Storage in Rainy locations

[MoreQuestionsThanAnswers]

I am considering an Escape 19. I would store in my driveway and would purchase a metal roof carport. Sides would need to be open. Winter weather is low 30s, sometimes 20s, lots of rain.

Is it asking for trouble to store it this way?

I will winterize and run a small dehumidifier, but I’d hate to degrade a nice trailer. Currently have a tear drop which fits in our one car detached garage. Unheated but perfectly dry.

[Sailingmiker]

Originally Posted by MoreQuestionsThanAnswers

I am considering an Escape 19. I would store in my driveway and would purchase a metal roof carport. Sides would need to be open. Winter weather is low 30s, sometimes 20s, lots of rain.

Is it asking for trouble to store it this way?

I will winterize and run a small dehumidifier, but I’d hate to degrade a nice trailer. Currently have a tear drop which fits in our one car detached garage. Unheated but perfectly dry.

We store our 2015 E19 outside, uncovered in Chimacum on the very wet Olympic Peninsula. It is plugged in and we run a very small heater set on the lowest setting mostly to circulate the air. Being an "egg" the trailer stays dry inside as long as it is closed up. I do not warm up the inside of the trailer as the warm air inside would cause moisture to build up on the inside of the uninsulated windows in the cold weather. Being uncovered it does need to get washed off outside periodically to keep moss from building up.
FYI we keep a sailboat in the water year round in the same fashion.

[ghosthunter]

I live in Mount Vernon, WA

I store my 15 B in the drive way with just a cloth cover. No issues.

[brroberts]

We stored our Bigfoot pickup camper outdoors in Ketchikan, AK for 10 years. We had 150” - 200” of rain a year including some snow and ice. We found it better to leave it uncovered as the cover eventually trapped water under it, and then it never dried out. I doubt it was ever truly dry until we moved to Kansas.

[7Gentex]

Originally Posted by brroberts

........... We had 150” - 200” of rain a year ................

WOW!

[dosby]

Originally Posted by ghosthunter

I live in Mount Vernon, WA

I store my 15 B in the drive way with just a cloth cover. No issues.

Same in Bellevue, WA, on a 3rd winter now
Cloth cover keeps it clean, and the cover does get moldy/mossy on the outside. I also cover spare tire post and hitch/propane tanks/front box.
I keep vents slightly open to circulate air, and a fridge door open.
As long as temps are above freezing, there is no frost build-up/melt. Slight condensation is ok, I guess, as the trailer has weeping holes.

[Ron in BC]

Same conditions here except probably far more rain as I live in a rain forest.

Depends on whether a trailer is plugged in or not. In my Ceramic Heat Emitter thread I detailed how well that small amount of convection current worked keeping the interior condensation and mold free.

Ron

[MoreQuestionsThanAnswers]

Originally Posted by Sailingmiker

We store our 2015 E19 outside, uncovered in Chimacum on the very wet Olympic Peninsula. It is plugged in and we run a very small heater set on the lowest setting mostly to circulate the air. Being an "egg" the trailer stays dry inside as long as it is closed up. I do not warm up the inside of the trailer as the warm air inside would cause moisture to build up on the inside of the uninsulated windows in the cold weather. Being uncovered it does need to get washed off outside periodically to keep moss from building up.
FYI we keep a sailboat in the water year round in the same fashion.

Thank you, very helpful. I know my dehumidifier produces some warm air so it’s probably equal to your heater.

[h2owmn]

In addition I would also recommend putting the cushions on pool noodles to reduce contact with the wood and wall covering, or removing them to the house if you will not be using your trailer during the winter. Also opening all doors and drawers and the refrigerator.

[MoreQuestionsThanAnswers]

Originally Posted by h2owmn

In addition I would also recommend putting the cushions on pool noodles to reduce contact with the wood and wall covering, or removing them to the house if you will not be using your trailer during the winter. Also opening all doors and drawers and the refrigerator.

Excellent

[NW Cat Owner]

I don't think our 21' would know what to think if it had a metal roof over it! Nor would our vehicles for that matter. The detached garage burned down years before we bought the place and it was never replaced.


Anyway, some winters we put the cover on and some we don't. I pull the cushions away from the walls as well as the bed (it's flipped up against the bathroom wall). All cabinets and drawers are opened.


I also wax the trailer twice a year to give it a coat of protection. So far, knock on wood, the outside still looks good, including the black cat decals all around it on the outside (I didn't get the ETI decals installed).



Moisture on the inside is much more of an issue when it's cold outside and warm inside the trailer (when out camping). Small portable dehumidifiers don't help very much. I ended up sewing rags together to go around the bed and behind the dinette to soak up the moisture and replace with another set when needed.


We have put the cover on during the summer as it's rarely used then.

[MoreQuestionsThanAnswers]

Originally Posted by NW Cat Owner

I don't think our 21' would know what to think if it had a metal roof over it! Nor would our vehicles for that matter. The detached garage burned down years before we bought the place and it was never replaced.


Anyway, some winters we put the cover on and some we don't. I pull the cushions away from the walls as well as the bed (it's flipped up against the bathroom wall). All cabinets and drawers are opened.


I also wax the trailer twice a year to give it a coat of protection. So far, knock on wood, the outside still looks good, including the black cat decals all around it on the outside (I didn't get the ETI decals installed).



Moisture on the inside is much more of an issue when it's cold outside and warm inside the trailer (when out camping). Small portable dehumidifiers don't help very much. I ended up sewing rags together to go around the bed and behind the dinette to soak up the moisture and replace with another set when needed.


We have put the cover on during the summer as it's rarely used then.

Awesome information, but let me get this straight. You camp in the winter, not the summer. You might dislike crowds as much as I do.

[Jim Bennett]

Our 5.0TA stays outside year round, rain, snow, wind, whatever. No roof or cover over it. Never had an issue yet. I do polish it up good once or twice a year.

Fortunately Calgary has quite low humidity so no need to dehumidify. We actually have the reverse issue that we need to add humidity in the house.

[MoreQuestionsThanAnswers]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

Our 5.0TA stays outside year round, rain, snow, wind, whatever. No roof or cover over it. Never had an issue yet. I do polish it up good once or twice a year.

Fortunately Calgary has quite low humidity so no need to dehumidify. We actually have the reverse issue that we need to add humidity in the house.

Thanks Jim.

[P&L]

We have our trailer under storage but instead of Al top, we used polycarbonate roof panels. When it rains, you don't hear the rain ping against the roof. It looks great and has held up well. I highly recommend!

This is the best photo I have at the time but here is a photo of the structure.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Suntop-2...8975/100037754

[MoreQuestionsThanAnswers]

Originally Posted by P&L

We have our trailer under storage but instead of Al top, we used polycarbonate roof panels. When it rains, you don't hear the rain ping against the roof. It looks great and has held up well. I highly recommend!

This is the best photo I have at the time but here is a photo of the structure.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Suntop-2...8975/100037754

Awesome information

[iamunique127]

Originally Posted by P&L

We have our trailer under storage but instead of Al top, we used polycarbonate roof panels. When it rains, you don't hear the rain ping against the roof. It looks great and has held up well. I highly recommend!

This is the best photo I have at the time but here is a photo of the structure.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Suntop-2...8975/100037754

Foam polycarbonate, that's interesting. I was wondering why you wouldn't get the "ping".

[P&L]

Originally Posted by iamunique127

Foam polycarbonate, that's interesting. I was wondering why you wouldn't get the "ping".

Metal vs a durable plastic--that was our personal debate. Our trailer is close to our neighbor's bedroom and hearing a hard rain on a metal roof could be annoying. The polycarbonate doesn't make a distinct sound when it rains.

We built this 8 years ago and it still looks great! We liked it so much we put this on our gazebo roof. We live in a hot summer area where we can always expect many days of over 100+F in the summer. Perfect for our needs.

[bborzell]

You mean something like this? I can turn you on the this manufacturer, if you like.

[MoreQuestionsThanAnswers]

Originally Posted by bborzell

You mean something like this? I can turn you on the this manufacturer, if you like.

That looks hell for stout. I’d love to know the mfg, thanks