What a wonderful adventure despite the hiccups. A mouse can fit through a hole as small as your pinky! We plug everything with copper or brass wool. It won’t rust like steel wool. We keep traps under our sink just in case. This area sounds like a place I need to visit! Thank you for sharing!
I take one of my dog’s old collar and put it on the steering wheel of our motorhome to remind us to unhook power and ensure the jacks are raised. I have also laminated a check off sheet for setting up and tearing down the campsite
They are not ON the roof. They are in your ceiling running around. Take the plastic framework off around one of your skylight or vent and stick a couple of traps or glue traps up there and put traps in your under storage outside. You have to stay on top of them. Even after you're not trapping anymore, still keep the traps and constantly check for signs of them.
We use Rodent Sheriff sachet packs we found at Tractor Supply. A friend of ours had a rat from a nearby construction site running around the airspace between the roof and ceiling. We took the interior trim ring off the A/C and threw several packs of Rodent Sheriff into different directions in their "attic." The rat abandoned their rig and no further problems with Mickey. P.S. They also had to put a couple of sachets of Rodent Sheriff under the hood of their truck near the firewall as the uninvited guest tried to use their truck as a fall-out shelter. Bye-bye 👋 Mickey!
A couple things to deter rodents is to find any gaps and put steel wool in the holes, use airtight containers for the food and peppermint spray. If you use traps, wear gloves to keep your scent off of the trap. Beautiful little setup you have!
LADDER TIP... when getting onto the roof with a ground ladder, raise the ladder at least 3 rungs above the roof line. This facilitates an easier egress when you are getting back down.
You picked the right spots to visit! Grand Marais, Duluth, North shore....been there done that. Hit Itasca State park, where the Mississippi begins. From a lifelong SE Minnesota boy. Enjoy your travels! 😎
Every camper has some hiccups. Make sure you keep a journal! It's fun to read your journal 19 years from now. If it makes you feel any better, my husband in all his excitement to leave at night to head to Myrtle Beach in our new to us motor home, forgot to unplug the electric cord from the house. He tore the electric cord right out of the motor home. Thank goodness our neighbor could rewire us, so after a small delay we were on our way. (Never made that mistake again.)
I had something similar, I was taking the camper off of the truck and I forgot to disconnect my cable for the rear view camera. Oops. I unload it nearly every week and it’s a normal part of my process. Not this time, brain fart. 😂
Don't feel too bad about the stabilizers. Newbie or not, we all screw up. I've been RVing since 1983. Started with a popup, then a TT, then a Motor Home. A couple of years ago we downsized to a short 5th wheel (29'). 1st dumb thing I did was I forgot to drop the tailgate before pulling away from the trailer. Yup, almost $1,000 to replace it. So even with over 30 years of RV experience, you can still mess up. Trick is to not do it again. Happy trails!
We all have days when things just don't go as they should. You'll get in the groove again with things. Barkley looks like he's having a blast. Our pup is having a dental and a fatty cyst removed next week, this dog mom is dreading it for him. He travels with us & keeps us on schedule in everything. Safe travels out there!
Couple of suggestions. When raining, lower one side of awning so rain does not puddle. Get a drill to raise and lower stabilizers. Get the slap type mouse traps with peanut butter- they work
We always bug bomb our Winnie before we hit the road. I also use peppermint oil cotton balls and mouse repellent throughout the camper after using the sealant to plug holes. Good luck. Have fun.
A trailer allows so many options for your truck bed. You can cover the bed with a Topper and have secured covered storage for things like your Ebikes etc. I put a carpet kit Bed in ours. It has lots of storage under the bed and in the cabinets on each side.
Mice can find a way in no matter what. My hubby crawled under our and plugged every hole he could see. Good luck! Go up the gunflint trail. There are many National Forest camprounds for much cheaper and more beautiful. No hook-ups but we love it. Just remember to fill your water tank in town first. We do our best camping in this way!
Welcome to the family! Mistakes I have made are too numerous to list. My favorite was failing to put the hitch mount pin in and driving 3 hours on the interstate. How the trailer didn't come loose is a mystery. I travel with 2 cats, so, mice are not an issue.
I used to have the same trailer as you. Also like yours, of my jacks bent pretty much from the start. Also I had a mouse above my bed as well, but theorized that it was in the interstitial space between the roof and ceiling, and it probably came up the underside of the trailer because I found where there was a gap that they could have easily crawled up over the tire and into the floor and found their way up the sidewall of the inside wall. Eventually, the sound of this mouse crawling around stopped, and I theorized, it probably died or found its way out. Don't fret it's all part of the adventure. By the way, my trailer came with an attached ladder.
The most common places for mice to get in, is under the camper are around propane lines, around water heater, storage compartments that you can access both inside and out. One thing that can help deter them is to place bounce dryer sheets in cabinets, storage compartments, through a couple on the bed, when the camper is not being used. I use to do that with ours when we had a mouse problem.
I have religiously used mothballs in the underneath storage and used Irish spring bars of soap all over the interior I'll buy a 12 pack and use all of them. Use the individual boxes as holders and open them up so you can see the whole bar sitting in its own box
@@bullsipper123 a friend of mine, put bars of Irish Spring and dryer sheets in their camper for the winter. When they came back in the spring, mice had clawed and chewed up the bars of Irish spring, and shredded the dryer sheets for a nest. This was in Alberta Canada where winter's desperate times call for desperate measures. Perhaps south of the border the mice are more sensitive! 🤭
@@IMMe-yp4bu it sounds like we have similar experiences. I know quite a few people who place bars of Irish Spring around to ward off mice also. I haven’t noticed that it is effective for the mice we have in Northern Minnesota.
This has worked for us and our Winnebago Class C. Place bars of Irish Spring inside and under enclosures. We have never had a rodent issue over 8 yrs of traveling and storage of our RV.
Write out a hook up and unhook procedure until you get use to the pull behind travel! I had mine on a 3x5 index card and would put it on my instrument cluster so I won’t forget. I think you made a wise decision and safe travels!!
Very cool part of the country! You guys would definitely love the Boundary Waters as well (make sure to give Michigan some love by spending a couple of nights on Isle Royale as well :-).
Cab fresh packets Amazon) and an electronic pest deterrent have kept our camper mouse-free for 7 years. Also, don't leave open food (cereal, etc) in the camper when it sits for a few days. I have been putting things that might attract them in freezer ziplocks and either stored in fridge or microwave. You'll get the kinks worked out and really enjoy your beautiful home! ❤🙏Jane/SC
Came on here to say the same thing. Maybe you did end up closing it, but you will likely have issues with a toilet paper mountain in your tank if you don’t. Once you open your valve to dump the black tank you can always dump a bucket or two of water into it to help flush out what might still be in there.
To save on holding tank fresh water I camping alone at empty RV and trailer and tents campgrounds to use the campground's permanent outhouse, portable Jon or main bathroom to do business a lot instead of wasting my fresh water. And I do showering at main campgrounds as well as laundry and dryers.
All used campers you will have some issues with, but you will learn along the way. And things happen to all of us our campers. We all make mistakes and forget to do things, but only forget once.. you guys are doing great.
I really enjoy your videos. I almost bought the exact trailer you have. In retrospect I wish I had. My first trailer was an Rpod. It was fine for an entry level unit. My next was a Lance, with was up a notch in workmanship etc an price. 😳. however, my desire for a dual axle trailer like yours seemed to be the safest in my experience. Now at 82 I have difficulty lifting the weight distribution hitch so I now,have a small motor home. Happy trail to you two and stay safe 👏🏻🌹
Worst thing you did was open the tank to the trailer when you hooked up. Leave it closed at all times then open black tank first then clear out with grey tank. Mice. Hate them with a passion mice traps and check all of the water lines, they love getting thru there even the furnace and water heater exhaust make sure you have dabbler nets on them.
Those people doesn't know that dabble are stinging wasps and fake wasps and don't forget about wood bees and carpenter bees and yellow jackets stinging painful paralyzing bees I was stung as a highschool kid walking past field pear trees and onions planting fields and my 2 legs was paralyzed being stung 3 times and waited 10 minutes and went back to walking to highschool 3 miles away from my mom's house another 3 blocks away.
They are most likely in the ceiling not on the roof and there are so many places underneath that they can get in. I had this problem all summer parked in one place
I just found your channel. Looks wonderful up there. It’s the second weekend in October in Southern New England and the colors are phenomenal. We just traded a Coleman about the size of yours. We never had mouse problems, but we never left food in it when we weren’t in it and we stored it with dryer sheets everywhere in five years we never had a mouse, but I traded that yesterday for a 30 foot Catalina Legacy. We stayed in the old Coleman three months a year as we’re retired due to Labor Day, the peanut butter slap traps work and like I said we use dryer sheets the cheaper the stinkier the better just saying I’ll keep an eye out for you.
Helpful tip all food in air tight containers (like lock & lock) or microwave/refrigerator. Dryer sheets around entire trailer have been said to keep them away. Good luck!
Your new trailer is the perfect choice for being able to take off in your truck to explore other areas. As an experienced mouser here (sadly), what everyone has said about them is true. And they can get in the tiniest openings. As mentioned, they probably traveled with you from the storage facility at home. Sprinkle mouse bait inside the facility along the exterior walls. That will take care of the problem - just don't let Barkley waunder around in the building. Lovely video! ✌️🇨🇦
Get underneath the camper and stuff all holes with steel wool. Should be a slide on a fin in the refrigerator slide down for warmer up for colder.. in your case sounds like you want it to be a little warmer so stuff does not freeze.
Glad to see you in Grand Marias after peak summer season, a great place to visit. If you go back, head up the Gunflint Trail for an awesome experience. Keep up the great work!!!
A RV tech advised me to get under the camper and fill all openings with a spray foam called Great Stuff. I believe Home Depot sells it. It is green and contains a rodent repellent If also doesn't hurt plumbing pipes like some expanding spray foam. We always keep a few traps baited with peanut butter as well, just in case they get in our camper. We also have a truck camper and have never had a rodent problem.
As someone who has camped for 40+ years and went from pop up to now a class a motorhome, you are going to make mistakes during every change. But you will adapt and overcome and continue to live large camping. BTW, the first day I brought my class A home I damaged the slide topper backing it into garage. They back differently than a 5th wheel. Live and learn. Even at 64.
Yay! You guys are back camping! As for the stabilizer jacks, I use those fluorescent Lynx levelers under the jack. One reason is they draw your attention as you are walking around the trailer so you won't forget they are there before you leave and the other reason is they keep the jacks from sinking into the ground if it's wet or sandy. As for the mice, I haven't had a problem in the 6 years I have had a T.T, but we do live in Arizona. I know one TH-camr camper guy from Minnesota that keeps a lot of his food stored in the oven and in the microwave so mice don't eat it. I definitely think you guys made the right decision to get a trailer though♡♡♡
You are right about Lake Superior , we camp on the Canadian side at Old Woman Bay in Lake Superior Provincial Park near Marathon , Ontario. . BTW , dont worry about the little things , we all make mistakes .
Just came across your channel this morning! I just bought a 19ft Gulfstream single axle camper last week! Can't wait for me and my two Huskies to get out very soon! It's my retirement present to myself 😄 Plan on going to that north shore at some point for sure. Great video, keep them coming. Be safe you guys!
Things happen. You’ll remember the next time, I’m sure. As one of your followers suggested, consider a checklist for setting up and breaking down on each trip. I worry about this most often. As far as mice are concerned, I too need feedback from others. Keep me posted. Enjoy your new camper and do not be dismayed by what you learn. Every trip is a learning experience. Love you both. ❤❤❤❤❤
Nice video, keep up the good work (just read some comments and 95% are great, but some people need to get a life 😅) keep black and grey tank valves closed until you dump. Then black dumps first, when empty, then grey to wash out the hose. Enjoy the trailer!
Loved this content and absolutely love the North shore. Grand Marais is great little town. Hope you were are to enjoy the many waterfalls on the north shore and the Gitch Gami trail.
It’s so easy to get in a hurry or have many things going through one’s mind causing to overlook something. For me, before moving the vehicle, I stop, take a deep breath and do a walk around to double check everything. If I get distracted, I start the walk around over. Time is money and a little extra time spent can save a lot of money and headache.
Tell me about your telescoping ladder, I like that. When you're not using your trailer throw some Grandpa Gus pouches in it, and buy the spray too. Non toxic (Barkley) and they work to keep the mice out. Been using them in our trailer for years.
We ordered a 2013 26' travel trailer 11 yrs ago. I removed every panel i could inside and out and stuffed every wire/pipe opening with steel wool. Still have it and never had rodents or bugs, other than lady bugs. If the stabilizer is lippert, be aware they sell 2 grades they make. You will find one half price but makes more noise -thats what i used when i bent one.
I have owned a travel trailer for the last 15 years and STILL forget something or make mistakes. Just this past summer we forgot to put up our rear stabilizers before raising the tongue jack to hook up. Luckily no damage but could have been bad!
I'd definitely think they're getting in from underneath, especially since they were in the cabinets. Worth going around all the entry points under there and sealing them with steel wool and outdoor rated spray foam. That's what we did at a cabin in Alaska and it worked well to keep the mice and squirrels out of their customary entry points.
Filling the small gaps with peppermint flavor fluoride toothpaste can reduce the mice ingress to gaps. But you have to renew it frequently. The ethylene glycol and fluoride in toothpaste are fatal to mice in large quantities. Adding cayenne pepper, cinammon and/or cloves deter mice. They don't like the strong scent.
For mice problems I recommend going to Walmart and buying Citrus Magic Closet Citrus Burst. Citrus burns their eyes and they don’t like it. Since I found this I haven’t had a problem with mice. I put several of them through out our camper. 😊
I truly hope that is the end of the problems for awhile!!! I heard mice hate the smell of fabric softener sheets, so maybe try putting them around the inside of the camper. I think clove oil helps keep bugs away too. I don't own a camper but I truly wish the best for you ❤. Looking forward to seeing the UP with you guys 😊
The mice are likely in the air conditioner ducting that you possibly have in your interior ceiling, Use mouse traps with a small blob of peanut butter and a peanut stuck to it and you will get them, Buy some Fresh Cab mouse pouches and put 8-12 of them all through out your trailer and it will drive them out. Don't sweat the small stuff, the cheap jacks on the rear should be easy to replace. Just remember that now when you travel you are able to park your home and go places with your truck and I think that's kinda nice. All styles of rv's have their strong suits in different ways, Take Care from John & Argie in Olympia, WA
There should be some kind of thermostat for the fridge/,freezer door. Is just a series of numbers by clicking the button on the top right above the freezer door.
Copper coated steel wool won't leave a stain, Dollar tree Pine sol, install a spray nozzle. Spray the tires where the mice climb up. Us solar rope lights around the Rig and under the truck hood. Safe travels 👍
Murphy’s law followed me for 3 months! When starting full time travelling! Yall will get there, just like with the truck camper. I would never pull a trailer (without a man! To do all the man stuff😂)
To avoid mice AND eliminate garbage (that attracts mice- they can smell for miles:())- When I get new groceries, I switch everything! Out of the containers, plastics etc, into sealed containers! Everything! If I do have garbage like a can, I will put into a ziploc bag before putting into the garbage. Not only does it keep foods fresher - dry and fridge; but NO critters! 🎉
Minnesota North Shore Scenic highway ( Highway 61) is an awesome drive that passes by many great places like Gooseberry Falls, Palisade Head, Tettegouche State Park, Split Rock lighthouse in it's own State Park, and the small towns like Two Harbors, Lutsen, and Grand Portage. It's so much like Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula because of all the wilderness and the Gunflint Trail which runs from Grand Marais to the Canada border near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Plenty of great places to eat or get snacks along the way too like Java Moose in Grand Marais, Betty's Pies, The World's Best Donut shop and of course all the great foodie stops in Duluth like Grandma's Saloon and Grille. We went up there in May 2022 and it was a great vacation. We didn't get to see every place along 61 but we had such a great time.
Also I put the pieces in the little net/mesh bags used for rice/bird seed, you find in wedding supplies at craft stores. That way it's easy to place and remove.
Hmm, might be time to add a cat 🐈 to the family! 😁 What a wonderful video of such a beautiful area…nothing like a small fishing town whether coastal or inland on a lake. Thank you for bringing us along and look forward to the remainder of your trip, especially once the falls colors start to settle in! As always, stay safe out there…..
It’s very common to get mice in your camper, they can get in anywhere, they can squeeze their little bodies through the smallest places, I have seen them squeeze through the area where the slide out meets the body of the camper, there is a rubber gasket Which usually has spaces for them to get through on the bottom of the gasket, they can get through on the roof, they could can get through underneath or any spaces in the storage areas!
Don’t feel bad about the stabilizer jacks. We are not newbies and just recently did the same thing on our class c motorhome. Thankfully they weren’t electric or hydronic which would be a much more expensive fix. Keep the faith
Discovered your videos not super long ago, and really enjoy them. I'm a native Yooper and live in the Ishpeming and Negaunee area. It looked like you were looking at the bluffs on Teal lake in Negaunee in the beginning of this video. I'm looking forward to the videos you make crossing the U.P. hey. I do have to say, we're having an unusually hot stretch and it may push our Fall Colors back a little, so you may not get to enjoy that on this trip. Again truly enjoy your videos, keep up the wonderful effort on your part making them and enjoy your travels.
With our pop up we established a firm routine check list so we didn’t forget anything like the stabilizers, (ask me how I know🫣) The truck camper was easier for sure. I believe you’ll love the camper and the freedom to detach and go! THAT’s a positive.
What a wonderful adventure despite the hiccups. A mouse can fit through a hole as small as your pinky! We plug everything with copper or brass wool. It won’t rust like steel wool. We keep traps under our sink just in case. This area sounds like a place I need to visit! Thank you for sharing!
Just a suggestion. Do not keep the black tank open when you are hooked up. You need the tank to be pretty full to completely empty.
And you'll avoid the smell from the park's sewer system
Yes. Plus, always drain your black tank first and then flush everything with your gray tank water.
tip.... keep your valves closed until time to dump. helps to keep ordors out
I did, just didn’t show it on video. Thanks for the tip though!
I take one of my dog’s old collar and put it on the steering wheel of our motorhome to remind us to unhook power and ensure the jacks are raised. I have also laminated a check off sheet for setting up and tearing down the campsite
Good idea with the visual reminder!
They are not ON the roof. They are in your ceiling running around. Take the plastic framework off around one of your skylight or vent and stick a couple of traps or glue traps up there and put traps in your under storage outside. You have to stay on top of them. Even after you're not trapping anymore, still keep the traps and constantly check for signs of them.
We use Rodent Sheriff sachet packs we found at Tractor Supply. A friend of ours had a rat from a nearby construction site running around the airspace between the roof and ceiling. We took the interior trim ring off the A/C and threw several packs of Rodent Sheriff into different directions in their "attic." The rat abandoned their rig and no further problems with Mickey. P.S. They also had to put a couple of sachets of Rodent Sheriff under the hood of their truck near the firewall as the uninvited guest tried to use their truck as a fall-out shelter. Bye-bye 👋 Mickey!
A couple things to deter rodents is to find any gaps and put steel wool in the holes, use airtight containers for the food and peppermint spray. If you use traps, wear gloves to keep your scent off of the trap. Beautiful little setup you have!
I added sissor jacks to all four corners and cut the handle off to use in my cordless drill … best thing I ever did !!!
I have been through this. The truck camper is what I am sticking with now. Never a problem
LADDER TIP... when getting onto the roof with a ground ladder, raise the ladder at least 3 rungs above the roof line. This facilitates an easier egress when you are getting back down.
Excellent pro tip.
Thanks! 🎉
Thanks for the tip, I’ll be sure to extend it further next time!
You picked the right spots to visit! Grand Marais, Duluth, North shore....been there done that. Hit Itasca State park, where the Mississippi begins. From a lifelong SE Minnesota boy.
Enjoy your travels! 😎
Your bound to make mistakes. Don't be too hard on yourself. You definitely made good choice of campers.
Mice can get through gaps the size of a quarter laid on its side. They can flatten themselves an amazing amount to squeeze through.
Every camper has some hiccups. Make sure you keep a journal! It's fun to read your journal 19 years from now. If it makes you feel any better, my husband in all his excitement to leave at night to head to Myrtle Beach in our new to us motor home, forgot to unplug the electric cord from the house. He tore the electric cord right out of the motor home. Thank goodness our neighbor could rewire us, so after a small delay we were on our way. (Never made that mistake again.)
I had something similar, I was taking the camper off of the truck and I forgot to disconnect my cable for the rear view camera. Oops. I unload it nearly every week and it’s a normal part of my process. Not this time, brain fart. 😂
I'm a Winnebago travel trailer owner...2201DS...a 2015 model. I'm happy nine years down the road. You will be too.
Don't feel too bad about the stabilizers. Newbie or not, we all screw up. I've been RVing since 1983. Started with a popup, then a TT, then a Motor Home. A couple of years ago we downsized to a short 5th wheel (29'). 1st dumb thing I did was I forgot to drop the tailgate before pulling away from the trailer. Yup, almost $1,000 to replace it. So even with over 30 years of RV experience, you can still mess up. Trick is to not do it again. Happy trails!
I love Minnesota I lived in Rochester Minnesota for several years and I loved it there. It's such a beautiful place to live.
Sweet adventure! Loved the hiking with the dog! I hope the new daypacks are great for you. Thank you for sharing your trips.
We all have days when things just don't go as they should. You'll get in the groove again with things. Barkley looks like he's having a blast. Our pup is having a dental and a fatty cyst removed next week, this dog mom is dreading it for him. He travels with us & keeps us on schedule in everything. Safe travels out there!
Couple of suggestions. When raining, lower one side of awning so rain does not puddle. Get a drill to raise and lower stabilizers. Get the slap type mouse traps with peanut butter- they work
Minnesota is definitely a beautiful state. Great campground too. Wonderful video overall... Thank you guys❤❤
We always bug bomb our Winnie before we hit the road. I also use peppermint oil cotton balls and mouse repellent throughout the camper after using the sealant to plug holes. Good luck. Have fun.
A trailer allows so many options for your truck bed.
You can cover the bed with a Topper and have secured covered storage for things like your Ebikes etc.
I put a carpet kit Bed in ours. It has lots of storage under the bed and in the cabinets on each side.
Mice can find a way in no matter what. My hubby crawled under our and plugged every hole he could see. Good luck!
Go up the gunflint trail. There are many National Forest camprounds for much cheaper and more beautiful. No hook-ups but we love it. Just remember to fill your water tank in town first. We do our best camping in this way!
Welcome to the family! Mistakes I have made are too numerous to list. My favorite was failing to put the hitch mount pin in and driving 3 hours on the interstate. How the trailer didn't come loose is a mystery. I travel with 2 cats, so, mice are not an issue.
I used to have the same trailer as you. Also like yours, of my jacks bent pretty much from the start. Also I had a mouse above my bed as well, but theorized that it was in the interstitial space between the roof and ceiling, and it probably came up the underside of the trailer because I found where there was a gap that they could have easily crawled up over the tire and into the floor and found their way up the sidewall of the inside wall. Eventually, the sound of this mouse crawling around stopped, and I theorized, it probably died or found its way out. Don't fret it's all part of the adventure. By the way, my trailer came with an attached ladder.
The most common places for mice to get in, is under the camper are around propane lines, around water heater, storage compartments that you can access both inside and out.
One thing that can help deter them is to place bounce dryer sheets in cabinets, storage compartments, through a couple on the bed, when the camper is not being used.
I use to do that with ours when we had a mouse problem.
Dryer sheets may work for some mice. But I have discovered deer mice happily making a nest in a half full box of bounce dryer sheets
I have religiously used mothballs in the underneath storage and used Irish spring bars of soap all over the interior
I'll buy a 12 pack and use all of them.
Use the individual boxes as holders and open them up so you can see the whole bar sitting in its own box
@@bullsipper123 okay
@@bullsipper123 a friend of mine, put bars of Irish Spring and dryer sheets in their camper for the winter. When they came back in the spring, mice had clawed and chewed up the bars of Irish spring, and shredded the dryer sheets for a nest. This was in Alberta Canada where winter's desperate times call for desperate measures. Perhaps south of the border the mice are more sensitive! 🤭
@@IMMe-yp4bu it sounds like we have similar experiences. I know quite a few people who place bars of Irish Spring around to ward off mice also. I haven’t noticed that it is effective for the mice we have in Northern Minnesota.
The two of you have got this!
Thank you!
This has worked for us and our Winnebago Class C. Place bars of Irish Spring inside and under enclosures. We have never had a rodent issue over 8 yrs of traveling and storage of our RV.
Good to know!
Remember to close your sewer valve after connecting to the main sewer. Otherwise you will get sewer flies inside your tanks.
Write out a hook up and unhook procedure until you get use to the pull behind travel! I had mine on a 3x5 index card and would put it on my instrument cluster so I won’t forget. I think you made a wise decision and safe travels!!
100%
I prefer screwup's that teach me a valuable lesson but aren't extrodnaryly expensive.
Very cool part of the country! You guys would definitely love the Boundary Waters as well (make sure to give Michigan some love by spending a couple of nights on Isle Royale as well :-).
Cab fresh packets Amazon) and an electronic pest deterrent have kept our camper mouse-free for 7 years. Also, don't leave open food (cereal, etc) in the camper when it sits for a few days. I have been putting things that might attract them in freezer ziplocks and either stored in fridge or microwave. You'll get the kinks worked out and really enjoy your beautiful home! ❤🙏Jane/SC
I love it. So beautiful! . And yes keep a journal.
Yup leave holding tank valve closed till u need to dump.
Came on here to say the same thing. Maybe you did end up closing it, but you will likely have issues with a toilet paper mountain in your tank if you don’t. Once you open your valve to dump the black tank you can always dump a bucket or two of water into it to help flush out what might still be in there.
I did keep the valves closed, just had to dump the tanks when we arrived and then once again when we left. Thanks for the heads up though!
To save on holding tank fresh water I camping alone at empty RV and trailer and tents campgrounds to use the campground's permanent outhouse, portable Jon or main bathroom to do business a lot instead of wasting my fresh water. And I do showering at main campgrounds as well as laundry and dryers.
All used campers you will have some issues with, but you will learn along the way. And things happen to all of us our campers. We all make mistakes and forget to do things, but only forget once.. you guys are doing great.
Only forget once is the idea! Thanks for the support
I really enjoy your videos. I almost bought the exact trailer you have. In retrospect I wish I had. My first trailer was an Rpod. It was fine for an entry level unit. My next was a Lance, with was up a notch in workmanship etc an price. 😳. however, my desire for a dual axle trailer like yours seemed to be the safest in my experience. Now at 82 I have difficulty lifting the weight distribution hitch so I now,have a small motor home. Happy trail to you two and stay safe 👏🏻🌹
We’re loving it so far! Think its the perfect layout for 2
Worst thing you did was open the tank to the trailer when you hooked up. Leave it closed at all times then open black tank first then clear out with grey tank. Mice. Hate them with a passion mice traps and check all of the water lines, they love getting thru there even the furnace and water heater exhaust make sure you have dabbler nets on them.
Those people doesn't know that dabble are stinging wasps and fake wasps and don't forget about wood bees and carpenter bees and yellow jackets stinging painful paralyzing bees I was stung as a highschool kid walking past field pear trees and onions planting fields and my 2 legs was paralyzed being stung 3 times and waited 10 minutes and went back to walking to highschool 3 miles away from my mom's house another 3 blocks away.
They are most likely in the ceiling not on the roof and there are so many places underneath that they can get in. I had this problem all summer parked in one place
I just found your channel. Looks wonderful up there. It’s the second weekend in October in Southern New England and the colors are phenomenal. We just traded a Coleman about the size of yours. We never had mouse problems, but we never left food in it when we weren’t in it and we stored it with dryer sheets everywhere in five years we never had a mouse, but I traded that yesterday for a 30 foot Catalina Legacy. We stayed in the old Coleman three months a year as we’re retired due to Labor Day, the peanut butter slap traps work and like I said we use dryer sheets the cheaper the stinkier the better just saying I’ll keep an eye out for you.
Helpful tip all food in air tight containers (like lock & lock) or microwave/refrigerator. Dryer sheets around entire trailer have been said to keep them away. Good luck!
Your new trailer is the perfect choice for being able to take off in your truck to explore other areas. As an experienced mouser here (sadly), what everyone has said about them is true. And they can get in the tiniest openings. As mentioned, they probably traveled with you from the storage facility at home. Sprinkle mouse bait inside the facility along the exterior walls. That will take care of the problem - just don't let Barkley waunder around in the building. Lovely video! ✌️🇨🇦
Get underneath the camper and stuff all holes with steel wool. Should be a slide on a fin in the refrigerator slide down for warmer up for colder.. in your case sounds like you want it to be a little warmer so stuff does not freeze.
If you can find it, get copper steel wool and cover it with foam.
Glad to see you in Grand Marias after peak summer season, a great place to visit. If you go back, head up the Gunflint Trail for an awesome experience. Keep up the great work!!!
Just so you have something else to worry about keep in mind that mice will eat wiring so if you end up with any electrical issues, keep that in mind.
We have considered this, I’ll be keeping a close eye on things!
A RV tech advised me to get under the camper and fill all openings with a spray foam called Great Stuff. I believe Home Depot sells it. It is green and contains a rodent repellent
If also doesn't hurt plumbing pipes like some expanding spray foam. We always keep a few traps baited with peanut butter as well, just in case they get in our camper. We also have a truck camper and have never had a rodent problem.
We’ll have to invest in some Great Stuff, thanks for the tip!
As someone who has camped for 40+ years and went from pop up to now a class a motorhome, you are going to make mistakes during every change. But you will adapt and overcome and continue to live large camping. BTW, the first day I brought my class A home I damaged the slide topper backing it into garage. They back differently than a 5th wheel. Live and learn. Even at 64.
Love Grand Marais. Been there many times. The circle tour around Lake Superior is amazing.
Great video. Love your new rig (despite your early challenges)
Peppermint spray works nearly 100% to keep mice out. Smells nice too.
Yay! You guys are back camping! As for the stabilizer jacks, I use those fluorescent Lynx levelers under the jack. One reason is they draw your attention as you are walking around the trailer so you won't forget they are there before you leave and the other reason is they keep the jacks from sinking into the ground if it's wet or sandy. As for the mice, I haven't had a problem in the 6 years I have had a T.T, but we do live in Arizona. I know one TH-camr camper guy from Minnesota that keeps a lot of his food stored in the oven and in the microwave so mice don't eat it. I definitely think you guys made the right decision to get a trailer though♡♡♡
Your dog will make it all better.
Fall is here great footage. I like the new trailer and cabin. Keep up the good work.
Two words: electric winch 😊
You are right about Lake Superior , we camp on the Canadian side at Old Woman Bay in Lake Superior Provincial Park near Marathon , Ontario. . BTW , dont worry about the little things , we all make mistakes .
It really looks Beautiful there. Your camera’s seems like we are with you guys.
Hey everybody has a first time. Yes you will laugh about it. And yes you will be talking to a newbie helping them through their first time!
Just came across your channel this morning! I just bought a 19ft Gulfstream single axle camper last week! Can't wait for me and my two Huskies to get out very soon! It's my retirement present to myself 😄 Plan on going to that north shore at some point for sure. Great video, keep them coming. Be safe you guys!
Make sure you go over to see Isle Royale.
Things happen. You’ll remember the next time, I’m sure. As one of your followers suggested, consider a checklist for setting up and breaking down on each trip. I worry about this most often. As far as mice are concerned, I too need feedback from others. Keep me posted.
Enjoy your new camper and do not be dismayed by what you learn. Every trip is a learning experience. Love you both. ❤❤❤❤❤
Nice video, keep up the good work (just read some comments and 95% are great, but some people need to get a life 😅) keep black and grey tank valves closed until you dump. Then black dumps first, when empty, then grey to wash out the hose. Enjoy the trailer!
Mistakes happen. We made a check list, in order of what to do, for set up and take down. You got this!
Do yourself a favor and replace those stabilizer jacks with actual scissor jacks.
Good idea!
The campground and camping 🏕 town is very nice 👌 👍. See you on the next one adventurers 😊.
We’ll see you next Wednesday!
Open your fridge and look for a senior you can move it up and down to change the temp it's on the thing that makes it cold, not in the freezer
Good luck. First few times out with our camper was one thing after the other .just push through it.
That’s how it seems, but things are getting easier!
Loved this content and absolutely love the North shore. Grand Marais is great little town. Hope you were are to enjoy the many waterfalls on the north shore and the Gitch Gami trail.
Such a beautiful area of the country! We’re already excited to go back
It’s so easy to get in a hurry or have many things going through one’s mind causing to overlook something. For me, before moving the vehicle, I stop, take a deep breath and do a walk around to double check everything. If I get distracted, I start the walk around over. Time is money and a little extra time spent can save a lot of money and headache.
Tell me about your telescoping ladder, I like that. When you're not using your trailer throw some Grandpa Gus pouches in it, and buy the spray too. Non toxic (Barkley) and they work to keep the mice out. Been using them in our trailer for years.
We ordered a 2013 26' travel trailer 11 yrs ago. I removed every panel i could inside and out and stuffed every wire/pipe opening with steel wool. Still have it and never had rodents or bugs, other than lady bugs.
If the stabilizer is lippert, be aware they sell 2 grades they make. You will find one half price but makes more noise -thats what i used when i bent one.
I have owned a travel trailer for the last 15 years and STILL forget something or make mistakes. Just this past summer we forgot to put up our rear stabilizers before raising the tongue jack to hook up. Luckily no damage but could have been bad!
There’s always something!
Just came across your channel! Yes I subscribed and yes I clicked the bell!! I’m looking forward to seeing your adventures!!
Thanks for the support, Robert!
I'd definitely think they're getting in from underneath, especially since they were in the cabinets. Worth going around all the entry points under there and sealing them with steel wool and outdoor rated spray foam. That's what we did at a cabin in Alaska and it worked well to keep the mice and squirrels out of their customary entry points.
You are doing a great job,please keep up the great job.
Filling the small gaps with peppermint flavor fluoride toothpaste can reduce the mice ingress to gaps. But you have to renew it frequently. The ethylene glycol and fluoride in toothpaste are fatal to mice in large quantities. Adding cayenne pepper, cinammon and/or cloves deter mice. They don't like the strong scent.
For mice problems I recommend going to Walmart and buying Citrus Magic Closet Citrus Burst. Citrus burns their eyes and they don’t like it. Since I found this I haven’t had a problem with mice. I put several of them through out our camper. 😊
I like mice,
I truly hope that is the end of the problems for awhile!!! I heard mice hate the smell of fabric softener sheets, so maybe try putting them around the inside of the camper. I think clove oil helps keep bugs away too. I don't own a camper but I truly wish the best for you ❤. Looking forward to seeing the UP with you guys 😊
Barkley says i will get those mouses.Nice filming .beautiful scenery.
The mice are likely in the air conditioner ducting that you possibly have in your interior ceiling, Use mouse traps with a small blob of peanut butter and a peanut stuck to it and you will get them, Buy some Fresh Cab mouse pouches and put 8-12 of them all through out your trailer and it will drive them out. Don't sweat the small stuff, the cheap jacks on the rear should be easy to replace. Just remember that now when you travel you are able to park your home and go places with your truck and I think that's kinda nice. All styles of rv's have their strong suits in different ways, Take Care from John & Argie in Olympia, WA
Life is a learning curve, it'll get better :)
Power connections are an access point. Check were the gas line goes through. It doesn’t take much of an opening
There should be some kind of thermostat for the fridge/,freezer door. Is just a series of numbers by clicking the button on the top right above the freezer door.
Copper coated steel wool won't leave a stain, Dollar tree Pine sol, install a spray nozzle. Spray the tires where the mice climb up. Us solar rope lights around the Rig and under the truck hood. Safe travels 👍
Thanks for the tip with the copper coated!
Murphy’s law followed me for 3 months! When starting full time travelling! Yall will get there, just like with the truck camper. I would never pull a trailer (without a man! To do all the man stuff😂)
To avoid mice AND eliminate garbage (that attracts mice- they can smell for miles:())- When I get new groceries, I switch everything! Out of the containers, plastics etc, into sealed containers! Everything! If I do have garbage like a can, I will put into a ziploc bag before putting into the garbage. Not only does it keep foods fresher - dry and fridge; but NO critters! 🎉
Good idea on the sealed containers, we’ll have to look into some!
Growing pains? You got this!
Minnesota North Shore Scenic highway ( Highway 61) is an awesome drive that passes by many great places like Gooseberry Falls, Palisade Head, Tettegouche State Park, Split Rock lighthouse in it's own State Park, and the small towns like Two Harbors, Lutsen, and Grand Portage. It's so much like Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula because of all the wilderness and the Gunflint Trail which runs from Grand Marais to the Canada border near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Plenty of great places to eat or get snacks along the way too like Java Moose in Grand Marais, Betty's Pies, The World's Best Donut shop and of course all the great foodie stops in Duluth like Grandma's Saloon and Grille. We went up there in May 2022 and it was a great vacation. We didn't get to see every place along 61 but we had such a great time.
It was such a gorgeous drive, we’re already planning our next trip back!
Do you have a plastic thing in fridge on your fins, that you slide up and down for temp , up is colder
Place pieces of Irish spring soap around. They hate the sme.
We’ve heard this, will pick some up
Also I put the pieces in the little net/mesh bags used for rice/bird seed, you find in wedding supplies at craft stores. That way it's easy to place and remove.
Now that you have a Winnebago like Traveling Robert, will you be signing your own opening theme song? 😂😂😂
We use the Mouse Free undercarriage lubricant to stop mice from getting in our RV. It’s expensive but works like a charm for 18 months at a time!
Never been Minnesota very pretty
Hmm, might be time to add a cat 🐈 to the family! 😁
What a wonderful video of such a beautiful area…nothing like a small fishing town whether coastal or inland on a lake.
Thank you for bringing us along and look forward to the remainder of your trip, especially once the falls colors start to settle in!
As always, stay safe out there…..
If we weren’t both allergic, we probably would! And it was a gorgeous area, already excited to go back! Thanks for watching, Mike!
Nice. Once you work the kinks out of your new rig, it will be fine. AC, nice.😊
The AC was a must!
It’s very common to get mice in your camper, they can get in anywhere, they can squeeze their little bodies through the smallest places, I have seen them squeeze through the area where the slide out meets the body of the camper, there is a rubber gasket Which usually has spaces for them to get through on the bottom of the gasket, they can get through on the roof, they could can get through underneath or any spaces in the storage areas!
Crazy little guys!
How you guys feel stay in there with that size of space (I’m Thai it not a normal thing here to have campers or rv. I planned to get one right now)
Your home reminds me of the White Mtns in NH
Don’t feel bad about the stabilizer jacks. We are not newbies and just recently did the same thing on our class c motorhome. Thankfully they weren’t electric or hydronic which would be a much more expensive fix. Keep the faith
That would have been an ugly bill! We’re both learning!
Discovered your videos not super long ago, and really enjoy them. I'm a native Yooper and live in the Ishpeming and Negaunee area. It looked like you were looking at the bluffs on Teal lake in Negaunee in the beginning of this video. I'm looking forward to the videos you make crossing the U.P. hey. I do have to say, we're having an unusually hot stretch and it may push our Fall Colors back a little, so you may not get to enjoy that on this trip. Again truly enjoy your videos, keep up the wonderful effort on your part making them and enjoy your travels.
Thanks for the continued support!
With our pop up we established a firm routine check list so we didn’t forget anything like the stabilizers, (ask me how I know🫣) The truck camper was easier for sure. I believe you’ll love the camper and the freedom to detach and go! THAT’s a positive.
We’re already loving the freedom of exploring once we drop the camper!
Make a check list. Inside and outside for moving days.