New Mountaineer - Got Questions

[Montana_5429]

Thanks for all the info I've been able to get off this forum! I've owned a travel trailer before, but this is my 1st "new" 5er. So I've got ome questions.

Black Tanks Flush - Do you hook it directly to the water supply, or through the pressure reducer?

Slide rooms - How does the seal work? I see the outer sweeper type seal, and I feel the inner compression type seal, but is there an internal seal that I can't see? Where are the most common places I should watch for leaks? Ceiling in slide, floor at ends of slide, ect...

I live about 150 miles away from where I ussually work (construction) so the trailer will be setup for long term, however not always lived in. Should I pull in the slides when I'm gonna be away for the weekend, or for a week or more? Is there any treatment that I need to apply to the exposed Seal on the slides?

Should I buy tire covers? and should I only buy them for the sun exposed side? If I use tire covers, can I still use the chocks that go between the tires?

I'm sure I'll have more questions, hopefully not too dumb sounding...

Mountaineer 342PHT


Thanks alot!

[Parrothead]

Dirk
Just a bit of advice when you leave the unit. Turn off the propane and the water. If you are going to be gone for a really long time then shut the battery own also. We used ours much like you are doing. We always turned off the water but in colder weather would leave the propane on. One time the electricity went out in the park and my battery backup for the computer signaled. Everyone thought it was the leak detector and shut off our propane for us. We did not pull the slides in when gone at all as we felt it was a lot of trouble since you set up differently when you are living in it parked in one place. Plus we usually returned late in the evening and didn't want to do set up then. Enjoy your new toy.
Happy trails......................

[OntMont]

quote:Originally posted by dirk

Thanks for all the info I've been able to get off this forum! I've owned a travel trailer before, but this is my 1st "new" 5er. So I've got ome questions.

Black Tanks Flush - Do you hook it directly to the water supply, or through the pressure reducer?
Hook it up with full pressure

Slide rooms - How does the seal work? I see the outer sweeper type seal, and I feel the inner compression type seal, but is there an internal seal that I can't see? Where are the most common places I should watch for leaks? Ceiling in slide, floor at ends of slide, ect...
I'm not sure about the seals on your unit, so I won't attempt an answer.

I live about 150 miles away from where I ussually work (construction) so the trailer will be setup for long term, however not always lived in. Should I pull in the slides when I'm gonna be away for the weekend,
Not really necessary, but wouldn't do any harm.

or for a week or more?
I would pull them in.
Is there any treatment that I need to apply to the exposed Seal on the slides?
Silicone spray on the rubber, dry lube on the slide tubes, WD40, LPS, or hydraulic fluid (transmission fluid) on the hydraulic ram. Exercise the slides by running in and out once a month.

Should I buy tire covers? and should I only buy them for the sun exposed side?

Not sure about this one, but if you have access to scrap plywood, you could easily make some plywood ones and they would not prevent you using tire locks.
If I use tire covers, can I still use the chocks that go between the tires?

I'm sure I'll have more questions, hopefully not too dumb sounding...

Most of us do, and none of them are dumb, if you don't know the answer.

Mountaineer 342PHT


Thanks alot!

[firetrucker]

Dirk,

There have been two informative topics on slides just recently...stabilizing and slide room supports - revisited; search for these topics. We have a member who works for Lippert that is about the most helpful person you'll ever run into, and has definitive answers to anything concerning the slides, frame, and pin box. I'll let him tell you what he recommends without the middle man to mess things up.

I think you'll find that there are only two seals, but you can check by pulling the slide partway in and lifting the outer seal. You should be able to see just what's there.

I'd put tire covers on all wheels. If nothing else, you'll have them when you need them.

We've been lucky enough to only have leaks around the windows because the window seals were installed incorrectly. Check to see that the side seals don't overlap the top seals so that water can run down inside them and then inside the windows. I used a little black silicone sealant to fix that problem.

I agree with Sue about turning off the water. The fittings never seem to be tight enough, and the type of plastic they are seems to be really slippery. There have been horror stories about lots of water inside the Monty because something came loose. I hand check them once a year to make sure they are still tight.

I think OntMont covered everything else, but don't hesitate to come back for more...that's what we're all about.

Bob

[Montana Sky]

I leave my slides out all summer, just cycle them in and out once every two weeks or so. This will be my 3 summer with this coach, so far so good. I do shut the water and hot water heater off when I leave, but do leave the propane on. I am in a seasonal campsite and plugged in all summer. I leave the propane on just incase the power goes out, do not want all the food in the fridge to go bad. Also run tire covers on all 4 wheels/tires, will sure help keep those tires in good shape.

[stiles watson]

Congratulations on your new rig. Looks like you have your first round of questions answered. Cycling the slides, covering the wheels, all good. Why not put the tire covers on and then chock?

[Broome101]

Sounds like you are on your way. Good luck hope all goes well.

[Montana_5429]

Thanks for all the help! This forum is great!