freddifixit
New Jersey
New Member
Joined: 03/01/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
 Offline
|
I Bought a home in Homosassa Florida in May and am planning to take my Motorhome from the north east to the home and leave it there for the winter. The home has a Shelter with three sides inclosed but no front closure. I was just wondering what precautions I need to take storeing the motorhome there. Are there critters that I have to worry about? I plan to blow out the water lines because I realize it will get somewhat cold there but I am not sure if there is anything else I am overlooking being unfamiliar with the area and the climate. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks
|
odie1234
Florida
Senior Member
Joined: 05/31/2010
View Profile
|
Our winter home is near Orlando. We store our motorhome in covered storage with no walls. After parking, we put thin plastic under tires, lower leveling jacks, open a couple roof vents, and put a couple containers of Damp-Rid in strategic places. We do not winterize in any fashion. Just fill fuel tank and disconnect house batteries. We drive 50 miles or so each month and exercise the generator. Works for us - we have had no issues when removing from storage.
2007 35TSB Tiffin Allegro Bay FRED
2007 Honda CR-V
|
freddifixit
New Jersey
New Member
Joined: 03/01/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Thanks Odie for the info I was just worried about things like mice or other critters I have to worry about here in the north east. I know it gets a bit colder in Homosassa but dont know what else to be careful of.
|
Weathertodd221
FL
Senior Member
Joined: 12/03/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
Thats pretty close to the gulf... so Id try to enclose the unit so you wont get corrosion. I live 5 blocks from the Atlantic ocean and the salt air gets on everthing! Door hardware looks rough in a matter of months and locks need to be lubed at least every 3 months.
My old neighbor had a 1995 Georgie Boy RV he garage kept and even with 80k on it... looked brand new when he sold it a few months ago. The EPMD roof looked fresh too. He lived closer to the beach than me.
|
Weathertodd221
FL
Senior Member
Joined: 12/03/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
I should also mention try to store the coach facing north/south instead of east/west. The sun is brutal. Most folks that have rv awnings run the siding to the floor to keep the sun damage at bay.
|
|
|
rast
Mascotte Fl.
Full Member
Joined: 03/03/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
I live about 65 miles E. of there. I have had exposed water lines burst at my house outside. During potentially freezing temps, I set my thermostats at their lowest points for the heaters to come on and have not had a problem yet. I spend a couple of weeks about 7 miles S. of Hommassa every winter for about 6 years now and have the outside spigot freeze once.
Rats, Mice and squirrels can be a problem here also.
|
rockhillmanor
On the Road
Senior Member
Joined: 12/06/2003
View Profile
|
freddifixit wrote:Thanks Odie for the info I was just worried about things like mice or other critters I have to worry about here in the north east. I know it gets a bit colder in Homosassa but dont know what else to be careful of.
Ants and those darn huge roaches will get into your MH. Sprinkling Seven around the entire motor home will stop the ants don't know about the roaches/palmeto bugs. I would also buy a dozen of the small ant bait traps and put them under all the sinks and couch. Those really work.
Do not leave 'anything' propped up against the MH. I had just gotten rid of all the darn ants and I left the awning rod up against the MH and there was an army of them marching up it into the MH. And don't leave anything on the ground and THEN put it into your MH, they get in that way too.
Humidity and squirrels are going to be your biggest problem.
I just have one question? WHY are you going to stay in the North during winter when you have this house in sunny Florida!? 
"We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us".
|
freddifixit
New Jersey
New Member
Joined: 03/01/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Thanks for all the help. Unfortunately I am not quite in the position to stay in florida for the winter as I still must work for a few years. I just felt that it would be better in the long run for the motorhome to be stored there and spare it the nasty winter weather we get.
|
rockhillmanor
On the Road
Senior Member
Joined: 12/06/2003
View Profile
|
freddifixit wrote:Thanks for all the help. Unfortunately I am not quite in the position to stay in florida for the winter as I still must work for a few years. I just felt that it would be better in the long run for the motorhome to be stored there and spare it the nasty winter weather we get.
Your MH will love you for that!
I am in the process of buying a second house in Florida just north of you in Dunnellon and/or Ocala. Aren't the prices of homes there just 'unbelievable'!! I wish I had more money to buy a couple more of them. In 10 years I could REALLY retire maybe to Hawaii!
|
The Texan
Meridian, Idaho
Senior Member
Joined: 01/16/2004
View Profile
|
We own property just 11 miles NE of there, that we now use as rental property and it does get cold, but very seldom last more than a day or two. We have seen single digit temps, so your coach needs to be winterized. There was a recent topic about rodents in an RV and the best deterrent on the market is Fresh Cab, which can be bought at any farm feed store. I would make sure the shelter has protection from the west side, which gives you protection from the prevailing onshore breeze and the salt that is carried in it.
Bob & Betsy(FishNFanatic) - USN Aviation Ret'd '78 & LEO Ret'd '03 & "Oath Keeper Forever"
'05 HR Endeavor 40PRQ, 400 Cummins-Pulling our '11 Silverado LT, Ex Cab 6.2L NHT 4x4, w/2010 Rzr or 01 V Star in back.
Where the wheels are stopped today
|
|
|
