Ideas for future storage

[vman60]

Hello everyone.
I have a 1988 Fleetwood bounder 34s chassis. Here is my dilema.
After storing my coach in a storage fascility, I happened to stop in and check in on it and start it up and found that my choke was stuck. Not being a mechanic I called a chevy dealer which happened to be a block away. I just happened to buy all new tires for the coach and was going to see if they could mount and ballance them anyway and they said to bring it on in. I also noticed that the lifters were making noise so I told them when I dropped it off to change the tires, oil and look at the choke. Come to find out a mouse or mice had eaten the wires to the choke, alternator and oil sending unit while in storage. Totally bummed out they fixed it all and the total bill for everything was $400.00. Not to bad I guess. I recently purchased 5 thousand acres and have a home on it, and I am finally moving the coach out there. Any idea's on how I can keep the mice from getting into the engine compartment again without building a 40k garage? Also with just putting 6 new tires on any idea's on keeping these tires from dry rotting? I hear pro's and cons about putting the coach on jack stands, and was thinking about building some wooden drive up ramps to get the coach off the ground about 6". Any help or idea's would be appreciated. Thank you.

[The General]

vman60,

Mouse bait in a waterproof bait box next to each Adco covered tire sitting on a wood board. Maybe a baitbox in engine compartment; don't forget it's there!
I use silicone grease on both sidewalls of each tire to prevent dissipation
of the natural oils in the newly manufactured tire, keeps them from cracking and keeps them shiny.


Steve

[vman60]

Originally Posted by The General

vman60,

Mouse bait in a waterproof bait box next to each Adco covered tire sitting on a wood board. Maybe a baitbox in engine compartment; don't forget it's there!
I use silicone grease on both sidewalls of each tire to prevent dissipation
of the natural oils in the newly manufactured tire, keeps them from cracking and keeps them shiny.


Steve

Thank you for your help, but I have a question. What kind of bait box? There are several different types. I do have a couple of small dogs and I was thinking of getting that little plastic fences you put around gardens for decor to go around the coach, but that would really look tacky. If you could steer me in the right direction I would appreciate it. Thanks for the sylicone greese idea for the tires, excellent idea. Thanks again. Tony

[The General]

Originally Posted by vman60

Thank you for your help, but I have a question. What kind of bait box? There are several different types. I do have a couple of small dogs and I was thinking of getting that little plastic fences you put around gardens for decor to go around the coach, but that would really look tacky. If you could steer me in the right direction I would appreciate it. Thanks for the sylicone greese idea for the tires, excellent idea. Thanks again. Tony

Hi Tony,

You are going to do the research on the bait box best for you.
The pets pose a major problem so one on top of the engine itself would be safest.
Here's some info to get you started:
G9444 Bait Stations for Controlling Rats and Mice | University of Missouri Extension


Steve

[Gary RVRoamer]

Your tires are going to reach end-of-life in about 7 years anyway and there isn't much that can be done about it. Driving it is better than letting it sit for long periods. Park it on a clean, dry surface that does not leach any strange chemicals (dry sand, gravel, untreated wood, urethane pads, etc.) and don't worry about it.

[vman60]

Originally Posted by The General

Hi Tony,

You are going to do the research on the bait box best for you.
The pets pose a major problem so one on top of the engine itself would be safest.
Here's some info to get you started:
G9444 Bait Stations for Controlling Rats and Mice | University of Missouri Extension


Steve

Thanks again Steve! My 1st reaction after I read your reply was Duh!! What was I not thinking of. My 2nd was schooling me from a university in my own back yard lol. Now I can see why your the general. Thanks so much for your valuable time and knowledge. Tony

[vman60]

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

Your tires are going to reach end-of-life in about 7 years anyway and there isn't much that can be done about it. Driving it is better than letting it sit for long periods. Park it on a clean, dry surface that does not leach any strange chemicals (dry sand, gravel, untreated wood, urethane pads, etc.) and don't worry about it.

At least for the time being, it will be parked on gravel, I found a concrete company that will send a truck out and pour a concrete pad 30x40 for $500.00, but I will have to do all the digging out and rebar work myself. With the help of some friends I can accomplish this but not till next summer. I realize I only paid $930.00 for all 6 new tires, and in 7 years it will be doubled I just want to get as long a life as I can. On motorhomes do you rotate tires as often and like you do on a car or truck? Thanks for the advice. Tony

[The General]

Originally Posted by vman60

At least for the time being, it will be parked on gravel, I found a concrete company that will send a truck out and pour a concrete pad 30x40 for $500.00, but I will have to do all the digging out and rebar work myself. With the help of some friends I can accomplish this but not till next summer. I realize I only paid $930.00 for all 6 new tires, and in 7 years it will be doubled I just want to get as long a life as I can. On motorhomes do you rotate tires as often and like you do on a car or truck? Thanks for the advice. Tony

Hi again Tony,

After the pad is constructed you will still need to store on wood pads.
Concrete, especially new tends to leach essential additives from the tires.
Here’s what Michelin has to say about Storing your RV:
http://www.michelinrvtires.com/michelinrv/index.jsp
Here’s what Michelin has to say about Rotation on page 11:
http://www.gmcws.org/Tech/TireSafety/RVTIREGUIDE1.pdf

Thanks for the accolade and hope all goes well,

Steve

[Romeo]

Originally Posted by The General

I use silicone grease on both sidewalls of each tire to prevent dissipation of the natural oils in the newly manufactured tire, keeps them from cracking and keeps them shiny.

Here’s what Michelin has to say about Storing your RV:
Welcome to Michelin North America RV Website

Steve

But General, in your link, Michelin says DONT use silicone.

[JohnRR]

Originally Posted by vman60

I found a concrete company that will send a truck out and pour a concrete pad 30x40 for $500.00

How thick a pad would that be?

[vman60]

Originally Posted by The General

Hi again Tony,

After the pad is constructed you will still need to store on wood pads.
Concrete, especially new tends to leach essential additives from the tires.
Here’s what Michelin has to say about Storing your RV:
http://www.michelinrvtires.com/michelinrv/index.jsp
Here’s what Michelin has to say about Rotation on page 11:
http://www.gmcws.org/Tech/TireSafety/RVTIREGUIDE1.pdf

Thanks for the accolade and hope all goes well,

Steve

Again most excellent information! I was going to build a set of 3ftx5ft acsending ramps up to 6" high to drive the coach up on made out of 2x6's anyway to keep the tires and coach of the ground, buy an adco coach complete cover and a set for the tires. My house is a story and a half inground house the nestles in between 2 large hills in a valley an 1/8 mile below the main road. There is about 50 yards between the 2 peeks that Im in, so the wind and weather goes right over my entire house. Also surrounded by trees, so I am not worried about strong winds, storms or direct sunlight, particularly where the coach will be. I get about 6 hrs of direct sunlight on the front of the house and thats it. Again I thank you for your help. Tony

[vman60]

Originally Posted by JohnRR

How thick a pad would that be?

They say 5 inches thick.

[JohnRR]

Thank you.

[vman60]

Originally Posted by JohnRR

Thank you.

I live about 82 miles west of St. Louis in a small town pop around 5 thousand people and the economy has hit real hard in specially small towns. The company I talked to about the concrete used to hunt which is now my land, so the deal was they could hunt the back 500 acrea's for the concrete. Not a bad trade off.