wrybread - 1-22-2009 at 03:59 PM
Well it looks like I'm not going to find covered storage in Cabo, oh well.
I'm wondering if anyone has any tips for storing an RV outdoors over the summer? I'm thinking wheel covers and armorall, and maybe a tarp over the
roof?
oladulce - 1-22-2009 at 07:05 PM
Sorry I don't have any real cutting edge tips for you, but we do cover our camper with one of these covers when it's off our truck and although it's a lightweight fabric, it has helped prolong the life of rubber and plastic parts around windows
etc. and keeps the direct sun off the camper.
Our Baja neighbor had one of these covers on his huge 5th wheel and he added extra straps over the top of the cover assuming it would keep it more
secure in the wind. Unfortunately, the wind got under the cover anyway and the once the cover was flapping in the breeze, the straps began to shread
the thing. My husband used up a roll of duct tape to keep the cover semi-intact until the neighbor returned.
So if you use one of these covers, I'd suggest using just the straps that come attached to the interior of the cover. It may look a little loose, but
it will allow for movement in the wind.
The other thing I learned from experience when we had a trailer sit (palapa-less) in the Baja summer sun for a few months. Before you store your RV,
open up bottles of liquid dish and hand soap etc so they can vent . When it hits a thousand degrees inside a closed up RV, stuff tends to explode and
it's very messy.
capt. mike - 1-23-2009 at 09:06 AM
yeah.....don't......it will disentegrate in short order.
the baja air and sun eats RVs for breakfast and snacks on the remains for lunch and dinner.
Heather - 1-23-2009 at 01:11 PM
Ours has been sitting in Cabo, uncovered, since 2001, and it's a 1985 camper. We're usually there for the summer, and have had someone in there
pretty much year round since 2006. It's always very dusty when we get there, but I would say it has held up fairly well. We haven't done anything
with the tires, but we don't have any plans to move it. It will porbably sit where it is until we build something on the property, and who knows when
that will be.
It would probably benefit from a tarp of some sort, and we have covered it in the past when it stood empty for most of the year, but haven't done that
lately. A palalpa would be nice, but don't have the $$ to invest in that.
I bought the camper second-hand and cheap to leave down there so it's served it's purpose, even if it always looks a little worse everytime we're
there!
Heather
Pescador - 1-23-2009 at 05:03 PM
Forget the armorall, it has a lot of alcohol in it and will dry things out. We use Fp303 which has an ultraviolet block and our camper striping,
which is basically plastic tape, looks like it just came off of the showroom. I used to have an ultralight airplane business and we bought that stuff
by the gallon and it really protected the sail cloth like no other product we could ever find. You might also want to look at one of the covers which
will help block the sun and give another layer of protection. Make sure the tires are covered as they go fairly quickly.
wrybread - 1-23-2009 at 05:06 PM
Very interesting!
Do you happen to know if Fp303 is available in Cabo or La Paz?
Is it generally an RV thing, or a marine thing, or neither of the above?
Johannes - 1-23-2009 at 05:10 PM
Westmarine has it in their stores.
El Camote - 1-23-2009 at 05:29 PM
Huh? When I google FP303 it comes up with a type of all wood, kit ultralight. Looks like fun but don't think it's sold by the gallon.
http://tinyurl.com/djwf45
[Edited on 1-24-2009 by El Camote]
303
djh - 1-23-2009 at 06:28 PM
I used to sell 303 in my canoe / kayak / watersports and camping store....
THEN it was simply called 303. And it IS the best I've discovered. I agree with the earlier call on Armorall ~ it is NOT good for many purposes that
it seeks to target in its marketing.
Just look for 303 . . . . I'm not sure what the fp is about!
BTW, I use 303 on tires, fiberglass, painted objects, rubber-type seals... linear, roto, and blow-molded poly composites (all types of plastics)...
It is good stuff and contains xlnt. UV protection.
Good luck!
djh
woody with a view - 1-23-2009 at 07:11 PM
http://www.wheretobuy303.com/
805gregg - 1-23-2009 at 08:37 PM
Cover it some how, a palapa is best.
Phil S - 1-25-2009 at 04:50 PM
"kiss it goodbye before you head north"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! unless you have it stored within a secured yard. Some years ago, I woke up to
clinking noises in my neighbors back yard. Got up, went to the roof/deck with a flashlight, and scared off a couple burglers, who made off with a
tool box from within the cuddy cabin. They took a knife to the "expensive boat cover" to get onto the deck. If I hadn't woke up, I'm sure the two
Honda 4 cycle motors would be gone also. (8hp & 150 hp or something like that)I ended up chasing them in my pickup, but they turned off their
lights & shot down a side road that I didn't see. I think that was the dumbest thing I'd ever done in my life. It was one of those "straw that
broke the camels back things". Perfect description to the local law enforcement of the pickup, nothing ever done after they came out &
investigated. This was Loreto/Nopolo
[Edited on 1-25-2009 by Phil S]
wrybread - 1-25-2009 at 04:55 PM
I'm comfortable with the theft part. Its a secured yard.
Its the sun that I'm worried about....
Debra - 1-25-2009 at 04:57 PM
Also, disconnect your battiers when you leave it for extended periods, we learned that lesson the hard way. 
Hook - 1-25-2009 at 10:28 PM
Any Camping World carries 303 by the gallon.