Winter outdoor storage. What do you leave inside the RV?

[BravoDeltaRomeo]

My RV gets stored outside all year. +40 to -40. If gets covered in the winter.

I know the Escape is fairly rodent proof but we still take precautions with metal mesh on some vents and Bounce sheets scattered in areas.

We remove all food but leave the plates and dishes.

Are people worried about leaving linens, towels, clothes in the RV and have ammo for the rodents to nest?

We took everything out last year but it is a hassle and I would prefer to leave it out there. I have camping clothing and jackets. Our towels and bedding is strictly for camping. So my preference would be to leave it in there full time.

Just wondering.

 

[iamunique127]

We live in a similar climate (haha) and also cover the trailer in winter. We have the spray foam insulation so I think the trailer is pretty well sealed but I have added metal mesh to some vents and use dryer sheets liberally. We leave dishes in the trailer but any food goes back to the house. My wife removes the bedding from the bed and stores it in plastic bags in the trailer (to keep it clean I think). We leave all our towels in their cupboard and some other blankets and things in other cupboards. So far so good.
We park our trailer in a grassy area so to control the mouse habitat the best I can I am out there to cut the grass every week or two in the spring/summer and fall.

 

[Home Bartender Ann]

We leave sheets, towels and blankets in the trailer in a tub for the winter. We don’t leave food or spices as they turn into lumps by the following year, and attract rodents and bugs. Speaking of rodents.. I don’t have the spray foam under the trailer, and have not had issues with rodent where we are, but have thought of getting some rodent foam to fill anything I can. If it’s anything like construction foam, once you start using the can, you have to use it all. But this stuff has worked on my own home with great success, why not a trailer?

Tomcat Rodent Block Expanding Foam Barrier, Fills Gaps to Keep Mice From Entering the Home, 12 oz. https://a.co/d/6Bg6zDE

 

[BravoDeltaRomeo]

Thanks for the replies and experiences.

We also bring in all fluids (dish soap, hand soap, toothpaste), all chemicals (maintenance oils, grease, always) as well as all flashlights and batteries so they don't die or shorten their lifespan.

I think I'll store our linens and my camping clothes and jackets in the trailer this year. I'll put them in a Plano or two and leave them on the bed or on the floor.

 

[hugh]

We leave all non-food goods in the trailer year round. That said, because our Mid-Atlantic weather is fairly mild, we use the trailer in the winter as well.

 

[emers382]

We were until two weeks ago living close to the OP and Lyle as well, but are now in Prince
Rupert visiting our son before going over to Vancouver Island, our new home. I may use the trailer during the winter but otherwise will be in storage, likely outside. Should I get a cover? What is safe to leave? Any west coasters that could help me out?

 

[Wig]

Peppermint oil works well to deter the critters, I place 3 to 4 drops on a cotton ball and place them in various locations throughout the trailer. I live in New England and I cover my 21C, I use a Calmark cover.

 

[Ron in BC]

I may use the trailer during the winter but otherwise will be in storage, likely outside. Should I get a cover? What is safe to leave? Any west coasters that could help me out?

It really depends on where you live. Climate plays a role.

I live in a rain forest. The potential for mold and mildew is higher than some drier areas. But in 40+ years of boats, RVs and trailers I've always done the same thing. Leave a small heat source, like a couple of light bulbs or, now, reptile heaters in vertical ducts that provide just enough of a convection current to avoid any problems. I don't like the thought of leaving an electric heater running unattended all winter.

Everything, bedding, cushions etc. remain in the trailer without any problems.

I do one thing different from most folks. I put a piece of painters poly over the trailer first. It comes in a 10' roll and is thin, like a dry cleaners bag. The cover slips over it and there's no abrasion between the cover and the gelcoat. The painters poly sheet is also waterproof so the trailers stays clean and dry.

Ron

 

[CE Vogel]

In addition to rodents, you need to think about moisture, leading to mold. I live in a very wet climate, and moisture control is more concerning than rodents. I remove all food and liquids. I leave all my linens in my trailer, but either in sealed containers or hanging so they get lots of ventilation. I pull the mattresses away from exterior walls to provide ventilation. I also run a small heater, on a thermostat, to warm the interior to reduce moisture. You may want to consider removing the batteries and putting them in a garage or basement; this is especially true for lithium batteries as they don't like sub-freezing temperatures. I've been following this protocol for 15 years and never had a mold, rodent, or insect problem.

 

[BravoDeltaRomeo]

In addition to rodents, you need to think about moisture, leading to mold. I live in a very wet climate, and moisture control is more concerning than rodents. I remove all food and liquids. I leave all my linens in my trailer, but either in sealed containers or hanging so they get lots of ventilation. I pull the mattresses away from exterior walls to provide ventilation. I also run a small heater, on a thermostat, to warm the interior to reduce moisture. You may want to consider removing the batteries and putting them in a garage or basement; this is especially true for lithium batteries as they don't like sub-freezing temperatures. I've been following this protocol for 15 years and never had a mold, rodent, or insect problem.

I run one of those small air circulators and have a couple Bluetooth hydrometers to monitor.

We remove liquids as well.

I purchased a Thule vented mattress liner (made for rooftop tents) which will be installed soon. I just need to trim it to size.

 

[DebbieF-ESC]

@CE Vogel what small heater do you use?

Thank you

 

[CE Vogel]

I use a Vornado VH5 heater: VH5 Personal Heater - Vornado. This heater does not come with a thermostat, so I made one up using an extension cord, electric utility box, and wall mount electric heat thermostat.
I chose the Vornado VH5 because at 750 watts it will not overload the extension cord to the trailer.

 

[JabberwockJazzy]

Does anyone else remove their mattress over the winter and bring it indoors?

 

[CE Vogel]

Does anyone else remove their mattress over the winter and bring it indoors?

I did remove the mattresses from my prior, much smaller trailer. The trailer spent the winter in the driveway under tarps here in the rainy Pacific NW, with a small heater to keep from freezing. One year I forgot to remove the mattresses, but the next spring everything was fine. My current trailer spends the winter in an unheated metal building, again with a small heater inside. I have never removed the mattresses, and never had a problem. I do pull the mattresses away from the wall.

 

[alanmalk]

I found out - the hard way - that in Colorado any liquid soap products will freeze and expand in their containers. Not a pretty sight...

(My lithium batteries seemed to have survived better than the soaps.)

 

[Jim Bennett]

Since owning an Escape from early 2009 on I have never once had a mouse or vole issue in the trailer.

Here in Calgary aside from winterizing the trailer I bring in all beer as I would hate it to go to waste. All drinks come in. All food stuff comes in. Everything else stays out there as it is meant to live in there.

No heat is used, there is just no need, with the rare exception that someone says in there.

I know my whiskey would survive okay out there during the winter, but it does me better by being inside. Yes, my liquor cabinet was emptied.

 

[BravoDeltaRomeo]

I'll admit to being obsessed with Humidity in our Escape. I have a feeling the humidity, thawing, freezing, was partially to blame for the soft floor and water damage in our precious stick build.

I run the Caframo Stor-Dry fan (during winter) as it can be -30 one day and +3 a week later. Humidity during that time can be 90%. As sealed as the Escape is, I see the humidity climb inside, if the outside humidity is climbing, regardless of how well sealed the Escape is. During the non winter months, when not in use, I'll run a dehumidifier inside the Escape to keep it under 50% (usually around 40%).

It's nice to see varying methods people use or lack of methods or no methods. It seems nobody is reporting any issues in the spring or when the trailer gets opened up, so that is a testament to the build quality in these units.

My goal for monitoring humidity and taking some precautions is to keep the Escape in use as long as I possibly can.

 

[MrLynn]

We leave our Escape under a canopy and make sure there are windows and vents open all the time. The only time we have had problems with humidity was when the trailer was closed up and/or someone was using it. Closing the windows and breathing will add plenty of humidity to the inside.

My wife brings the clothing and bedding inside the house in the winter.

 

[BravoDeltaRomeo]

Just an update on the humidity inside my completely sealed 19E.

I run the following fan:

Amazon.ca

Outside humidity is: 90%
Inside Escape 19E is: 50.9% (43% average for the month)

This unit seems to work well for my needs to control humidity, is about $125 at the moment (Canadian), doesn't require an outlet for water and doesn't drain too much power.

It draws too much to run solely on my 190w solar panel, so I leave the escape plugged in for winter.

 

[iamunique127]

What happens to the water it collects?