacific Northwest, but stores his coach outside. His storage spot is in a dedicated RV spot, he has 20 Amps to keep up his batteries, and they are all under large awnings for shade to keep temps and sun damage down. Think it is around $200 a month when he is there
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: Arizona sun & heat

Reply #4 –
One more comment.  Besides rental storage, there are lots of storage units that are sold much like condominiums here.  Seems to be quite popular if you don't have space on your property.  They were running $30k-$60k for 50' units when I last looked.  You might want to investigate that as opposed to just looking at rented storage offsite or a motorhome garage onsite.  That way you could have power.
The selected media item is not currently available.Brad & Christine Slaughter
Was:  1990 U280 36'
Was:  2002 U270 36' (With a bathroom door) Build #5981
Is:  2021 Leisure Travel Van Wonder 24RL
2015 Jeep JKU, 2003 S10 QC 4x4 or 2017 C-Max
Lake Havasu City, AZ (or Gillette, WY)

Re: Arizona sun & heat

Reply #5 –
My ex and  I used to own a home in Tempe Ariz for golfing and every year it had to be painted outside and check the roof for problems even though I put "snow roof on". The wood beams on the outside deteriorated faster than anything and it was a constant battle to stop the heat from doing damage. I installed a fine mist spray system all around the roof so at night I could turn it on to bring the inside temp down. It was cheaper and faster than a/c.
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: Arizona sun & heat

Reply #6 –
Royce, We live is Surprise Az. (west side Phoenix) and have INDOOR storage nearby with electricity for $2106 a year. Unit stay's clean year round. Only way to go! I bought Brett Wolfe's previous 1993 U240 last October after selling my 1993 U225 to a couple in Lake Havasu..Bill and Sue Sikes. They have a 3 car garage and RV garage under one roof. Many new home builders in Surprise have RV garages called "super garages" very reasonably priced (under $300K for 2100 sq ft)). One development to research is a subdivision called Greer Ranch. We love it in Phoenix. The weather is great and we come and go in the summer in the Foretravel. We have a pool so we don't like to leave the whole summer. In fact..leaving this Sunday for the north rim Grand Canyon staying at an RV park near Jacob's lake. Lots to do here. Pro football, baseball, hockey, arena football. Great town. 
perrydise
1993 U240 36' coach 4297, Cat 3116
 (Brett Wolfe's previous coach)
2005 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Arizona sun & heat

Reply #7 –
John,

Are you saying that the sun causes the fibreglas roof to deteriorate? I am mostly concerned about the batteries and rubber components, but was not aware that the coach skin would be affected too. Appreciate any help on this issue.

Royce
Royce & Denise, MC #17410
'01 U320 4220 ISM450 Build #5895 SOLD
Toad: '10 Honda CR-V

Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world. - Gustave Flaubert

Re: Arizona sun & heat

Reply #8 –
Yes I am. I was looking at a 96 320 that had been on the market for some time, and decided that maybe this guy would let it go for a song. Visited his home in Fountain Hills and all looked good inside etc (woodwork needed help and a good clean) then asked him about leaks and he said none (I had noticed some staining on the ceiling cloth down sides and corners) so I got up top and boy did this look like moonscape or what. A good 60% of the roof had major cracks going all ways. It had been spray painted over to try and cover, but it was finished. I told him and he said he has never got on the roof (he was a big man, so believed him) I told him that all the units would have to come off roof and it sanded then skinned again with fibreglass or ? and that I estimated it to be min $5k depreciation on that alone. He did not want to budge on price so I walked away as I could not believe what he told me, and possible other issues. This would have been a good fix up coach but at that time I was new to FT and did not know what I do now. He told me he did not keep it under cover, hence my comment
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: Arizona sun & heat

Reply #9 –
You can get some side staining from condensation.
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Arizona sun & heat

Reply #10 –
Quote
You can get some side staining from condensation.

Condensation? How with such low humidity?
Royce & Denise, MC #17410
'01 U320 4220 ISM450 Build #5895 SOLD
Toad: '10 Honda CR-V

Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world. - Gustave Flaubert

Re: Arizona sun & heat

Reply #11 –
Hmmmm.....

Is BamaFan of the War Eagles persuasion or not...

best, paul
1999 U320 40' 1200 watts on roof. 12cf AC/DC Cold plate fridge/freezer. VMS 240 CL Honda Element

Re: Arizona sun & heat

Reply #12 –
NOT -  Alabama fan. Roll Tide!!
Royce & Denise, MC #17410
'01 U320 4220 ISM450 Build #5895 SOLD
Toad: '10 Honda CR-V

Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world. - Gustave Flaubert

Re: Arizona sun & heat

Reply #13 –
everywhere? over decades?

All you need for condensation is air with moisture and temperature differential
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Arizona sun & heat

Reply #14 –
what about using a silver tarp over the roof portion?
1995 U320 40', 2013 chevy sonic toad, my real love are corvettes have owned 30
 

Re: Arizona sun & heat

Reply #15 –

Condensation? How with such low humidity?


We lived in Mesa for a year. Monsoon season can really make a dramatic change in the weather and last for weeks. We had our FT covered in mud more than once. There is a new community being built in Gold Canyon that has homes with RV ports. We live in an RV community in Texas like. Look up Cal Am RV parks homes. If I were to ever move back I would look into that.
Coleen Elkins
Former 95 U240
One retired husband &
two Border Collies Isabelle and Katlyn