Storing the Bus for the Winter

qayqayt · October 20, 2009, 06:19:37 PM

The former owner of our coach "blocked it" when he stored it for any length of time. I guess the logic behind this is to keep the air bellows from completely collapsing and having the bus sitting low for a few months.

Does this matter? I'm ready to store the bus for the winter. It will sit for about 6 months. Last winter I started it once or twice a month and allowed it to air up.

Any advantage to blocking the coach?

Bryan

Ed Hackenbruch · October 20, 2009, 06:32:58 PM

I think it might be hard on the bags....kinda like having a flat tire sitting on the rim. The side wall is folded/distorted from normal shape and if left for a long period of time could cause damage. Just don't see how it could not have some sort of effect on them.

?

Melbo · October 20, 2009, 06:44:04 PM

I would think if your bump stops are in place it would make no difference and is designed for the bags to collapse

Melbo

buswarrior · October 21, 2009, 09:13:11 AM

I would be more inclined to block the parking brake and chock the wheels before I blocked the suspension.

I don't block anything.

If you leave it sit on the ground all winter without releasing the parking brake...you'll be posting about seized brakes in the Spring.

On your regular start-up, release the parking brake and move it half a wheel rotation one way, next time, half back to keep the shoes from rusting to the drums. Also defends against sinking in too deep to power out, especially important for the high gearing manual tranny folks.

Some form of automatic battery charger or a solar panel for those away from a plug, will give folks who park/store their coach for extended periods, years more battery life. Sitting for weeks, then starting the coach for some minutes of run and shut down will not replenish the battery sufficiently for long life.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

bobofthenorth · October 21, 2009, 05:02:39 PM

While I firmly believe the best winterizing program is to buy a compass and head south, I realize that isn't possible for everyone. BTDT.

My winterizing program consisted of pumping pink stuff through the water lines and shutting the engine off. I would then throw the main disconnects on the house and coach batteries and walk away. I also believe it is important to leave the noisy end accessible in case of difficulty in the spring but that was never an issue.

belfert · October 21, 2009, 06:40:29 PM

I do the same thing as bobofthenorth, but I run a three stage battery charger on the starting batteries. There is a load on the batteries all the time even with battery disconnect thrown.

I destroyed a set of batteries the first winter.

Jerry32 · October 21, 2009, 08:29:00 PM

I am going to take bob of the north's advise and park mine in Yuma for the winter.

Melbo · October 21, 2009, 09:01:35 PM

I think I will too and park mine in Albuquerque --- oh wait I live in Albuquerque so my bus is here all the time.

Melbo

qayqayt · October 21, 2009, 10:31:08 PM

So the concensus is to not block the suspension... right?

Last year we got a really bad cold snap and I couldn't start the coach. It got so bad that the deadbolt froze the next week and I couldn't even get into the bus to do anything. Luckily I put the pink stuff in the house plumbing, and put 4 pots of those "Dize-all" desiccant crystals inside. Eventually I pulled the bus batteries and put them on a trickle charger at home for 4 months. But I dropped by every few weeks and started the house generator to keep the deep cell batteries up.

Last year after the cold snap I had lots of moisture inside. The desiccant crystals took a lot of moisture out but not all of it. I would fire up the propane furnace for about an hour every few weeks. Do you think I was creating more moisture by heating up the coach interior, then leaving it for 2 or 3 weeks? We get a lot rain out here in British Columbia in the winter and mild temperatures. Last year's snow and cold was a rare winter.

Bryan
Vancouver BC

Ed Hackenbruch · October 22, 2009, 05:55:24 AM

We also do the southern winterizing....... we are on our way to Yuma by a roundabout route. In Moab right now.

buswarrior · October 24, 2009, 09:46:44 AM

As noted, moisture build up in a stored coach is an issue, no matter the time of year.

Some kind of air exchange keeps everything good.

Mildew/rot will develop.

Harder to leave a roof vent open in snow conditions, and built up snow may let water in through the roof airs when it won't get in during the summer.

One of those surplus computer style fans fashioned into the driver's toll window or down the back in the old stock washroom flap, blowing outward, will draw in air via all the nooks and crannies.

Plugged in or on the solar system, sustainable for the duration of the storage.

happy coaching!
buswarrior