Pros/Cons of leaving your motorhome on hook-up

[n8ess]

I'm still pretty green to the do's & don'ts

Can I ask the Pro & Cons to leaving your motorhome on hook-up whilst on your drive. I have a 500w oil filled radiator on a thermostat, just taking the chill off. Is this necessary or I am I just wasting money?

 

[David and Sally]

The heat is not needed. Just crack open a vent or two to get air moving. I would put the EHU on every few days for a few hours to top up the batteries if you don't have solar.

 

[TheBig1]

Think about it, dealers don't have all their vans hooked up all winter. If the water is drained off and cupboards open to ventilate, you are warming empty space and attracting condensation on the cold windows.

I heat ours if using it on the driveway as my man cave, but not if it is to just sit there

 

[n8ess]

Regarding draining the water, I can still see water in the shower drains, is this ok or should I be using something to force it out, just thinking of stagnant water?

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Regarding draining the water, I can still see water in the shower drains, is this ok or should I be using something to force it out, just thinking of stagnant water?

Its the freezing up you have to watch as it causes pipes to split,

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[pappajohn]

Think about it, dealers don't have all their vans hooked up all winter. If the water is drained off and cupboards open to ventilate, you are warming empty space and attracting condensation on the cold windows.

I heat ours if using it on the driveway as my man cave, but not if it is to just sit there

Your right, they don't.
What they do do is charge them the night before collection by the new owner when the battery has been flat for weeks or even months and the battery is knackered but shows enough charge to look ok .

Put it on charge for a few hours each week.
The battery will last far longer.

 

[Larrynwin]

I can never be sure that every last bit of water has drained so I leave my heating set at 8 degs as it blows through all areas with plumbing including underfloor, I leave all cupboard doors open and one small top vent just open as I never empty the van of all clothing etc.

 

[n8ess]

That was going to be my next question, "quilts & pillars" the good lady washes the bedding ready our next trip, being new to this we are still very keen and have taken the opportunity to go away most weekends, hence leaving the radiator on to keep things warm.

I don't leave my cupboards open, wouldn't want the neighbor's to see all my junk.

 

[PP Bear]

Bedding washed and ready for whenever, sealed in a vacuum bag.

Never heated it unless it’s being used and keep all my windows and vents etc closed. Plenty of natural air flowing already.

Use a good moisture trap to fight mould and condensation and have never suffered any in all my years.

Drain down water, boiler etc, disconnect shower hose as that cost me a mixer tap once as I forgot to do it one year. As for tiny bit of any residual water, if it did freeze and all the taps were open, it’ll expand a tiny amount along the pipes, but I have never seen that happen.

Best advice is to use it lots over the winter months as it’s lovely to be snuggled up inside a toasty van and watching weather outside.

 

[Stewart J]

No need for heating just ventilation, I have a 125w solar panel but it struggles in dull miserable winter weather so I check battery voltages several times a week and usually stick the van on ehu every 10 days or so for 5-6 hours just to boost them.

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[Figaro]

Regarding draining the water, I can still see water in the shower drains, is this ok or should I be using something to force it out, just thinking of stagnant water?

I put a little screen wash in the waste traps if subzero temperatures are forecast.
Make sure your tanks and boiler are drained and with 12v turned off, open the taps mid point and there should also be valves on the H&C which when opened will drain water from the tap body and pipework.

 

[Fdhadi]

Ours is stored indoors. I do have it on hookup but on a timer set to come on for one hour each day.
I open all top cupboards and wedge the fridge open.

 

[n8ess]

Should l be emptying the cupboards if I’m not using it for a few weeks?

 

[Gaston aires]

I switch on the power for a couple of nights every 2/3 weeks. That seems to work for me.
I also leave the fridge off and door open.
Phil

 

[Tombola]

Should l be emptying the cupboards if I’m not using it for a few weeks?

I dont, not in years. I leave them open for venting, couple of weeks wont harm you. Maybe the clothes need an "airing" but if you uar elike me you put anything on anyway

I do however have a static that closes for 4 months over winter, I cant leave anything in the wardrobe there as if it touches the walls milldew can appear on clothes

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[TinaLes]

Last winter when it was down to minus 4 overnight, I put a small screwfix 500 watt oil heater in the van on thermostat control, well it was so cold over the period that I didnt notice much difference when entering the van, but my home lecky bill did as it added about £18/20 to it, and all for nothing, lesson learnt.
This year just drained everything, blowing down taps, leave all taps open in mid position, remove shower hose place on floor, pump all water out of the electric toilet flush, open all cupboards, remove most clothing, pull blinds to keep sun from bleaching anything.
Leave all drain down taps open, fresh water tanks and pipes, Boiler Dump valve, grey waste.
Remove all tins/packets of food and remind myself I only need one of each type.
Take Azura Instant coffee out of van & use it in house, same with the real stuff it goes stale in no time.
Special jobs for LES
Pull Remis blinds over cab windows.
Take out and wash all microfibre cloths, no fabric softener, let dry naturally, dont forget to put back in van when done.
Sort out Tool box again.
Put clothes peg as a spacer under wiper blades during frost.
Check Tyre pressures.
Remove real sheepskins from all seats, take in house, dont let cat steal em.
Check battery charge levels on Victron phone app.
Reverse driver seat, Put driver seat Patriot Padlock in place, steering wheel lock, Growler alarm on, store van keys in metal biscuit tin.
Keep E bike Batteries in house (room Temp) stored to 50/60 per cent charged.
Park Car behind it.
LES

 

[dunnah01]

Last winter when it was down to minus 4 overnight, I put a small screwfix 500 watt oil heater in the van on thermostat control, well it was so cold over the period that I didnt notice much difference when entering the van, but my home lecky bill did as it added about £18/20 to it, and all for nothing, lesson learnt.
This year just drained everything, blowing down taps, leave all taps open in mid position, remove shower hose place on floor, pump all water out of the electric toilet flush, open all cupboards, remove most clothing, pull blinds to keep sun from bleaching anything.
Leave all drain down taps open, fresh water tanks and pipes, Boiler Dump valve, grey waste.
Remove all tins/packets of food and remind myself I only need one of each type.
Take Azura Instant coffee out of van & use it in house, same with the real stuff it goes stale in no time.
Special jobs for LES
Pull Remis blinds over cab windows.
Take out and wash all microfibre cloths, no fabric softener, let dry naturally, dont forget to put back in van when done.
Sort out Tool box again.
Put clothes peg as a spacer under wiper blades during frost.
Check Tyre pressures.
Remove real sheepskins from all seats, take in house, dont let cat steal em.
Check battery charge levels on Victron phone app.
Reverse driver seat, Put driver seat Patriot Padlock in place, steering wheel lock, Growler alarm on, store van keys in metal biscuit tin.
Keep E bike Batteries in house (room Temp) stored to 50/60 per cent charged.
Park Car behind it.
LES

Finish all this just in time to start loading the van for the first trip of the year

 

[n8ess]

Last winter when it was down to minus 4 overnight, I put a small screwfix 500 watt oil heater in the van on thermostat control, well it was so cold over the period that I didnt notice much difference when entering the van, but my home lecky bill did as it added about £18/20 to it, and all for nothing, lesson learnt.
This year just drained everything, blowing down taps, leave all taps open in mid position, remove shower hose place on floor, pump all water out of the electric toilet flush, open all cupboards, remove most clothing, pull blinds to keep sun from bleaching anything.
Leave all drain down taps open, fresh water tanks and pipes, Boiler Dump valve, grey waste.
Remove all tins/packets of food and remind myself I only need one of each type.
Take Azura Instant coffee out of van & use it in house, same with the real stuff it goes stale in no time.
Special jobs for LES
Pull Remis blinds over cab windows.
Take out and wash all microfibre cloths, no fabric softener, let dry naturally, dont forget to put back in van when done.
Sort out Tool box again.
Put clothes peg as a spacer under wiper blades during frost.
Check Tyre pressures.
Remove real sheepskins from all seats, take in house, dont let cat steal em.
Check battery charge levels on Victron phone app.
Reverse driver seat, Put driver seat Patriot Padlock in place, steering wheel lock, Growler alarm on, store van keys in metal biscuit tin.
Keep E bike Batteries in house (room Temp) stored to 50/60 per cent charged.
Park Car behind it.
LES

Thanks, just the information l needed, l also need to remove all the things out of the garage that l put in (just in case)

 

[63720]

Long stayers in Spain have their vans hooked up for months without problems.

 

[n8ess]

Does it have any detrimental effect on your batteries?

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[AndyPK]

A day or so before we go away, if the ‘van hasn’t been used for a couple of weeks, in winter I plug-in an electric under blanket on the fixed-bed (on EHU, of course) set on low just to ‘air’ the mattress and the bedding piled on top of it.

 

[Flairy]

Mines been on hook up since new when parked on the drive still on original batteries over20 years old .alde heater and fridge havent ever been off ,hope this helps.

 

[63720]

Does it have any detrimental effect on your batteries?

Didn't on mine with a mixture of campsites and wilding..

 

[Podney]

Mines been on hook up since new when parked on the drive still on original batteries over20 years old .alde heater and fridge havent ever been off ,hope this helps.

Cor blimey,20 years,is that a record? What make of batteries do you have?
I leave mine on hook up permanently when not in use as the Rapido handbook says that’s what should be done. It must have a controller built in to stop the batteries cooking.

 

[gpat]

I leave ours on Hook up all the time. Same with last 2 vans. When we have hab service always comes back with leisure battery in A1 condition

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[funflair]

Cor blimey,20 years,is that a record? What make of batteries do you have?
I leave mine on hook up permanently when not in use as the Rapido handbook says that’s what should be done. It must have a controller built in to stop the batteries cooking.

I am pretty sure they will be Exide G80 Gel, they were standard fit on N+B and Hymers back then.

 

[Flairy]

Yes I’ve just had a look exide gel as you know there under the garage floor .

 

[Richard n Ann]

Our leisure and starter batteries are maintained 24hrs a day with two optimate 2s. They can only deliver a small current of 0.8 amps so any battery malfunctions won't result in any heat

 

[WildBunch]

I have heard that a warm van in winter may attract vermin, who may want to eat your wiring !

 

[royandsharont]

That was going to be my next question, "quilts & pillars" the good lady washes the bedding ready our next trip, being new to this we are still very keen and have taken the opportunity to go away most weekends, hence leaving the radiator on to keep things warm.

I don't leave my cupboards open, wouldn't want the neighbor's to see all my junk.

We used to empty our van almost completely after each 2 month tour and for for sure over winter, even cushions etc but not the mattress.No fabrics left inside.

re leaving the cupboard doors open I would suggest it is a must. We did, and the oven fridge etc, so there were no isolated cold spots to attract condensation. We never heated it except just prior to use if necessary.

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