Some general camping questions from a camping newbie

[ChrisinNJ]

We just got back from our first trip in our motorhome!! We went to Beach Comber camp resort in Cape May NJ. We had a fun and relaxing weekend.

Now that we are back, I emptied the fridge, brought in all packaged food that critters could get into (chips, pasta etc) but left canned items and coffee inside. We hope to use the MH every other weekend over the summer. We have a week long trip in August, and November.

With the summer heat, is it ok to leave items like sunscreen, shampoo, cleaners and soaps, medications like tylenol and advil, bug spray? I hate to bring everything in and back out next trip, but I don't want to leave things that may go bad, swell or melt in the heat etc.

We keep the MH at storage place about 25 minutes away, so I don't have daily access to the contents inside once my hubby moves it. Do you leave items in your camper all season?

Christine

 

[retired and happy]

Our MH stays in the driveway at home. it is usually stocked with seasonal clothes and most of the canned and boxed food, including leaving the fridge running with some stuff in it and in the freezer. If our next trip is a long way off...a month or more, we will use the fridge stock before we go back to the store. We also leave the kids toys and CD/DVD's, linens, some junk that never seems to get used, etc. Of course our MH is connected to 30A at all times, so your results may vary. Good luck, but don't make extra work for yourselves if it's not necessary.

 

[ChrisinNJ]

We don't have electricity where we store our RV. I would love to have it by my house and plugged in, but unfortunately it takes up the whole driveway and is directly in front of our house. If we had a driveway along the side of the house, where it would be a bit out of the way, we would keep it here.

My DH also likes the home security aspect of keeping it away, people can't immediately tell if we have gone away, sometimes the MH is here, most of the time it is gone, but we are still here. If it was always here, people would KNOW we are gone when it is.

 

[chartle]

i don't know, would you keep this stuff in your car? parked out in a parking lot all day.

maybe make up totes or string bags with the stuff and load it in and out.

 

[articfox676]

We are in Fl and previous PA and always leave the basics in the trailer. Sure it is hot here but very few things are spoiled. Trailers get hot but not as hot as a car they are insulated better. We keep ours in storage and don't have electric either. Enjoy your new rig and make it as easy as possible. Leave jackets extra shoes, flip flops, sleepwear, rain slickers and a few clothes. As you go along you will figure out short cuts.

 

[steeleshark2]

I also leave basics in the RV. Once done, I will bring it to the house, wash everything that needs to be washed, reload the rv and then take it to storage. Basic toiletries stay in the rv.

 

[ChrisinNJ]

We are in Fl and previous PA and always leave the basics in the trailer. Sure it is hot here but very few things are spoiled. Trailers get hot but not as hot as a car they are insulated better. We keep ours in storage and don't have electric either. Enjoy your new rig and make it as easy as possible. Leave jackets extra shoes, flip flops, sleepwear, rain slickers and a few clothes. As you go along you will figure out short cuts.

Thanks, I left the toiletries in there. It is still at the house. I need to put back the washed towels, vacuum it and wash the floor, then it is ready to go. The kids all left flip flops, blankets and pillows. The only clothes I left was a pair of pajamas for myself. I don't really have any seasonal clothes to leave as I have been on a diet and lost 30lbs!! I only have 2 pairs of shorts that fit me right now and they are getting loose

I do need to see if the kids have some things to leave it. They have lots of extra jackets and bathing suits and should be able to leave some things in for the summer.

I also leave basics in the RV. Once done, I will bring it to the house, wash everything that needs to be washed, reload the rv and then take it to storage. Basic toiletries stay in the rv.

I think I can do the same. Thanks

 

[articfox676]

Congrats on the weight loss. Good reason to shop for new clothes.
Sounds like you are falling right into the rving life style.

 

[ChrisinNJ]

Congrats on the weight loss. Good reason to shop for new clothes.
Sounds like you are falling right into the rving life style.

Thanks! We loved our first trip! Can't wait to go again!

Our only problem was that the dog was a bit anxious, especially when I left the MH... She's kind of a momma's girl. We haven't crated her in 2 years, but we are thinking of getting a crate for the MH or maybe some kind of gate to stop her from walking between the front seats to the door. At one point we were all at the lake, my son went back to the MH, opened the door and she bolted.

Luckily she didn't get hurt, and he got her back safely, but we will definitely need to work out a solution to keep her safe, and as happy as possible.

 

[Ds4angels]

We have our dog on his leash and tie the leash to the bathroom door. That way he's not messing up the blinds or making a mad dash for the door when we get back. We do leave some "white noise" either a fan or radio on for him as well.
He's too big to take his crate along. (110lbs)
Also he gets a nice long walk to tire him out before we leave him

 

[ChrisinNJ]

We have our dog on his leash and tie the leash to the bathroom door. That way he's not messing up the blinds or making a mad dash for the door when we get back. We do leave some "white noise" either a fan or radio on for him as well.
He's too big to take his crate along. (110lbs)
Also he gets a nice long walk to tire him out before we leave him

I did take her for a long walk Saturday morning. My DH spent some time in the RV with her and he said she whined the entire time I was gone. I may speak to her vet about some kind of med to calm her, my friend used benadryl on her dog.

She is only 30lbs, so while any crate would be in the way, I think crating her is doable. However, If I can leave her loose, with shades up, screens off, and couches covered, I think she will be happier. I just need to keep her from getting to the front seat/door.

The leash idea wouldn't work for us. Our bathroom door is a a folding door, no knob, and the bedroom door is a sliding door. I can't think of any place to attach a leash that she won't break if she tried to bolt.

 

[North of Mouse]

We just got back from our first trip in our motorhome!! We went to Beach Comber camp resort in Cape May NJ. We had a fun and relaxing weekend.

Now that we are back, I emptied the fridge, brought in all packaged food that critters could get into (chips, pasta etc) but left canned items and coffee inside. We hope to use the MH every other weekend over the summer. We have a week long trip in August, and November.

With the summer heat, is it ok to leave items like sunscreen, shampoo, cleaners and soaps, medications like tylenol and advil, bug spray? I hate to bring everything in and back out next trip, but I don't want to leave things that may go bad, swell or melt in the heat etc.

We keep the MH at storage place about 25 minutes away, so I don't have daily access to the contents inside once my hubby moves it. Do you leave items in your camper all season?

Christine

Glad you enjoyed your first trip in your MH.

As for leaving meds in your MH, I wouldn't. In a closed up MH in the summer heat without protection they would get far too hot, maybe lose their effectiveness.

Also, with groceries - with the exception of canned goods, I would take most things out, especially if you think critters might get in We always keep a mouse trap set with peanut butter, but then we can check it often. (This is after camping in the Smoky Mtns. and having some mice come in ).

We keep our MH in a RV garage at our home, so it is enclosed and doesn't have direct sunlight/heat, but even so, I remove a lot of things between trips unless they are close together. We do leave our fridge on between some trips, but not for months at a time. It does eventually build up ice, as it's not a self defrost.

I do leave shampoo, soaps, cleaners, paper goods, bedding, towels, some clothing.

About your concerns in another post about security - I can fully understand that. Our MH is enclosed so only our neighbor is aware when we leave.

ETA: Noticed you mentioned about leaving swim suits in the MH - just be aware if any have any types of elastic or stretchy fabrics the heat is VERY hard on them and they will stretch out!

 

[ChrisinNJ]

As for leaving meds in your MH, I wouldn't. In a closed up MH in the summer heat without protection they would get far too hot, maybe lose their effectiveness.

I do leave shampoo, soaps, cleaners, paper goods, bedding, towels, some clothing.

About your concerns in another post about security - I can fully understand that. Our MH is enclosed so only our neighbor is aware when we leave.

ETA: Noticed you mentioned about leaving swim suits in the MH - just be aware if any have any types of elastic or stretchy fabrics the heat is VERY hard on them and they will stretch out!

I think I will pull the medications out, just in case. I think I will get a plastic bin to load items that will go back in next use. That way it is all together & I don't have to think too hard about what I need.

My DH would love to have a property that had space for an enclosed building for the MH. That would be a dream! Maybe after he retires and we get out of NJ.... My neighbors know when we go away. I have one neighbor take care of my chickens, and I give another neighbor my key since while on one of our trips the alarm went off multiple times (false alarm on a motion detector) and we had to ask her to go in and turn the motion sensors off. I know my neighbors keep an eye on the house for me as well. We all watch out for each other.

What shocked me was how many neighbors who I barely know who commented on the MH and it's absence when it went to storage. As well as my neighbor up the block who saw it and asked my hubby "what are you millionaires or something?" People are strange.

And thanks for the bathing suit tip. I had not thought of that.

 

[jbrostek]

During the season I leave pretty much the entire list of items including dry goods in the camper all the time. While it does get warm, it gets no warmer then the tractor trailer delievering the goods from the factory to your store shelf. And I have yet to see anything go ineffective (sun block, bug sprays) by doing this.

I use my camper often and its usually parked at the primary location all season minus the few weekend trips we head elsewhere. The only time I really empty out the bus is at the end of my season in November and bring all of the stock back when I take my winter vacation trip south.

 

[chartle]

During the season I leave pretty much the entire list of items including dry goods in the camper all the time. While it does get warm, it gets no warmer then the tractor trailer delievering the goods from the factory to your store shelf. And I have yet to see anything go ineffective (sun block, bug sprays) by doing this.

I was thinking this too but its only in the trailer for a few days and I'm sure that's factored into shelf life.

though my post was mostly concerning meds. the bottle of ibuprofen i have at my desk says store between 68 and 77 and to avoid excessive heat 104.

 

[SolitaryPhoenix]

They do have portable crates that break down for traveling. My niece frequently brings her dog to various homes and uses a portable. He's about 60-ish pounds (my dog is his brother and weights a little more!), but does just fine with the portable. I would think for RV'g, where space is at a premium, something like that would be ideal. Just a thought.

 

[ChrisinNJ]

They do have portable crates that break down for traveling. My niece frequently brings her dog to various homes and uses a portable. He's about 60-ish pounds (my dog is his brother and weights a little more!), but does just fine with the portable. I would think for RV'g, where space is at a premium, something like that would be ideal. Just a thought.

I know the crate we used when we got her folded down flat for storage. My concern with a crate is that I haven't crated her in 2 years. I think it would be even more upsetting for her to be in a strange environment, and be crated on top of it. If push comes to shove that is what I will have to do though.

 

[SolitaryPhoenix]

I know the crate we used when we got her folded down flat for storage. My concern with a crate is that I haven't crated her in 2 years. I think it would be even more upsetting for her to be in a strange environment, and be crated on top of it. If push comes to shove that is what I will have to do though.

I understand. Maybe if you eased her back into using a crate. Once in awhile when you're not camping put her in the crate while you're home for a bit, then while you're not home, just for short periods, then longer ones, and then when she's okay with that, then do the same thing in the RV, you know what I mean?

 

[McMonsters]

We are somewhat new to the camping world but can share a few tips. Like the others we keep everything stocked if we are planning to use it in the near future. When we are not using it for an extended time I do a deep clean and place everything in plastic rubbermaid bins until the next trip, it makes it so much easier! Our 70 pound dog also comes with us, we crate her during our stay, she gets nervous and it keeps her safe. We also leave the TV on for her

 

[jbrostek]

I was thinking this too but its only in the trailer for a few days and I'm sure that's factored into shelf life.

though my post was mostly concerning meds. the bottle of ibuprofen i have at my desk says store between 68 and 77 and to avoid excessive heat 104.

Mine sits pretty much in a field where it is parked through most of the season plugged in. While I have seen 90's upon arrival in mid summer, I have never seen extremes of 100 inside when I got there, even in last years heat wave.

All of my OTC meds seem to be fine, but I dont keep more then small bottles in there and dispose of them when they expire. In 4 years I have yet to notice any issues, I am actually more worried about things like my contact solution freezing (which is worse for it then high temps) come the colder months. That is when I actually clean everything out of the camper, check expiration dates, etc.

For the other item with dogs with anxiety, if the pup is not normally like that at home it was just due to all of the new things going on. Since its been crate trained before you shouldnt have issues getting it to crate again. When I first started camping I had the same issue with my pups, now after 4 years they are seasoned campers. When I get to the door I no longer worry about them bum rushing me to get out and run around, they know to wait at the top of the steps for me to hook up their tie outs. So you can go either way, back to a crate or just train the dog on how you want it to react in the camper.