hasti14 Posted December 16, 2019 Report Share Posted December 16, 2019 we would like to camp on the gulf coast for a while. should we be concerned with the salt air or fog? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2gypsies Posted December 16, 2019 Report Share Posted December 16, 2019 Yes, you should be concerned. We had to hose down everything every day to prevent rust and still got it on our bikes. Quote Full-timed for 16 YearsTraveled 8 yr in a 2004 Newmar Dutch Star 40' Motorhome and 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th Wheel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docj Posted December 16, 2019 Report Share Posted December 16, 2019 It all depends on where you are relative to the sea breeze. For example, we stayed at Port Aransas for 4 years at a waterfront park where the sea breeze was almost always strong. Rust and salt scum were a serious problem. But at our current property in Rockport we are ~2 miles from the water and there's enough of break in the wind that we have far fewer problems. So I think the answer to the OP's question is that it depends on how far from the coast he's planning on camping. Quote Sandie & Joel 2000 40' Beaver Patriot Thunder Princeton--425 HP/1550 ft-lbs CAT C-12 2014 Honda CR-V AWD EX-L with ReadyBrute tow bar/brake systemWiFiRanger Ambassador Follow our adventures on Facebook at Weiss Travels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chirakawa Posted December 16, 2019 Report Share Posted December 16, 2019 Like docj says, it depends. Houston is considered on the Gulf Coast, yet is 40+ miles inland and sees no effect from salt. If you stay within a mile of the beach for any time at all, you will see corrosion from salt, five miles inland minimal effect, 20 miles will have no effect. Quote Everybody wanna hear the truth, but everybody tell a lie. Everybody wanna go to Heaven, but nobody want to die. Albert King Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hasti14 Posted December 16, 2019 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2019 we were thinking of mustang island state park or padre island national seashore. i'm a bit concerned about corrosion to the electrical systems. living in a Monaco mh, and I don't want to create problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docj Posted December 16, 2019 Report Share Posted December 16, 2019 Not sure why electrical problems would be a big concern. The electrical system is not directly exposed to the salt air. But the undercarriage and all outside surfaces are vulnerable. My rooftop satellite dish is almost entirely rusted. Quote Sandie & Joel 2000 40' Beaver Patriot Thunder Princeton--425 HP/1550 ft-lbs CAT C-12 2014 Honda CR-V AWD EX-L with ReadyBrute tow bar/brake systemWiFiRanger Ambassador Follow our adventures on Facebook at Weiss Travels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXiceman Posted December 16, 2019 Report Share Posted December 16, 2019 Last winter we spent 3 months on the Texas coast in a city surrounded on 3 sides by salt water and salt marshes. We rinsed and washed the RV every week or two and still had corrosion issues. Key locks corroded and took lots of oil, some other aluminum and chrome suffered some minor pitting. We had to replace the Winegard antenna at it suffered corrosion on the internal circuit board. We have stayed south of Houston several winter and no issues as we were far enough from the salt air. We are not spending any more time on the coast again. My RV cost too much and suffered damage due to just 3 months. You get to looking at other RVs that are on the coast often or long term and you will not like the damage. Ken Quote Amateur radio operator, 2023 Cougar 22MLS, 2022 F150 Lariat 4x4 Off Road, Sport trim <br />Travel with 1 miniature schnauzer, 1 standard schnauzer and one African Gray parrot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hasti14 Posted December 16, 2019 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2019 good info. as far as why i'm worried about the potential electrical system problems, the fog and mists create humidity and moisture. I'm concerned about all chassis and interior contact points. is there any way to protect these other than staying several miles inland? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chirakawa Posted December 16, 2019 Report Share Posted December 16, 2019 41 minutes ago, hasti14 said: good info. as far as why i'm worried about the potential electrical system problems, the fog and mists create humidity and moisture. I'm concerned about all chassis and interior contact points. is there any way to protect these other than staying several miles inland? If you're concerned about humidity, you don't need to be staying anywhere in the eastern half of Texas in any season. Quote Everybody wanna hear the truth, but everybody tell a lie. Everybody wanna go to Heaven, but nobody want to die. Albert King Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barbaraok Posted December 16, 2019 Report Share Posted December 16, 2019 It isn’t humidity, per se, but the salt in the excess moisture clinging to surfaces when near salt water. Staying even a half/mile from beach can make a big difference. Quote Barb & Dave O'Keeffe 2002 Alpine 36 MDDS (Figment II), 2018 Ford C-Max HYBRID Blog: http://www.barbanddave.net SPK# 90761 FMCA #F337834 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray,IN Posted December 16, 2019 Report Share Posted December 16, 2019 (edited) We once boondocked for a few days on S. Padre Island, the free beach parking on sand. Even the sand contains salt, I still have our old 2 bikes sitting behind our RV garage, eaten up be salt, must haul them to the dump some day. The Dually frame corroded badly, undercoat slowly flaked off ever since, almost all gone when I sold the truck(spray paint covered it enough to look good). Our 5er required a lot of touch-up paint for the visible steel too. We will NEVER purposely camp on a beach again. We used to winter at Ft. Myers Beach(ironic), 2 miles inland, never had a corrosion issue. Edited December 16, 2019 by Ray,IN Quote 2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD, ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA ." And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy 20 Jan 1961 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted December 16, 2019 Report Share Posted December 16, 2019 7 hours ago, hasti14 said: we were thinking of mustang island state park or padre island national seashore. Mustang Island has been a favorite of ours too and if you stop there, the length of time that you stay also plays a major part. I never spent more than a week there at one stop and only once a year. We did wash everything about the RV which was exposed to the weather as soon as we would leave each time and didn't suffer as a result. Many people spend extended time on beaches and consider it worth the extra effort required. Obviously, most of us here are not part of that group. Quote Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hasti14 Posted December 18, 2019 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2019 yep- we figured on a week max time. we're leaning towards mustang island for the electric. at least I can run a/c or heat pump when needed to draw out internal moisture. thanks for the info folks. keep it coming Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pissed off Posted August 10, 2020 Report Share Posted August 10, 2020 (edited) . Edited August 13, 2020 by Jeff and Shelly Modesitt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXiceman Posted August 10, 2020 Report Share Posted August 10, 2020 We spent 3 months at Port O'Connor, TX and won't do that again. We had salt water or salt water marshes on 3 sides of us. I rinsed the 5er off every other week and still we had problems with the salt. Metal pitted and locks required lubrication. The Winegard antenna had to be replaced. When I replace it, I opened up the head on it, the board had severe corrosion. I guess if you are a few miles from the coast, the salt will not be such an issue, buy we won't have the RV back that close to salt water again. Ken Quote Amateur radio operator, 2023 Cougar 22MLS, 2022 F150 Lariat 4x4 Off Road, Sport trim <br />Travel with 1 miniature schnauzer, 1 standard schnauzer and one African Gray parrot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat & Pete Posted August 10, 2020 Report Share Posted August 10, 2020 Just to support the special things salt does , what was chrome on my bikes is now rust . That after a few months in Rockport , about a mile or so from salt water . Everything has a price . Quote Goes around , comes around . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill&Anneli Posted September 3, 2020 Report Share Posted September 3, 2020 We first off had the coach professionally waxed before we went to the Gulf Coast. We spent one month near South Padres. Because we were cautioned about the salt, we stayed at Tropical Trails RV resort in Brownsville. Took about 20 mins or so to drive out to SPI. We didn't have any problems with rust. (Tropical Trails was by the way one of the nicest places we stayed this year). We then stayed in Galveston TX for a month, this time just across SanLouis Pass Rd, so walking distance to the beach. We washed with baking soda solution as recommended on various blogs and hosed things off. We also sprayed T9 liberally in certain spots. Had to scrub off a few rust spots on our bikes and Jeep, but nothing serious. After that we stayed in Gulf Shores Alabama for 3 months. Same procedure there, and we chose campgrounds about 1 mile from the beach. When we finally left after a total of 5 months on the Gulf Coast we didn't have any significant rust issues. We never did the "on the beach camping" though. It looks cool, but we feel that will have to wait for another chapter in our lives when we don't have so much (and expensive) equipment with us to take care of :-) Enjoy your trip ! Quote 2019 Newmar Ventana, pulling a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Sport Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven@146 Posted September 3, 2020 Report Share Posted September 3, 2020 We have visited Galveston Island many times from the Austin area, as we could get there in 3.5-4 hours for a 4 day weekend. Love it there. Have stayed at Dellanera right off the beach for a week or so, Jamaica Beach and Galveston Island Rv Resort 1/2 mile or so from the beach. Kept the RV and Truck washed at least once a week, saw no signs of excessive corrosion, but it is a concern and you have to be aware of it. Yes I have seen vehicles and RVs parked right on the beach, not a good idea. Quote Steve & Tami Cass, Fulltime Since 2020, Membership -Escapee's, FMCA, Good Sam, Harvest Hosts 2018 Ram 3500 DRW / 2019 Grand Design Solitude 3350RL S-Class. Texas Class A Drivers License Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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