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| winter storage [message #309587] |
Sat, 29 October 2016 09:33  |
kstockwell
Messages: 367
Registered: May 2016
Location: Putney VT
Karma: 4
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So, I've lost my great winter storage spot. it was heated, full of rat poison and obviously covered.
I always winterized anyway- you never know a loss of power for a week and the whole place would freeze up.
Anyway, a friend has a spot outside under a big eave on a garage. It's dirt but out of the snow.
This is my first year with the GMC and I have some questions. I think I"m supposed to put chocks under where the air bags are to take weight off the airbags. My coach came with some wooden homemade pieces to fit under there. Is this something I have to do?
But, I'm a little worried about if I'll sink at all, should I get some wood planks to drive up on just in case?
And finally, I have access to power. Should I plug in for the winter? I've never done that with any of my RVs before because I had no access. Is this a good idea or not?
thanks
kelly
1978 kingsley
putney VT
1978 Kingsley
Putney VT
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| Re: [GMCnet] winter storage [message #309588 is a reply to message #309587] |
Sat, 29 October 2016 09:45  |
James Hupy
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
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Tires not in contact with dirt long term is a good idea. If your air bags
leak down over time, block the bogies to prevent them from sitting in a
collapsed state. I have a covered paved area that keeps the weather off my
coach, yet allows fresh air circulation. Wrapping a coach in plastic tarps
will result in condensation and support mold and mildew growth inside. In
wet weather, it is not a good idea. Dehumidifiers help here. If you have
prolonged periods of freezing temps, winterize your plumbing and drains.
Don't forget the hot water heater. Others in your area may have more
specific advice for you. Rodent patrol for sure.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 GMC ROYALE 403
On Oct 29, 2016 7:34 AM, "kelly stockwell" wrote:
> So, I've lost my great winter storage spot. it was heated, full of rat
> poison and obviously covered.
> I always winterized anyway- you never know a loss of power for a week and
> the whole place would freeze up.
>
> Anyway, a friend has a spot outside under a big eave on a garage. It's
> dirt but out of the snow.
>
> This is my first year with the GMC and I have some questions. I think I"m
> supposed to put chocks under where the air bags are to take weight off the
> airbags. My coach came with some wooden homemade pieces to fit under
> there. Is this something I have to do?
>
> But, I'm a little worried about if I'll sink at all, should I get some
> wood planks to drive up on just in case?
>
> And finally, I have access to power. Should I plug in for the winter?
> I've never done that with any of my RVs before because I had no access. Is
> this a good idea or not?
>
> thanks
> kelly
> 1978 kingsley
> putney VT
> --
> 1978 Kingsley
> Putney VT
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
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| Re: [GMCnet] winter storage [message #309589 is a reply to message #309588] |
Sat, 29 October 2016 09:52 |
kstockwell
Messages: 367
Registered: May 2016
Location: Putney VT
Karma: 4
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Senior Member |
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Thank you, I don't plan to cover it at all, just put it under the awning.
And I'll get some peppermint tea bags etc for rodent protection.
i've already winterize the plumbing (drained the water tank) since we had 12 hours of freezing temps already.
I'll look into wood blocks at least to drive onto, and I'll chock up the bogies. They don't leak down but better safe than not
kelly
1978 Kingsley
Putney VT
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| Re: winter storage [message #309594 is a reply to message #309587] |
Sat, 29 October 2016 12:12 |
midlf
Messages: 2212
Registered: July 2007
Location: SE Wisc. (Palmyra)
Karma: 1
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I'm with Matt on effectiveness of dryer sheets and such. The CFO was a great fan of mint oil on cotton balls to drive away mice. The mice are great fans of minty cotton balls for nesting materials. I prefer the "mouse black hole" approach. Get some feeders for block mouse poison. Get the kind that will not allow larger animals to clean out the feeder. Stake the feeders down so the larger critters can't drag them away. I would set up 6 feeders around your coach. One near each tire. About 10 or 15' feed away from the coach make another circle of feeders. 12 would be great. Inside the coach I like sticky traps. Put them near where the coach has plumbing penetrations.
You can make your own feeders, see here:
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/miscellaneous-pictures/p22783-mouse-26quot-3bfeeders-26quot-3b.html
But read the captions as the design has changed a bit.
The theory is to offer the mice ample opportunity to "drink the kool aide" before they get to your coach. Every year since I started this the necessary reload time for the feeders gets longer. Been doing this since 2007.
If you decide to use snap traps in the coach bait them with cotton balls. Mice are always looking for prime nesting material. Doing.this will avoid the coach having an attractive food odor.
If you have rats you will need rat feeders instead of mouse feeders. Rats are bad juju as they are more aggressive on chewing their way into a space.
Steve Southworth
1974 Glacier TZE064V100150 (for workin on)
1975 Transmode TZE365V100394 (parts & spares)
Palmyra WI
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| Re: winter storage [message #309610 is a reply to message #309594] |
Sat, 29 October 2016 19:07 |
tphipps
Messages: 3005
Registered: August 2004
Location: Spanish Fort, AL
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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When you take the load off the air bags by blocking under the boggie center, lower the air pressure in the air bags. Cutoff valves are your friends. Do not empty the air bags, you do want some interior air pressure to resist moisture finding its way to the interior of the bag.
Consider covering the tires. With the boggles firmly blocked, you should be able to reduce rear wheel air pressure.
Tom, MS II
2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
KA4CSG
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| Re: [GMCnet] winter storage [message #309617 is a reply to message #309593] |
Sun, 30 October 2016 07:49 |
Mr ERFisher
Messages: 7117
Registered: August 2005
Karma: 2
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Senior Member |
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On Saturday, October 29, 2016, Matt Colie wrote:
> Kelly,
>
> It would be a good idea to put a sheet of plastic down under the coach to
> slow the transperation of water from the soil that will condense and rust
> the frame.
> Putting solid boards under the tires is also a good idea as they are not
> that fond of moisture and may sink into the soil and that may make it tough
> to get out in the spring.
> Blocking the rear at the bogie casting is always a good thing to do.
> If you have electric and a good converter, yes, plug the coach in. If you
> are in doubt about the converter, disconnect the batteries at the negative
> terminal so they do not discharge over the winter.
> Our mice like to use dryer sheets for bedding.
THAT IS BS
>
>
> Last winter one shredded half a roll of tp - yes, one side of the roll.
> I am trying "Cab Fresh" for the first time this year.
> Notice how much this jives with what others have said.
>
> Matt
> --
> Matt & Mary Colie - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
> '73 Glacier 23 - Still Loving OE Rear Drum Brake with Applied Control Arms
> Now with both true Keyless and remote entry
> SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
--
Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
-------
http://gmcmotorhome.info/
Alternator Protection Cable
http://gmcmotorhome.info/APC.html
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| Re: winter storage [message #309619 is a reply to message #309610] |
Sun, 30 October 2016 08:08 |
kstockwell
Messages: 367
Registered: May 2016
Location: Putney VT
Karma: 4
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Senior Member |
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Thanks all!
I'm wary of using poison, as the cats might eat the mice.
In the past I've put tin foil sachets of mothballs setup in the engine compartment. That seemed to work great. Is that still an option? What about a plug in febreeze unit or something?
And, how do I know if I should keep it plugged in? What parameters make a good converter? Will my chassis battery stay charged that way too?
laying plastic down is a great idea, thanks for that! And I"ll get some 2x10" to drive up on, and setup jack stands under the bogies, then lower the pressure (not all the way). So far I have a hard time getting my jack stand under the bogies, they're about 1/2" too tall!
Sorry for all the questions!
Cheers
kelly
1978 Kingsley
Putney VT
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| Re: winter storage [message #309621 is a reply to message #309587] |
Sun, 30 October 2016 08:41 |
lqqkatjon
Messages: 2324
Registered: October 2010
Location: St. Cloud, MN
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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You know how to post pictures.
Take a picture of it. Should be in cabnet that your electric panel and waterheater is and plugged into the outlet below the waterheater switch. Cabnet just to rear of oven.
This is going off that i think i remember your floorplan from your. bathroom shower drain pictures.
If that item is big and huge and old looking, you should replace it anyway.
I am not yet 100% convinced. But i use electric sound deal. A victor one, and i have never had a mouse in my traps or evidence of them in coach when that is plugged in.
Use a bucket(yooper) trap for long term storage. Do other stuff to deter, but trapping is final defence and evidence if you have mouse issue to pay closer attention to.
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now.
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
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| Re: [GMCnet] winter storage [message #309624 is a reply to message #309617] |
Sun, 30 October 2016 08:58 |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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Senior Member |
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Mr ERFisher wrote on Sun, 30 October 2016 08:49On Saturday, October 29, 2016, Matt Colie wrote:
> Our mice like to use dryer sheets for bedding.
THAT IS BS
--
Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
"Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
Gene,
Would you like for me to mail you the dryer sheet mouse nest? (Collect)
We tried them one winter and only half were left where placed. I located them a year later while doing other work.
They do seem to discourage spiders, but they are not a serious issue in Michigan in the winter, but mice sure are even when Chaumière is in my heated barn.
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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| Re: winter storage [message #309628 is a reply to message #309587] |
Sun, 30 October 2016 09:40 |
77Royale
Messages: 461
Registered: June 2014
Location: Mid Michigan
Karma: 6
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Senior Member |
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Another vote for the old school 99 cent for a two pack snap traps. I put about a half dozen of them all over with peanut butter for bait. Id rather see Mickey and know I got him, then to find whats left of him in a nest months down the road from where he hid after eating poison. I use dryer sheets in the dryer for our clothes:)
I also have one of those cheap Harbor Freight live catch traps for any squirrels or lager creatures. I have trapped 3 squirrels over the past two years and they are just as destructive. Probably found 200 walnuts under the furnace cabinet when I pulled the furnace to clean and inspect.
77 Royale, Rear Dry Bath. 403, 3.55 Final Drive, Lenzi goodies, Patterson carb and dizzy.
Mid Michigan
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| Re: [GMCnet] winter storage [message #309630 is a reply to message #309624] |
Sun, 30 October 2016 09:51 |
Mr ERFisher
Messages: 7117
Registered: August 2005
Karma: 2
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Senior Member |
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A picture will do
And there is a time limit on all things sented
On Sunday, October 30, 2016, Matt Colie wrote:
> Mr ERFisher wrote on Sun, 30 October 2016 08:49
>> On Saturday, October 29, 2016, Matt Colie wrote:
>>
>>
>>> Our mice like to use dryer sheets for bedding.
>>
>> THAT IS BS
>> --
>> Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
>> "Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
>
>
> Gene,
>
> Would you like for me to mail you the dryer sheet mouse nest? (Collect)
> We tried them one winter and only half were left where placed. I located
> them a year later while doing other work.
> They do seem to discourage spiders, but they are not a serious issue in
> Michigan in the winter, but mice sure are even when Chaumière is in my
> heated
> barn.
>
> Matt
>
> --
> Matt & Mary Colie - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
> '73 Glacier 23 - Still Loving OE Rear Drum Brake with Applied Control Arms
> Now with both true Keyless and remote entry
> SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
--
Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
-------
http://gmcmotorhome.info/
Alternator Protection Cable
http://gmcmotorhome.info/APC.html
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
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| Re: [GMCnet] winter storage [message #309632 is a reply to message #309625] |
Sun, 30 October 2016 10:37 |
midlf
Messages: 2212
Registered: July 2007
Location: SE Wisc. (Palmyra)
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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kstockwell wrote on Sun, 30 October 2016 09:04
What about gas, full tank? Any gas treatment added? Anything with the generator?
Can i wait and do oil changes in the spring?
-kelly
JWID
Full tank - add Stabil before the fill. I also throw in Sea Foam. Overtreatment will not cause a problem. After the fill run the generator long enough to get the treated gas into the generator. While the generator is running disconnect the fuel pump and let the genny run out of gas.
Change the oil when going into storage. The reason to do this is to remove the moisture, acids and combustion contaminates. Also fresh oil contains a full load of additives. After changing the oil run the engine long enough to circulate the fresh oil through the engine. Also change the oil when it is hot. This also applies to the generator.
Steve Southworth
1974 Glacier TZE064V100150 (for workin on)
1975 Transmode TZE365V100394 (parts & spares)
Palmyra WI
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| Re: [GMCnet] winter storage [message #309640 is a reply to message #309625] |
Sun, 30 October 2016 13:39 |
lqqkatjon
Messages: 2324
Registered: October 2010
Location: St. Cloud, MN
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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Yep. Plug in the coach. Let that keep the "coach" battery up.
More discussion or investigating needed to determine if your starting battery is hooked up with a "combiner". I hook up a simple battery tender to my starting battery when it is parked long term. Some people swear by combiners, but I am personally not a fan, i like the separation of the systems.
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now.
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
[Updated on: Sun, 30 October 2016 13:47] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: [GMCnet] winter storage [message #309651 is a reply to message #309630] |
Sun, 30 October 2016 17:44 |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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Senior Member |
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I will find it when I have time.
Do you want a picture of the dryer sheet covered with "calling cards" too?
These were all set in place during the winter layup some years back.
This last winter, we tried slips of "Irish Spring". They chewed on those. They also gnawed on the plastic corner of a package of AAAs. We never leave anything that even resembles food onboard.
Matt
Mr ERFisher wrote on Sun, 30 October 2016 10:51A picture will do
And there is a time limit on all things sented
On Sunday, October 30, 2016, Matt Colie wrote:
> Mr ERFisher wrote on Sun, 30 October 2016 08:49
>> On Saturday, October 29, 2016, Matt Colie wrote:
>>
>>
>>> Our mice like to use dryer sheets for bedding.
>>
>> THAT IS BS
>> --
>> Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
>> "Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
>
>
> Gene,
>
> Would you like for me to mail you the dryer sheet mouse nest? (Collect)
> We tried them one winter and only half were left where placed. I located
> them a year later while doing other work.
> They do seem to discourage spiders, but they are not a serious issue in
> Michigan in the winter, but mice sure are even when Chaumière is in my
> heated
> barn.
>
> Matt
>
> --
> Matt & Mary Colie - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
> '73 Glacier 23 - Still Loving OE Rear Drum Brake with Applied Control Arms
> Now with both true Keyless and remote entry
> SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
--
Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
"Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
-------
http://gmcmotorhome.info/
Alternator Protection Cable
http://gmcmotorhome.info/APC.html
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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| Re: winter storage Just For Gene [message #309922 is a reply to message #309617] |
Fri, 04 November 2016 12:47 |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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Senior Member |
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Mr ERFisher wrote on Sun, 30 October 2016 08:49On Saturday, October 29, 2016, Matt Colie wrote:
<snip>
> Our mice like to use dryer sheets for bedding.
THAT IS BS
<snip>
> Matt
> --
> Matt & Mary Colie - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
--
Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
"Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and[/quote]
Gene,
It is not that I don't take well to being called a liar (I don't), but I thought that this needed some very person validation.
I knew that I had taken pictures, and I do still have the pictured nest. I did offer to mail it to you and now I am glad I did not.
Do you care to guess what the black spots are on the shredded remains of the one dryer sheet are??
(courtesy note to others: the pictures are privately hosted and will be gone by 11/12/16)
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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