Florida Summer Moth Balling?

[MikeyP]

Getting mixed advice at the campground so I need your help guys. We winter in Florida and in the past drove the motor home back and forth from up north. But sold it and have a new Sanibel 5th wheel we bought recently and want to leave that on site from April to November -unoccupied. What are my major concerns?? Slides in or out? Gas at valve on or off? Vents, windows? Leave it on shore power? Drain off water or leave water in lines? Leave water in sewer tanks or dry? Sta-Dri products inside? Leave a vent fan on (we have weather covers on both vents). Battery connect or on disconnect? Being told to leave the air conditioners on and powered up at 78 degrees but for 8 months unattended it makes me very nervous. All and any advice welcome!!!!

[whj469]

Can you imagine the inside temp of a Florida summer? Leave ACs on as suggested.

[heavynlori]

Is there enough air circulation with multiple slideouts kept in and running AC - are the vents blocked much in those units that have numerous slides?

[MikeyP]

Looks like the two roof vents will be clear of the slides when in.

[jayandmarji]

We have 5er and leave a dehumidifier on the counter with hose into sink. Works great. No mold. We cover A\C on the roof because of wasps and muddobbers. They can clog up fan. Also be sure to get a dehumidifier that restarts after power outage. Some don't. Slides in. Gray water valve open. Leave drawers slightly open. Gas valves off and since plugged in for dehumidifier the battery will stay charged.

[Reverse_snowbird]

Originally Posted by jayandmarji

We have 5er and leave a dehumidifier on the counter with hose into sink. Works great. No mold. We cover A\C on the roof because of wasps and muddobbers. They can clog up fan. Also be sure to get a dehumidifier that restarts after power outage. Some don't. Slides in. Gray water valve open. Leave drawers slightly open. Gas valves off and since plugged in for dehumidifier the battery will stay charged.

- and turn off the water at the post. A large bucket of Damp Rid works if you don't have a dehumidifier.

[IDguy]

Mold is your main foe. I forget the name for the black stuff but it grows fast. Be sure to cover your RV and expect the cover to be a mess.

[Tom-n-Dale]

You don't want to leave the slides out. Your time frame includes hurricane season, so the slides should be left in. We live in Orlando and have a 2015 REV rb. It is in the driveway plugged in. I would add a mechanical battery disconnect on the battery post. Our windows are crank out awing style so I open two on each side and leave the covered vent open. A heavy blowing rain can still blow in the covered vent and the windows. I close the windows if it is going to be really bad weather.

A dehumidifier can have the filter clog and fill the reservoir then shut off, the one in the house did while away in Ohio. Damp rid would run out long before 9 months are up.

Consider indoor storage.

[IDguy]

Originally Posted by IDguy

Mold is your main foe. I forget the name for the black stuff but it grows fast. Be sure to cover your RV and expect the cover to be a mess.

Mildew is the word!

[PenJoe]

Nobody has mentioned the moth balls yet. There are rats and mice that we don't often see during the day. However, they will access any area where there is an opening. Squirrels and rabbit, though larger, will do the same thing.

We leave our vehicle in Florida when we go north. and put a fitted cover on it. The battery is removed as-well. A liberal amount (about a small box) of moth balls is scattered on the ground underneath, in the motor compartment and any areas that critters can access. Having wired in a rear view camera and backup sensors, it was surprising how much is accessible from underneath. We have not had a problem-except for a bit of odor when we start using it.

We have done the same thing in our campers over the years. Again, not having a problem. We would rather put up with faint moth ball odors for a short time, than the smell of mouse urine and chewed wiring. Electrical wire insulation in RVs and vehicles. is plant based and rodents will eat it.

[Reverse_snowbird]

Originally Posted by PenJoe

Nobody has mentioned the moth balls yet. A liberal amount (about a small box) of moth balls is scattered on the ground underneath, in the motor compartment and any areas that critters can access.

MOTHBALLS? NO. They are toxic to people.

"...mothballs are pesticides that come in a solid form, but they volatilize– changing slowly into a gas. Mothballs produced in the U.S. contain one of two active ingredient chemicals: naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene. Exposure to large quantities of naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene can lead to headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or eye and nose irritation and coughing. Furthermore, if exposed for an extended duration, they can lead to more serious effects like liver and kidney damage."
from A mothball mishap?

[PenJoe]

Originally Posted by Reverse_snowbird

MOTHBALLS? NO. They are toxic to people.

"...mothballs are pesticides that come in a solid form, but they volatilize– changing slowly into a gas. Mothballs produced in the U.S. contain one of two active ingredient chemicals: naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene. Exposure to large quantities of naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene can lead to headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or eye and nose irritation and coughing. Furthermore, if exposed for an extended duration, they can lead to more serious effects like liver and kidney damage."
from A mothball mishap?

"Exposure to large quantities" and "exposed for an extended duration" are key phrases. People have used moth balls in their closets for as long as I can remember. As stated, moth balls turn to gas and dissipate. If something is stored for a period of time, there will only be faint residual odors. Putting these in an unused area will have little to no effect on humans. When we returned this season, the moth balls had dissipated. We aired the vehicle interior by opening the windows for a few hours and the odor was gone. Upholstery and electrical wiring was intact. Mission accomplished.

I just read the directions on a box of moth balls and there are warning as there are on many other household products. It is the rule of common sense.

[FlaNative]

The only place we put mothballs is at the jacks and near the tires. We've not had a problem with critters since doing that. The only thing about doing that is that they do not last long: only about 2-3 weeks.

On our old Sunnybrook (wish we still had it) we had a dead mouse just below the stove. Not a good thing: stunk badly! Had to clean the area very well. The mothballs help.

[233s]

I live in south Florida and store my trailer at a lot. I clean the camper, prop the refrigerator open, cover the tires, put wood under the tires, disconnect the battery, turn off the gas, drain the fresh water tank, and put sanitizer in the black water tank with a gallon of water. I’ve never had any problems with mold, smells, or anything like that. Propping the fridge open is a must, but other than that, seems to be ok. Definitely bring in the slides, disconnect the battery, turn off the gas and water. I do wish I could put a cover on it. That florida sun is intense.

[MikeyP]

Great advice guys. So leave the gray tank open (with humidifier) and black tank closed with a couple gallons and some chems in it. The shore power stays on - but ??? disconnect the battery. OK. Do I need to worry about an inverter running?

[233s]

Guess my point is that I’ve never had mold problems.