Winterizing your van

[Wind Dancer]

Just wondering what you all do if your not using your vans over some of the winter months, other than draining it down.
i.e. do you empty it out, or leave the stuff in it? Anything else?

When I was last in my van there was a lot of condensation, especially inside the cupboards, so I brought everything out. I put it down to running a heater in it for 2 hours prior, but don't know for sure. It's going into storage soon for a couple of months and I can't decide whether to put some things back, or continue to step over them in the house!
I'm referring mostly to bedding, books/maps and electrical things.

As it will be on a farm, the other I'm concerned about is wee meece getting inside. My friend has just found 3 in her caravan :scare: Seems it was only the little drain pipe for them to get inside.

:drive: :wave:

 

[n brown]

i had mice recently and got a pack of 3 pre-baited plastic traps,rentokil.brilliant things.don't like killing them but couldn't find a way of explaining my concerns to them. had to kill 7 before they got the message,bit dim

 

[Wind Dancer]

i had mice recently and got a pack of 3 pre-baited plastic traps,rentokil.brilliant things.don't like killing them but couldn't find a way of explaining my concerns to them. had to kill 7 before they got the message,bit dim

SEVEN! Good grief!

Any idea where they got in?

 

[Deleted member 13543]

i had mice recently and got a pack of 3 pre-baited plastic traps,rentokil.brilliant things.don't like killing them but couldn't find a way of explaining my concerns to them. had to kill 7 before they got the message,bit dim

 

[n brown]

SEVEN! Good grief!

Any idea where they got in?

no idea,but in my experience they can squeeze through holes smaller than their head,could be thru the bulkhead,pedal rubbers,door rubbers all i know is they piss and crap continuously,as if that was all they were designed for.better than rats though,those buggers eat pipes and wires and can keep you awake all night with their endless partying and fornicating.i've had snakes before,very quiet and discreet,quite well mannered compared.

 

[Deleted member 13543]

no idea,but in my experience ....those buggers eat pipes and wires and can keep you awake all night with their endless partying and fornicating.i've had snakes before,very quiet and discreet,quite well mannered compared.

You ARE talking about RATS and not the Stonehenge Gather???

 

[n brown]

well we'll have to see, let's just say i'll be putting out my traps while there and expect a quiet night,undisturbed by vermin

 

[ellisboy]

Had mice in my garage, cheese & peanut butter on the trap! Does the trick :hammer:

 

[al n sal]

they love peanut butter......we had the little Bu**ers in our previous van, used commercial bait from the farm, and they just kept eating it, was expecting to find a note from them asking for the address of the supplier:mad1:, they also ate the wiring to the back lights:tongue:, I was told the pee trails left whilst they walk can be used for other little sweeties to follow the route in so finally used trad traps and peanut butter.

 

[Deleted member 3011]

Mice can get through a slot 1" wide and 1/4" high.

As for winterising. We have no choice but to leave all our gear including clothes and bedding in the Hobby for up to 18 months in a yard near Stuttgart. Get rid of every bit of water in the pipes and tanks, antifreeze in the windscreen washers, don't apply the handbrake, leave all cupboard doors open, seal all external vents - and we put fairly large quantities of water absorbent in containers in the kitchen sink, vanity basin and shower. The containers have a hole in them positioned over the plug hole so water collected drains into the grey tank. Theory is that the material (calcium chloride???) doesn't end up waterlogged so lasts a little bit longer and the drained liquid is concentrated enough that it doesn't freeze solid in the drains..

No problems so far.
Oh yes, , the solar panels keep both lots of batteries charged and for good measure, any large buildup of snow on the panels is swept off and once or twice through each winter the MH is connected to mains power to make sure all batteries get topped up at least occasionally.

Don't bother with starting the engine regularly because unless you can go for a decent run, I think it does more harm than good. Just change the oil and filter before bedding it down. Sometimes keep the fuel shutoff valve closed for a few seconds when first turning the engine over to get a bit of oil in the right places but it is usually too much trouble and oiul pressure rises immediately anyway. All three vehicles left the same way always start immediately and battery life doesn't seem to be unduly compromised.

 

[Deva]

I have put all my bedding in 2 of bags that you suck all the air out of, keeps it fresh and doesn't take up too much space. I have found books go a bit damp.
Vermin hadn't even thought of