Sand

[RickA71]

Rolled into Laughlin, NV yesterday for a 3 month stay, I thought I was prepared for everything until I met the sand. I'm from Texas and used to sand but this sand seems to stick to everything here. We are sweeping twice a day at least. Is constant sweeping the only answer or do any of you with more experience have some tips?

[IBcarguy]

We went to the beach last year and learned from other campers that the best way to deal with sand is when you first get there, fill up a bucket with sand, open your trailer door and just dump it in. Then just enjoy your stay and not worry about it until you get home.

[rockhillmanor]

CavemanCharlie wrote:

RickA71 wrote:

The_real_wild1 wrote:
Why wouldn't you take your shoes off inside and at the door???

Only time I take my shoes off is to shower and sleep.

The only time I put mine on is to go outside in snow or rain.

Got a friend with a 14 year old son. I've seen him outside in the snow barefoot.

Here in Florida at a waterfront home I used to own I saw my neighbor kid walking barefoot thru the woods to my house!!! All with Water moccasins, scorpions, fire ants running around. You name it poisonous critters live here in Florida in the wooded areas near water!! I called him the swap boy!

.....I "sold" that place 2 months after I bought it when I realized that about 6 bull alligators 13 ft long lived across from my pier and boat launch AND the 4 bears that I found out lived on the property too. Especially the big one that chased me all the way to the house. :B

[CavemanCharlie]

RickA71 wrote:

The_real_wild1 wrote:
Why wouldn't you take your shoes off inside and at the door???

Only time I take my shoes off is to shower and sleep.

The only time I put mine on is to go outside in snow or rain.

Got a friend with a 14 year old son. I've seen him outside in the snow barefoot.

[RPreeb]

Sand is pervasive and gets into everything. We built our Bahamas beach house on a sand dune so we could be 50 feet from the beach. We swept the floor at least daily. Just a fact of life, and that was with wearing flip-flops or sandals most of the time and taking them off at the door.

[RickA71]

The_real_wild1 wrote:
Why wouldn't you take your shoes off inside and at the door???

Only time I take my shoes off is to shower and sleep.

[Durb]

ScottG wrote:

RickA71 wrote:

1320Fastback wrote:
Sand inside is going to happen when camping in or near it.

Having a toy hauler every other day or so when camping I drop the door down and use my cordless leaf blower to clean out the trailer 😉

That's funny because I just told my wife I was going to go buy one.

Do it! Those things are incredibly useful around the site.

I have a small Makita cordless blower and it is probably my most used tool around my shop. I never thought about taking it camping but might throw it in the trailer the next time we head to the beach!

[2gypsies1]

If you have a patio mat that has tiny holes in it then it won't catch a lot of sand. The best way to keep it all outside is to remove your shoes which also helps when walking on blacktop to keep black marks off. Adjust your windows if you have them open - close off the ones that the wind is blowing from and no need to leave them wide open. By adjusting them directionally and turning on a ceiling fan like a Fantastic and having a window covering on the sunny side, you can keep a cool RV without having all the windows wide open.

[SAR_Tracker]

We got a plastic pallet and put it under the bottom step. Makes kind of a bigger step, and the sand drops thru the holes.

Got the pallet from a distributor that was scrapping it anyway.

[The_real_wild1]

Why wouldn't you take your shoes off inside and at the door???

[rockhillmanor]

Feel your pain. I stayed on my friends property in Florida and within a month my carpet was shot. I could sweep/vacumm 10 times a day and couldn't keep the sugar sand laced with dirt out of my MH!

I DID find a certain type of mat that has high brown bristles on it. Usually sold with a design of some sort on it black ink.

THAT mat will grab most of the sugar sand off your shoes and off dogs paws. Cut the amount of sand that got tracked in in half.

They look like this and really work just walking on it grabs the sand off your shoes. Buy the one that has long brown bristles NOT the smooth ones, they don't work with a darn.



Only other way is to take your shoes off before you go in the RV which sucks because you have to leave them on the ground outside the steps. And then do a balancing act to get them back on when you go out.:R

Which brings me to another learning curve about RV'ing in the southern states. Left a nice pair of leather shoes outside and in the morning was covered in dew and ruined. Welcome to the South sand and humidity and dewy mornings. 😞

[rexlion]

IAMICHABOD wrote:
Here on the west coast we do a lot of Beach and Desert camping.

The best mat that I have ever used for keeping sand at bay is one of
These

Check out the video.

Doggone you, I'm trying not to spend money! Now I have to have one of these.... (groan) :R

(on edit): I found a better looking version, at a better price, that I can pick up at my local store in a few days... same brand at Home Depot

[garyhaupt]

And after all of that...you will still have sand everywhere. You know that constant wind? is loaded with sand particles. I used an Astro Turf mat and that helped. I also bought a 12v vacuum...and that worked okay too. But, ultimately, the only way to stay sane is to shake the rugs once a day, a damp wipe over your hard surfaces..keep your computer lid closed when not in use. If you have a DLSR camera, keep the body and lens bagged. You won't beat it but you can, sort of, manage it.


Gary Haupt

[ScottG]

RickA71 wrote:

1320Fastback wrote:
Sand inside is going to happen when camping in or near it.

Having a toy hauler every other day or so when camping I drop the door down and use my cordless leaf blower to clean out the trailer 😉

That's funny because I just told my wife I was going to go buy one.

Do it! Those things are incredibly useful around the site.

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

Many, many years ago - my aunt started making folks remove their shoes before coming in her house (a farm). I always noted her home was the cleanest of the family.

Then I was stationed in Japan.

I NEVER wear shoes in the house, or the TT, and I track in very little to no sand/ dirt/ rocks. The DW on the other hand.....

We have sand in our rig, and truck, from the Texas gulf coast, Monument Valley, Valley of Fire SP near Las Vegas, and the beach near San Diego. We use the blowing out deal - with the vacuum cleaner, not a leaf blower.

It helps, but nothing gets it all out.