It's hard to believe but after just one outing with my ViP 520 I've already laid it up for the winter.
We had hoped to get away some more but there's always something else on, however after browsing through this forum I've picked up a few helpful hints suitable for the purpose.
As I do all my own mechanical work and being a bit fussy I've washed off all the excess grease and grit from the wheel steadies and re greased them with fresh grease. I cannot understand why some folk spread grease all over the place as it just attracts dirt. The same work work was applied to the tow hitch.
While I was underneath I've given the chassis a good clean using the power wash, now I know some frown on this but with carefull use and avoiding direct contact with the underside of the van I reckon I'm ok and being fussy I cleaned the entire underside by hand so it's now as clean as it left the factory and this also allowed me to carry out a thorough inspection on the underside.
Inside I used the compressor air blow gun (carefully) to blow all the excess water from the system and left all the taps open. I stripped out the pump and hose assembly from the toilet flush and "boy was it dirty". I used a household spray cleaner with added bleach and rinsed all the black bacteria and dirt out with the hose. Before re-assembling the pump etc I dried the inside of the tank out. I have also sprayed some "Thetford" seal lubricant onto the rubber seal of the toilet waste.
I've removed all the bedding and stored it in one of those vacuum bags (quite good actually) but have elected to keep this in the house. I have also removed all items of food etc and have stored any cleaning material, the usual spray cleaners, shampoo and soap in a plastic bucket and placed this in the shower. This is just in case they do freeze but I doubt that they will. Finally I have given the van a thorough clean both inside and out.
As a provision of the undisclosed storage area I have removed both gas bottles, so my pride and joy is locked up, alarmed, Alco wheel lock, Alko ball and hitch lock and to cap it all it's behind a locked gate so I should be able to sleep at night. As it has a brand new leisure battery this should last the few months but I can always fit a spare battery I have to allow me to re charge the battery as I will more than likely require to use the power mover to get it back out in the spring.
I do have to return very soon to put my Protec cover on it as the daylight was passing and I will require some assistance with this. I hope I have not missed out on anything as the "Boss" will not be amused if I have but already I am looking forward to the early spring to get back "out on the road".
We had hoped to get away some more but there's always something else on, however after browsing through this forum I've picked up a few helpful hints suitable for the purpose.
As I do all my own mechanical work and being a bit fussy I've washed off all the excess grease and grit from the wheel steadies and re greased them with fresh grease. I cannot understand why some folk spread grease all over the place as it just attracts dirt. The same work work was applied to the tow hitch.
While I was underneath I've given the chassis a good clean using the power wash, now I know some frown on this but with carefull use and avoiding direct contact with the underside of the van I reckon I'm ok and being fussy I cleaned the entire underside by hand so it's now as clean as it left the factory and this also allowed me to carry out a thorough inspection on the underside.
Inside I used the compressor air blow gun (carefully) to blow all the excess water from the system and left all the taps open. I stripped out the pump and hose assembly from the toilet flush and "boy was it dirty". I used a household spray cleaner with added bleach and rinsed all the black bacteria and dirt out with the hose. Before re-assembling the pump etc I dried the inside of the tank out. I have also sprayed some "Thetford" seal lubricant onto the rubber seal of the toilet waste.
I've removed all the bedding and stored it in one of those vacuum bags (quite good actually) but have elected to keep this in the house. I have also removed all items of food etc and have stored any cleaning material, the usual spray cleaners, shampoo and soap in a plastic bucket and placed this in the shower. This is just in case they do freeze but I doubt that they will. Finally I have given the van a thorough clean both inside and out.
As a provision of the undisclosed storage area I have removed both gas bottles, so my pride and joy is locked up, alarmed, Alco wheel lock, Alko ball and hitch lock and to cap it all it's behind a locked gate so I should be able to sleep at night. As it has a brand new leisure battery this should last the few months but I can always fit a spare battery I have to allow me to re charge the battery as I will more than likely require to use the power mover to get it back out in the spring.
I do have to return very soon to put my Protec cover on it as the daylight was passing and I will require some assistance with this. I hope I have not missed out on anything as the "Boss" will not be amused if I have but already I am looking forward to the early spring to get back "out on the road".
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