When your teardrop isn't in use...

[Claw]

I keep mine stocked and ready to roll during the camping season. Last winter I emptied my galley of its food stores,drained the water, took the Duracell batteries out of the lights and took all my clothes out. I washed and folded my bed linens and left them on the mattress all winter.
Then one warm day last spring I hung the linens out on a line for the day to catch the smell of melting snow prior to making up the bed and restocking everything.

[Unkl Ron]

I've camped in a Motor Home(s), Truck Camper(s), etc. etc. for many years and now a Tear Drop for almost a year. I've always kept the "Camping Unit" fully packed, so I could leave on trips with only having to stop to stock up on food. I never keep food items in the Tear Drop. Seems to help keep the critters out of same. Over the years the habits and results have been the same. For instance:

As far as keeping clothing, etc. I keep it all (separated) in individual (LARGE) freezer size zip lock bags. You can stuff a ton of stuff into one of those bags. Makes it really easy to get to stuff and I've found that everything stays clean (free from critters & dust) for literally months. You can squeeze the air out of the bags when closing, which makes storing easier. I also throw in a (unsented) sheet of "Bounce" (like you would use in the dryer) into each zip lock bag. Don't lay it in flat, wad it up and stuff it in one corner. In all my adventures, I've always had clean (vermin free) clothes, linens, towels, etc. Then, when I get back from camping I do the "Camping Wash", repack and I'm good to go for the next trip.

I also have a Hi/Lo thermometer in the galley and one in the sleeping cabin. I use the analog variety (no batteries). I don't have to worry about cold where I live, but I was interested in how HOT it would get inside. Since last November, the highest temperature I've seen is 105 deg. inside the Galley (which isn't insulated as well). That was not while camping, but between trips. My Tear is stored in an uninsulated garage. So I don't think excessive heat would be an issue with any of my electronics, etc. You might want to try one out in yours and see how hot/cold it really gets. Don't have to check it much, just take a peek at it when you are putzing around packing stuff or getting ready to head out. Then reset it after you check.

I also hang a Big Dog "flea collar" strip in the galley and cabin area. Cut one in half - they're big. It seems to keep all the (ahem) Florida critters out of my Tear. At least I haven't seen any dead ones lying around - since November. So either they leave before dying or don't invade the space. I guess it works. But, I have however, noticed a recent uncontrollable urge to lick parts of my body, but I think that's because I may have a salt deficiency (at least I hope that's it).

[Unkl Ron]

Oh yeah. I've tried the chemicals etc. for dampness. They seem to work fine. But, for a long time though, I've used coffee. One pound metal can, ground, half empty, plastic lid on bottom, porous shelf liner tied around the top. Shove it in a corner or shelf in the sleeping area. Makes the Tear smell kinda nice and haven't had any problems with dampness, etc. - so far anyway. Get the cheap stuff - Starbucks not necessary to get the desired effect. I replace it about every 2 months. Seems to work just as well as the chemicals - at least in the Tear. Had a friend that did the same thing with Jack Daniels, but the liquid seemed to evaporate out of the bottle in just a few days. He does swear by his solution, however.

Another thing I've tried. Remember the Flea Collar post..... When I'm in camp I wrap a Flea Collar strip around the unbilicals, stabilizer jacks, etc. So far, even if Florida, I haven't had any ants invade the Tear. Hmmm, maybe that works too... Always had a problem in California with ants in the MH, but that was a whole different exercise. Never used the Flea Collars till I moved to Florida - go figgure.. But everywhere I camp I see ANTS - Everywhere.... They don't necessarily bother me, I just don't want em in the Tear...

[Gaelen]

wow, everyone, good suggestions!

I'm up north...not so far up as the Adirondacks, but only about an hour and a half from the St. Lawrence seaway. I have to worry about heat (90+ some summer days), humidity, and of course cold (-10 or more). And hard as I'm trying to find indoor/garage storage for the Sunspot, it is currently spending all of its days outdoors, and it may have to spend the winter tarped/covered in the back field I mentioned in the first post...it's 4 freaking inches too tall for my carport.

I did find a couple of Rubbermaid snap-top storage boxes at Big Lots that are impregnated with cedar, and I may use them as underbed storage for clean sheets, towels and small stuff (along with some spare space bags, which are just big ziplocks at heart) during the summer. I won't leave any food in the galley...just as easy to keep and restock the food box if it's in the front hall closet between trips. But I'm leaning toward pulling everything out of the tear (except the cot, table, step stool, and maybe the cookset and plates) when I put it up for the winter.
Love the coffee and flea collars plans...I've heard that before.

Time to clean out a shelf of the front closet for storage space.

[Unkl Ron]

...it's 4 freaking inches too tall for my carport.

Try a set of rims w/o tires mounted. For purely winter storage, it may fit. It'll still roll good. I know it sounds kinda lame, but - what the hey...may be better than keeping it in a field (covered).

[Todah Tear]

I have some cedar oil in a spray bottle. I just spray various areas of the tear with the oil to repel creepy crawlers. It also smells nice.

I have also started sraying my sneakers and socks with it for when I do yard work. It keeps the chiggers away.

Todah

[pete42]

I've been moving things into the camper, but am leery of leaving stuff like pillows, my sleeping bag, sheets, towels, etc. in there when I'm not actually camping. Most of the time when it's not on the road, the SunSpot lives under a tree in my sister's significant other's back field. I don't leave any food in the camper, but bugs and mice could be a problem as the weather gets colder.

Do most of you leave linens and sleeping stuff in the camper between trips?
-- if yes, do you just leave it in place (on the bed, in the cupboards, etc.?)that is what I did after washing it


-- if no, what do you do with it?
---- pull it out of the camper when you get home, do the laundry, and pack the cleaned linens/sleeping bags back in the camper after it's cleaned up?
---- store it in spacebags or storage bins in the camper until the next trip?
---- strip out the camper at the end of a trip and load the linens/sleeping bag back in as part of packing for the next trip?

Gaelen (if I can't go camping, at least I can clean and organize!)

I never left any food in camper I did leave all the mechanical things hoses, cords, jacks ect
I even have camper clothes that once washed go back into the trailer
I also keep shower stuff there towels, flip-flops, bag soap shampoo.
in over 50 years of camping I have never had mice in the camper.
when it is parked inside which is where I kept mine I do use decon
I always place bait near both tires and the front jack.
I like to be ready to go just add foodstuff and hit the road.......
Pete

[iplay10us2]

I keep mine ready to roll year-round. When I return from camping, I launder sheets, towels, clean dishes, galley, and whatever else needs to be done, and then put it all back in. I do keep a small tub in the house with salt, pepper, olive oil, etc that I replenish and have ready to put in the camper when it's time to head out. Mine is kept in the carport and under a Walmart cover, but that is mainly to keep it from getting cat prints on it. I've never used any product inside for mold, smell, mice or anything.

[mechmagcn]

My tear is ready to go whenever I get the urge to hook up linens and such are washed and returned to it immediately and there ard usually enough canned goods in the cabinet for a day or two. I also keep enough clothes in there for a weekend.

[Mukilteo]

Have to strip every thing out and leave the cupboard cabinets and drawers open so the bad guys see there is nothing of value.
I put Damp Rid in it.
Can't leave anything in the car either.
The crack heads will bust out your windows for just a quarter.
Such is life in populated areas.

[Ron Dickey]

wallmart car cover bungeed corded over the top and parked by the shop wheel chalks in place I often sleep in in in the summer while its parked in front of the shop as its cooler than a hot house.
the rest of the time it sits.
slow

Ditto, On days when I do not want to be in the house I sleep in the trailer. When we come back it gets stripped and the next project gets started. We recharge all the batteries, wash the cloth, take notes on what we did and did not use for next time. It sits in front of the house and when it is good weather I will just remove the bongee from around the trailer and over it pull off the car cover because the neighbors have said they like seeing it as they drive by. It makes them happy. Now as more TD (manufactured) come into the neighborhood I feel like going up to their doors and saying want to go camp at Montana De Oro sometime?

Ron

[Roly Nelson]

Here in So Cal, I have no problems with bugs or moisture, so my rigs just sit within an enclosure I built over my 14 ft wide driveway. I use each of my teardrops about the same amount, depending how far I have to travel to a campsite. Therefore, I put all of my cooking stuff, extra clothing, towels, shaving stuff, etc within 4 clear storage containers with lids, that I stack against the wall. That way, I can simply chuck them into the car, hook up the chosen teardrop and head down the road. My smaller tear has no storage room for anything, and the woody could hold the stuff, but I don't want to load and unload every time I use it. I would rather carry the heavy stuff in the car rather than the trailers, since the Cruze really isn't designed to have all of the weight hanging off of the reciever. I use a short-trip check list and a long-trip check list that has over a hundred items on it. Most of the time I bring too much stuff. Since I sleep in my trava-sack, it has removable sheets that velcroe into place after being washed. This works for me, and of course traveling alone and sleeping alone, doesn't require the same amount of stuff, as when the sweet wife was with me.
Roly, li'l ol' So Cal Woody guy.

[nevadatear]

A big piece of building the tear was to have most things stored in the tear and ready to go. I don't keep food or clothes there but that is all we have to add. I leave a small amt of things that are securely contained, like spices in test tubes, salt and pepper, tea in the tear year round. We also leave toiletries and all the cookware Since it is such a PITA to changes the sheet, we only do it every couple of trips. This may seem sacrilegious, but I figure you don't wash your sleeping bag every trip, lucky if it was once a year. We do makw sure things like feet are more clean before we go to bed than we did pre tear however. It is camping after all, not a 4 star hotel with daily maid service. I keep a large piece of coated nylon taffeta fabric (jacket material) on the bed that completely covers it. That protects the quilt from stuff we store in the tear, like the lawn chairs, rugs and awning. Since it is waterproof, if we have to pack up in the rain, the wet rugs and stuff do not get the bed wet.

Damp is not a problem in Nevada. So dont have to worry about that in storage. Dust is more the problem so it is closed up tight. Although our tear galley is pretty secure, mice are creative little buggers and I like the idea of leaving some bait close by. Especially in the summer when I leave more stuff in the tear for frequent trips.

[Oldragbaggers]

t...it's 4 freaking inches too tall for my carport.

Just thinking, Gaelen..... If you wanted to get it into your garage for the winter.... How about rigging up some "furniture mover" type things, maybe a couple of 1x10's with caster wheels on them that you could place under each end. Remove your wheels and tires and lower the teardrop down onto the casters and roll it into the garage. That should lower it the 4" you need to get it inside.

[dmckruit]

I store mine inside the attached garage. I leave everything in there except food. Salt, Pepper, and spices stay in. I leave the windows and roof vent open as well as the galley hatch. I end up using the galley counter for storage for household items such as paper towels and toilet paper. The sheets and blankets I wash before my first trip out again so they won't be dusty smelling. I wash out the refrigerator and leave the door open a bit to prevent mold.

I do plug in the battery charger every month or so for a couple of days to keep the battery fresh.