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I have read some threads online that discuss the salt air from the oceans causing the fifth wheels to rust....especially in the underbelly area. What are your thoughts on this?
-- Edited by two 4 the road on Monday 21st of October 2013 08:21:16 PM
-- Edited by two 4 the road on Wednesday 23rd of October 2013 09:36:13 AM
poor maintenance causes rust.......doesnt make a difference weather its parked on the coast.... parked in the woods or sitting out in the dessert
if you are parked on the coast wash the undercarriage and coat it as it needs it......... the same is needed if its parked in the woods or if you frequent parks without pads....
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1998 ...Harney Renegade DP class A
rers1@mail.com
My Service dog and life partner " Nikki"......Klee Kia Miniature Husky....(she Runs the ship!!)
We are not lost in the Woods.....Just Extreme boondocking!!!!!!
Pretty much what Mike said.We’ve had rigs on the coast of Florida for years.Like 35+ years and never seen any difference in deterioration.Now, if they were sitting right on the ocean or Gulf and in continuous salt spray for a long time that is a different story.But just being “on the coast” hasn’t been a problem for us and some of our rigs have been there 25 years. (Really)
There was an issue with lesser quality RVs having been used by FEMA and those trailers are not anything that most people would want used. I am not sure but, I think, that they were travel trailers. I know that when we were in NC and one of the big hurricanes had went through, FEMA was recruiting units from where ever they could get them. Not a great idea to buy something that someone lived in that didn't have a clue or care about maintenance and often whether the place was kept clean. I knew someone who went and looked at what was available at the time since he rented trailers out and he said they weren't good.
Our 5th wheel was manufactured in 1994. Since then it has been stored outdoors 6 miles from the pacific ocean. Our favorite camping spots are along the beach in southern California so it has been subjected to salt air for 20 years.
Originally the frame was painted black at the factory over the years surface rust has developed but nothing more than surface rust except on the rear square tube bumper. Every 3 or 4 years I have to scrape, sand prime and paint the bumper.
Otherwise the only maintenance I do is to rinse off the 5th wheel when we return from camping at the beach and wash the entire 5th wheel once per year.
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"Small House, Big Yard "
"May the FOREST be with you" Alfa See-Ya 5'er and 2007 Kodiak C4500 Monroe
if you took an honest poll of how many people check there frame for rust and repair it annually on there unit, I think you would find it would be 2 in 10.....it normally is not an issue except on the day of purchase.
normally the last thing to go on a unit is the frame in fact most frames are still intact when the unit is being pulled to the scrap yard.
the only thing I would watch for on coastal units is electrolysis corrosion on aluminum skinned coaches...the salt & moisture will pit and create holes in the skin and create unseen water damage.....thats why a good annual inspection.....Wash & wax....and all around maintainance schedule is needed.
a simple task can become a major nite-mare if you put it off
let it go and it will!!!!!
__________________
1998 ...Harney Renegade DP class A
rers1@mail.com
My Service dog and life partner " Nikki"......Klee Kia Miniature Husky....(she Runs the ship!!)
We are not lost in the Woods.....Just Extreme boondocking!!!!!!
