Page 6 - Travelore Spring 2015

Page 6 - DRVC Travelore
Time to Dewinterize?
Getting Ready for Summer RV Use
For many DRVC members, March signals the time to start preparing the motorhome for the summer season. To others, it’s a good time to make an annual inspec- tion before heading out from snowbird territory. Though most of the country has experienced an abnormally cold and snowy winter, relax. It’s time to get ready for some memory making in your diesel-powered motor coach.
Family Motor Coach Association has a helpful guide
every motorhome owner should reference from time to time. The Motorhome Checklist is available via the FMCA website at http://www.fmca.com/motorhome/basics/156- motorhome-checklist.html so check it from time to time to be sure you’re doing what you should as a “happy camper.” For those going through the de-winterizing or annual checkout process, be sure to read on for some helpful reminders and tips.
House and Chassis Batteries
At the top of any RVers list is the task of being sure the house and chassis batteries are ready for service by being properly charged. The following para- graphs will help you in this process.
1) In general, most chassis batteries aren’t serviceable since they are sealed. However, it is still possible to check the status of the batteries by properly connect- ing them to a smart battery charger. The charger will do a check of the batteries and report their voltage level. Chances are, however, that if your unit has been stored for more than a few months, the batteries will need to be “topped off” by setting the charge rate to 20 amps or less. Even if you’ve flipped the disconnect switch, batteries stand a chance of loosing a bit of their charge.
2) Unless you have non-serviceable batteries for the house, check the electrolyte level in “flooded” bat- teries by removing the caps and being sure the water level is at the split ring in the chamber. A mirror or flashlight may be required for this step so be pre- pared. Again, if the motorhome has been sitting for a few months and not plugged in to keep the batteries at a proper float level, you may need to add distilled water to bring the fluid to the proper level and plug
the unit it to charge the batteries. Failure to do so will shorten the life of the batteries while decreasing their effectiveness for typical operation.
3) Next, check all the 12-volt DC devices of the chas-
sis and the house to be sure they operate correctly and that all fuses are properly functioning. Just turn things on in a sequence of your choice remembering that the chassis batteries handle the dash, exterior lighting and the electrically operated steps of the door (if so equipped). The house batteries handle all the lighting throughout the motorhome.
Propane System
The second item of importance
may require a service appointment
with a certified RV service techni-
cian if you want to be assured that
the propane system is ready for use. If you have an all- electric motorhome, of course you’ll ignore this area. But, for the many that do, getting the regulator (connected near the tank) tested to be sure it’s correctly balancing the pressure can provide peace of mind. A leaking or malfunc- tioning propane system is a safety hazard that must be discovered and repaired prior to use.
1) It is particularly important to be sure there is no leakage around the tank. You can check for leakage by brushing a concentrated mixture of soap and water on the pipes. Once the gas line is opened from the tank, and assuming all appliances including the water heater are off, if a leak is present the soapy mixture will bubble. Sometimes the fittings become loose from the constant bouncing and change in ambient tem- perature with leaking being stopped through simple tightening of the connections.
2) With the gas turned off at the tank, use pressurized or compressed air to blow out dirt and dust from behind the refrigerator, around the heating element of the water heater as well as the exhaust portion of the furnace. Finally, open the main valve to check the functionality of these appliances. A suggestion is to start with the gas range (if so equipped). If the range
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