What should I remove for winter storage

[Diesel Greg]

I know the title is kind of generic but here goes with my questions. I know to remove all food especially anything in cardboard boxes or in bags and in glass jars. What about linens, clothes, towels can these be left in the camper or should I remove everything. I also understand that cleaning products should probably removed like liquid soaps. What is the consensus of what I can leave in the camper, I know I that mice can be a horrible problem and don’t want to create a nice comfortable home for them

 

[Sunseeker16]

I remove anything that will be harmed by freezing temps and leave the rest.

 

[Iwritecode]

We take most of our clothes out and put all our blankets and linens in 18-gal rubbermaid tubs that we leave in the bathtub.

All cleaners and soaps and stuff come in the house.

 

[NXR]

Any water-related accessories, such as a pressure regulator. Guess how I know...

Ray

 

[5picker]

We always removed anything that could freeze or removed/put in sealed totes anything rodents (mice/rats/squirrels) could get into.
They will get into drawers and cabinets unless the are completely enclosed. They love towels and blankets.

Now... we just go south!

 

[flyflotrtim]

Our temps dont get much below freezing and our trailer is in our garage so we don't take out anything except fresh food. Canned and box foods stay in the trailer unless they need to be rotated with newer product.

 

[ChrisParise]

I know the title is kind of generic but here goes with my questions. I know to remove all food especially anything in cardboard boxes or in bags and in glass jars. What about linens, clothes, towels can these be left in the camper or should I remove everything. I also understand that cleaning products should probably removed like liquid soaps. What is the consensus of what I can leave in the camper, I know I that mice can be a horrible problem and don’t want to create a nice comfortable home for them

As long as your linens and any clothes are in a tight cabinet you should be okay. Better is bringing a tote or 2 into the rv and store them inside with a tight closing lid

I don't leave anything in a drawer. And I remove the bathroom and kitchen drawers. They retain odors mice like. I wash the utensils and store them in a zip lock bag in the drawer and keep them in the house. Or put those drawers in a cabinet or tote in the rv that closes tight

 

[aceinspp]

I used to move all can goods any any type food.Remove all liquid products as thy can freeze. left all linens in camper after having washed the. some clothes I left in draws and coats I left in closets. Never had issue with any mice or other critters. Of course my camper has always been parked next to my home plugged in. Later RJD Later RJD

 

[Jean D]

Totes

We put all the linens and bath towels in a tight closing tote then leave on top of the bed. All the dishes and silverware go in other totes and sit on the kitchen floor.

Our camper sits in the driveway in front of the house so every month or so we do a quick check for rodents. Every year we have to evict mice from our zero turn lawn mower engine!!

Oh heck we bought a new water pressure regulator that we haven’t used yet I better get it out of the water hose bucket!

 

[Bob K4TAX]

Any and everything that will be likely damaged due to freezing. As to linens and clothes, freezing won't damage them. If you should have rodents, they might find them very comfy and join your family with their families next Spring.

Bob

 

[ChrisParise]

We put all the linens and bath towels in a tight closing tote then leave on top of the bed. All the dishes and silverware go in other totes and sit on the kitchen floor.

Our camper sits in the driveway in front of the house so every month or so we do a quick check for rodents. Every year we have to evict mice from our zero turn lawn mower engine!!

Oh heck we bought a new water pressure regulator that we haven’t used yet I better get it out of the water hose bucket!

^^^^^^^

 

[Reverse_snowbird]

Unfortunately, mice and other rodents can chew through plastic totes. So you might be building the mice a nice motel for the winter.

We bring home all clothes and bedding because they tend to mildew in our humid climate. Basically we strip out anything that's not nailed down and store it at home.

So far (knock on wood), we haven't had a mice problem in our enclosed storage unit. I suspect that they are more attracted to the barbecue trailers that businesses store in other units at night.

 

[oacasal]

Hi, this may be a stretch but I like to keep all shore power cords inside the garage instead of leaving them inside the camper. The reason for this is that the cords are not new, the cord insulation have been exposed to heat from all the camping trips. So, my thinking is to keep them at a garage room temperature to prevent cracking the cord insulation where they can be bridle because of the cold and their age when trying to un-coil them if I plan to take the camper in March or April if the weather is reasonable. I am sure you have noticed how stiff they can get when they have been stored inside the RV or camper.
One other thing I like to do is to remove the battery or batteries, i keep them inside the garage in trickle charge mode.
I also have done some of the other suggestions shared here. Happy winter! - Otto.

 

[drkaren55]

My winterizing routine

I bought galvanized steel, locking trash cans for dishes, silverware, utensils, etc. I leave the filled cans in the RV over the winter. I store them in my basement during the campoing season. I put pans in the microwave. Sheets come home to be washed and stored. Comforters, blankets, pillows go in compression storage bags then onto the over the cab area. I never keep food in the RV between trips so that's not an issue. I leave foaming soap, dish detergent in.
We use RV antifreeze to winterize the water systems (black, fresh and grey). Next year we want to learn how to blow the system out using forced air. I don't like the lingering taste of the antifreeze.

 

[NJKris]

I bought galvanized steel, locking trash cans for dishes, silverware, utensils, etc. I leave the filled cans in the RV over the winter. I store them in my basement during the campoing season. I put pans in the microwave. Sheets come home to be washed and stored. Comforters, blankets, pillows go in compression storage bags then onto the over the cab area. I never keep food in the RV between trips so that's not an issue. I leave foaming soap, dish detergent in.
We use RV antifreeze to winterize the water systems (black, fresh and grey). Next year we want to learn how to blow the system out using forced air. I don't like the lingering taste of the antifreeze.

Ugh, never put antifreeze in your fresh tank, no wonder you can't stand the taste! Yes, blowing out lines can do the job if done thoroughly and methodically, It's all I've done for past 6 winters. You do need to remember to remove your water pump strainer and dump it during this process. And you really don't need antifreeze in your gray or black tank, but DO need a little bit in the toilet to keep seal wet which is what keeps fumes OUT from black tank. I have not had mouse issues in the camper, but they do get into my garage and basement so I know how much trouble they can be, therefore don't leave stacks of towels or other 'nesting' material in there.

 

[Freetyme]

Really only need to remove food as to not tempt rodents, and liquids susceptible to freezing. We put towels and such in vacuum space bags into totes and leave in the camper. I pull all the batteries out of non removables. TV and remotes come in the house, not sure that's necessary but just always have. Most everything else can remain.

 

[NJKris]

Really only need to remove food as to not tempt rodents, and liquids susceptible to freezing. We put towels and such in vacuum space bags into totes and leave in the camper. I pull all the batteries out of non removables. TV and remotes come in the house, not sure that's necessary but just always have. Most everything else can remain.

Thanks for reminder to remove batteries from the electronic door lock. I already removed the tire pressure sensor caps. My first set of batteries in them lasted 5 years just by removing them over winter (they don't waste power transmitting when removed).

 

[ejl923]

Cushions is a big one, don’t want those chewed up, not easy to replace. I remove almost everything except wdh parts, wooden level blocks. For me, having a near empty camper allows a quick mid winter inspection looking for rodents. Don’t have to sift through crates or boxes or whatever. A little overboard, but not a lot of time if you got the space to put things elsewhere. I have a smaller camper, so in less than an hour, it’s just about empty.

 

[Rob0702]

Winter Storage

I agree with what Sunseeker16 said. We live in central Georgia, south of Atlanta, where the temps, believe it or not, can sometimes deep into the teens during some winter days and nights. We take out anything that can freeze, such as cleaners, liquid hand soap, laundry detergent, etc. We leave our blankets, sheets and pillows in vacuum sealed bags, and store them in the under bed storage compartment. So far (knock wood) we haven't had any problems with critters.

 

[wolfnwillow]

We take everything out that a mouse can nest in especially paper products. The only thing we leave in is dishes, pots, pans, etc. Hard metal or wood sided items like misc tools and components for the rig itself. Do not leave a grill in! Unless you have some how got it spotless which is unlikely.