Mothballing during the winter

Bigpeetee

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I use my MH all year round, partly to take my daughter to sing at gigs, but also to enjoy our country throughout all the seasons.

My neighbour also has a MH but only uses it for 6 months of the year, saying that he's saving money by taking it off the road during the winter.

As he started to get ready for the season his brakes have corroded the disks where it's been idle. He's having to get new tyres as the old ones are badly cracking having done about 18k.

The engine has been stationary so no lubrication is distributed and everything feels stiff.

The question is, is it actually economical to mothball through the winter, you might save a few quid on tax etc, but the long term damage of not running, not being warmed and ventilated etc actually cost more in the long run.

I really wonder how good low mileage higher age MH are in the long run, I can see that it might look good on paper, I've seen 5 yr old vehicles with 6k on the clock, being stationary doesn't do anything any good, machines or people!!

When I used to teach microlight flying, even in the winter I would recommend that the engines were started and run on the ground until they were hot.

I've replaced a number of crankshafts because they've been idle all winter, got condensation on the bearings and rusted, it's amazing how good a grinding paste rust and oil make. Now I appreciate that an engine out while flying is more exciting than when driving, but it's still a B****y nuisance and expense.

Any thoughts??
 
I totally agree with you on this. Using a van is the best way to keep it in good nick.

I always try to do my engine oil change at the start of winter, although I use my van all year round. Acid deposits can build up in an engine due to condensation reacting with the engine parts. An oil change gets rid of most of it.

It also sounds like the van was left with the handbrake on, which is a big mistake. There is a condition known as 'sleepy van syndrome'. This applies to vans that have stood for long periods. All kinds of niggly faults occur and spoil your trip.
 
Totally agree,

now he's got a leak from the water system, under the shower tray, I know vans can be tricky to totally empty the system, my pump froze , even though I've insulated it. hot water bottle cured that!!

So in the long run he's spent more than he saved.
 
He might as well sell it and buy a tent. That's the whole point of having a motorhome or caravan - so you're not restricted to summer camping and can have holidays all year round.

Vehicles of any sort don't like standing idle. False economy - what do you save? A couple of hundred pounds at most.
 
I would use the van at least once a week the year round and keep it heated in the winter.

This where people who crave low mileage vans may be making a mistake. Commercial van mechanicals are built to cope reasonably heavy mileages, and buying older low mileage models usually indicates they have been hanging around for long periods. Just cans of worms waiting to be opened!
 
Firefox said:
I would use the van at least once a week the year round and keep it heated in the winter.

This where people who crave low mileage vans may be making a mistake. Commercial van mechanicals are built to cope reasonably heavy mileages, and buying older low mileage models usually indicates they have been hanging around for long periods. Just cans of worms waiting to be opened!
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Vans also suffer when left, but used, on sites for long periods. Those of us who overwinter on one site in Spain are still using but not running our vans for long periods . The habitation area is being well used but how many start up the engine from time to time? and how many park all winter on chocks with the handbrake on?

We are parked with the handbrake off and in 1st gear on level ground.

Our van has done zero miles since Christmas and will only move again in late April. It has had a safari Room attached all of the time making moving the van impossible. We use the Smart car to get around and for shopping. Being on hookup I haven't had need to use the generator either but to keep the batteries active I am running some items through the inverter. Before anyone else says it, yes, we are using it as a self powered caravan. The climate here has been kind to both ourselves and the Motorhome.

Last winter in the UK we used the van almost continually as we were packing up the house upto the end of February and then moving to CLs/CSs regularly after that.

Next winter we intend to do more travelling in Spain. This winter has been a learning and acclimatising curve for us, as we have not been in Spain with a Motorhome before.
 
just took a customers car in for test this morning and there was a 02 plate autosleeper in at the same time it had done 980mls since the last test!!!how can anyone justify having that amount of cash stood on the drive plus yearly running costs, the mind boggles
 
Yes by use I meant drive as well. Ie Use the mechanicals and the caravan parts to keep everything ticking over.
 
Old_Arthur said:
just took a customers car in for test this morning and there was a 02 plate autosleeper in at the same time it had done 980mls since the last test!!!how can anyone justify having that amount of cash stood on the drive plus yearly running costs, the mind boggles
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All of mine stand around idle for around 9 months of the year, but they do a lot of miles in the other three months. As for that amount of cash sitting around idle - not really a consideration if you want to enjoy the lifestyle.
 
Don't really have a choice in Shetland, its either storage head South or the weather up here, and for motorhomes without shelter the winter weather is a major problem.
 
Tony Lee said:
All of mine stand around idle for around 9 months of the year, but they do a lot of miles in the other three months. As for that amount of cash sitting around idle - not really a consideration if you want to enjoy the lifestyle.
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the lifestyle yes i never took that into consideration:eek: sorry for that :rolleyes:
 
Just to substantiate the "lifestyle choice" reason Arthur - what would it be worth to wake up to these sort of views every other day.

https://picasaweb.google.com/100423330590043156390/NiceCampingSpots#

Mind you it does have its price. Arrived this time to find that the leisure batteries in the Hobby - two 110Ah Gel batteries - have decided to pack it in so that will be another 600 Euro or more to add to the bill.
 
Tony Lee said:
Just to substantiate the "lifestyle choice" reason Arthur - what would it be worth to wake up to these sort of views every other day.

https://picasaweb.google.com/100423330590043156390/NiceCampingSpots#

Mind you it does have its price. Arrived this time to find that the leisure batteries in the Hobby - two 110Ah Gel batteries - have decided to pack it in so that will be another 600 Euro or more to add to the bill.
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Hi Tony, are those German plates on your Hobby?
 
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