Sequoia - Bear Lock Boxes

Hi Bob
We have a Class B with steel sides up to the original roof line, then a fiberglass top. We have never used the bear boxes, even in Alaska. Most of our windows are too small for a bear to get in, just a couple are big enough for us to get out in an emergency. The roof vent is also too small, something like 14 x 14, and ours has a metal (not plastic) cover.
Your best bet is talk to the ranger at the campground.

Bob Karr wrote:
The park guidelines require all food & scented items in the lock boxes. We have a Roadtrek class B with closets. Did you place ALL your toiletries, mosquito repellent, pantry items, canned food, dry unopened food, snacks, dish soap into the locker? What about sleeping with window or ceiling vent open? Much appreciated. Bob

No. However do not leave kitchen window open and a dirty pan of baking grease (for example) sitting there..too tempting.

Everything outside that might be edible (even if not tasty) should be stowed in bear box, coolers definitely in bear box unless you can stow inside and out of site. Be wary of storing food/toiletries/anything that smells and is even marginally edible in vehicles, in particular if you like to leave windows open.

Been camping in those woods for over 40 years, never had a problem with bears however we have seen the results of being careless with food. Including vehicle doors torn completely off..

One year a group of teenagers was outside sitting on a picnic table in the evening, minimal lighting. They had a butter tub full of brownies (no clue what kind ;-).. bear casually wander over and took the butter tub in his mouth.. at which point the screams started happened. Bear wandered across the creek and sat there eating them and watching the show. Freaked my mom out as well, she tried banging pans and yelling..bear didn't care one bit.

He eventually finished his snack and wandered off. Next day they trapped him, I believe they had to put him down.. 3 strikes or so.

You are allowed to store those items in a vehicle or hard-sided camping unit. You can open your windows and vents. The bear lock boxes are for tent campers. In bear country it is advised to keep a clean camp (including your RV kitchen) and store attractants properly.

Usually it is fine to just store it in the RV. Bears haven't really connected that big metal box on wheels to food, so they don't think to try to get inside (unlike some areas where cars have been identified with food, so they try to get in to search).

Once you get to the campground, you can check the bulletin board (or with the ranger station) to see if there are any updated instructions. Sometimes in any given period, a park will have a more inquisitive/aggressive bear community and will establish extra rules until it has been controlled. If not, then use your RV like the bear box and use standard anti-bear habits:

1. Keep food put away; don't leave food where it can be seen from outside the RV
2. Throw away your garbage into the park's big garbage bins each day to minimize the smell in and around the RV
3. Don't leave coolers out in plain sight - bears recognize coolers as "food containers", so even if they don't smell anything, they will often tear apart the cooler to see if there is something inside
4. Don't drop/toss food on the ground and leave it - no throwing apple cores into the brush, if you drop some chips, pick them up, if you spill a drink, clean it up

I do tend to put our BBQ grill in the bear box, particularly if I just used it that night. Rest of the food stays in the rig. ST

I leave my BBQ out with lid off in hopes bear will give it a good and proper cleaning.Just kidding. I too have used bear box for BBQ.

In Churchill Manitoba the bear boxes are for the bears when they get too close to town... 8-)
john 'I am Canadian'

I treat a hard sided camper like I treat a house, cook in it, put food in it, BUT keep it clean by putting everything away at night and the garbage is taken out daily!! If you leave a open can of ham or salmon on the counter or in the garbage then you are asking for problems.

Issue that I have is the idiots that may have camped there before me and dumped grease or leftovers on the ground the day before.

I do also keep a can of bear spray in the camper just in case... a two legged or four tries to get in :-)

For a barbecue when done turn burners on high and let it burn off the food before shutting down. But the idea of using the bear box as well would work as long as you do not drive away the next day and leave it there.