Trailer storage and slide question

[JAButler]

I tried to find an old thread before asking but can't find anything so - Help - I'm totally confused on the right way to be storing our 5th wheel now. We keep it at a storage facility and when I store it, even for short periods, I have all the slides fully closed.

Recently driving through the storage lot looking at all the trailers I see approx. a 1/3 with the slides fully closed, 1/3 with the slides partially open and then 1/3 with the slides fully open (depending on width and parked trailer next to it).

The dealer told me that I should store it how we move it, fully closed but now after seeing all the randomness in the lot - I'm at a loss. My personal choice is to be fully closed to minimize critters/bugs getting in past the seals (especially the 1/2 open units).

So what would be the reason for fully open or partially open?

 

[Peto]

If I were to store mine in a lot it would be with them fully closed.


Since I store mine at home it is usually stored with it closed but it never fails I need to open it to work on something so once open it stays open until I close every thing up to tow. I like to move mine in and out as little as possible.

Half open (or closed) does not sound like a good idea.

 

[GaryUT]

Ours is stored with the slides closed, we don't have room to open them in the storage bay.

The only reason I can think of for having the slides open or part way open is to allow access to the inside of the trailer. We can't access the bathroom or bedroom with the kitchen slide closed.

Even if I could open the slides I wouldn't leave them open, too easy for rodents to enter around the slides.

Gary

 

[NH_Bulldog]

While parked at home between trips during camping season, our slides are out unless a big storm is forecast, then I pull them in tight. In longer term storage, whether at home or a storage facility, our slides are in, period.

 

[jxnbbl]

Ditto on all the above replies.

 

[Peto]

Survey says------- Slides in unless you need to get into the trailer.

 

[JRTJH]

If stored in a public facility with other trailers, should you extend the slides, you reduce the distance between your trailer and the next parking space... That increases the risk of getting your trailer damaged by the next door neighbor....

Then, if there's a fire and the storage facility/fire department start trying to move trailers out of the way to protect them from the fire, if your slides are out, they may well just remove your propane tanks and leave the trailer to burn since it's too wide to move through the gate and out of danger.....

I know that sounds extreme, but it's happened more than once.....

Same goes with using the stabilizer jacks or the leveling system to "reduce load on your tires"... It also "anchors your trailer to the ground in the event of an emergency....

 

[kckettridge]

We have always stored our trailers with the slide-outs fully closed. This mitigates any water intrusion (providing the bulb seals are in good condition) into the rig. Depending on what part of the country you are in (extreme hot or cold) it is advisable to "exercise" your slide-outs every couple of months to keep the seals plyable and so they don't "stick" to the slide-out frame. Keep the seals clean and treated and you shouldn't have any issues. Water or any kind of moisture, even morning condensation is never an RV's friend.

 

[Mikelff]

Ditto, slides in. My public storage is covered and I still keep slides in. Only exception is if I am working on a slide for some reason, I may keep it out, with all the other slides in.

 

[Roger66]

Is it possible to run the furnace with the slides closed? Slides do not cover the heat registers. The reason I ask is I got trigger happy with prepping our camper and of course i sanitized the water system and now we are supposed to have 28 degree temps the next few nights. If need be I can level it and open the slides but if I don't have to that would be a bonus.

 

[chuckster57]

You can operate the furnace. You don’t have to level the trailer.

 

[Roger66]

You can operate the furnace. You don’t have to level the trailer.

So it's OK to run the furnace with the slides closed?

 

[NH_Bulldog]

Yes, since you said that the slides when pulled in do not cover or block any heat registers, and as long as that is accurate, you will be fine.

I drained and blew out the antifreeze from our plumbing this past weekend, but did not flush or fill the system with fresh water since we too are experiencing cold temps this week. We have about 15 days before our first trip of the season, so I am hoping it warms up here so I can flush and sanitize the system before we go. Otherwise, the first night of our trip is at a KOA 250 miles South of here with full hookups, so I can put it off if I need to.

 

[Roger66]

Yes, since you said that the slides when pulled in do not cover or block any heat registers, and as long as that is accurate, you will be fine.

I drained and blew out the antifreeze from our plumbing this past weekend, but did not flush or fill the system with fresh water since we too are experiencing cold temps this week. We have about 15 days before our first trip of the season, so I am hoping it warms up here so I can flush and sanitize the system before we go. Otherwise, the first night of our trip is at a KOA 250 miles South of here with full hookups, so I can put it off if I need to.

Thanks. I'm positive the slides do not cover the registers. There's only 3. Two inline with the island and one in the bedroom.
Our camper is a new to us so I wanted to do a thorough check of the system and glad I did. The shower mixing valve had a crack which was only apparent with the water was turned on. The kitchen sprayer decided to blow water out from around the selector rubber cover and the fresh tank suction line was loose allowing the pump to draw air along with the water. Plus it gave me several opportunities to flush the black and gray tanks and oh the yuck that came out of them