in between trips (1 Viewer)

[faybes]

Hello everyone
we are completely new to having a motorhome and we was wondering what do people leave in their van between trips?
Do you leave bedding in there? dry food? or do you pack it from scratch each time?

 

[pappajohn]

Hi and welcome.

bedding is fine left in the van in summer but should be taken indoors in winter...along with soft furnishings (cushions etc).

dry food in sealed packets/containers should be OK...but don't leave any unsealed packets of dry food in the van or you will get mice.

we always leave tinned goods in the cupboards all year round

 

[Reallyretired]

We always try to have as much as possible in the van so only need to pack fresh or frozen food. Bedding comes out in the winter unless its only a short gap between trips, and if a very long gap then so do clothes.
No open food left though as can attract mice.

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[faybes]

I didn't even think of mice! I have a lot to learn!! lol

 

[Gromett]

I never took anything out at all. Bedding and furnishings were all left in. Never a problem.

The only things I took out were perishables like milk and open packets. Everything else stayed exactly as is ready to go.

Depending on how long I was leaving it I would leave the fridge on as well. If I turned it off though I would empty it, wipe it out with a dilute bleach cloth and prop the door open.

 

[Chris]

I didn't even think of mice! I have a lot to learn!! lol

We had mice only last month. Caught 6 in traps and took any remaining on a 3 week jaunt.

What they appear to have been attracted to was my daughters hot water bottle which is a type of cuddly toy you put in the microwave. Apparently they are full of wheat.

There were neat piles of the stuff in lots of places.

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[faybes]

We had mice only last month. Caught 6 in traps and took any remaining on a 3 week jaunt.

What they appear to have been attracted to was my daughters hot water bottle which is a type of cuddly toy you put in the microwave. Apparently they are full of wheat.

There were neat piles of the stuff in lots of places.

Most definitely will NOT be taking my wheat bag then no matter how cold we get! I think i would have a heart attack if I was cuddled up to a mouse

 

[WynandJean]

I never took anything out at all. Bedding and furnishings were all left in. Never a problem.

The only things I took out were perishables like milk and open packets. Everything else stayed exactly as is ready to go.

Depending on how long I was leaving it I would leave the fridge on as well. If I turned it off though I would empty it, wipe it out with a dilute bleach cloth [HI]and prop the door open[/HI].

It was quite a while before I realised that the door catch on our Dometic has a position to hold it slightly ajar. It really isn't very obvious but if you pull it slightly away from the closed position and slide the catch across it will hold it leaving an air gap to prevent mould forming.

In the picture below you can see the component parts ans that the flat metal piece has not one but two positions that it can be closed in. Hope this helps but if it's not clear let me know.

Wyn
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[lorger]

I normally try and leave the wife in it but she always gets out

We tend to leave bedding and toiletries in it to save us loading them in all the time also leave some tinned food in it but as said always remove opened packets. didnt know about the fridge latch normally se sit a tin or bottle on the floor to stop door from shutting and leave a fridge air freshener in it.

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[Carol]

We leave most things in except for the fresh food, even leave in clothes, always wash the bedding when we get home, then make it up next day ready for the off.

We find it is much easier for the van to have its own pots pans cutlery etc, also leave all the toiletries in the van, anything so each time you go away you have not forgotten anything. Van definately has its own wine opener.

 

[motomike]

I leave everything in (except open food or cereal boxes) all year round, and use the van once a week to warm it through...even if just a trip to asda. No damp or fusty smells in 4 years. On cold damp nights I have a low wattage heater running for 1 or 2 hours...van is on my drive with EHU so not a problem.
MM

 

[Reallyretired]

Certainly the toiletries have to stay, it would be a major job shifting them. I have shampoo shower gel toothpaste. SWMBO has about 60 assorted bottles of stuff, the vast majority having no known purpose and I'm sure she doesn't use them, nonetheless they are apparently essential

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[annadg]

I didn't even think of mice! I have a lot to learn!! lol

I thought of mice when I saw the number of mousetraps and mouse deterrents in our local caravan shop !
anna

 

[annadg]

Sort of continuing for this, I have things like pasta and cereals in airtight plastic containers and was planning to take those ... would they be safe from little rodents with nasty pointy teeth do you think ?

Or shall we just take our Burmese kittens (Nimbus and Cirrus) along with us occasionally to sort out potential problems ? They are excellent mousers

anna

 

[Chris]

Sort of continuing for this, I have things like pasta and cereals in airtight plastic containers and was planning to take those ... would they be safe from little rodents with nasty pointy teeth do you think ?

Or shall we just take our Burmese kittens (Nimbus and Cirrus) along with us occasionally to sort out potential problems ? They are excellent mousers

anna

Having become an expert in the subjectBigGrin, plastic containers are not safe against rodents, only metal containers.