TrailManor Owner's Forum  

Go Back   TrailManor Owner's Forum > TrailManor Owners Community > Prospective Owner Questions
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 07-21-2012, 07:43 PM   #1
B&J from Texas
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Bears

I have searched as best I can to find out how TM perform in bear country. I'm either not knowing where to look or it hasn't been asked.

In Grizzly country, they have bear lockers for food storage. I've seen what the state parks show when people leave a candy bar in the car and bears tear in. I just have visions of being wakened from a sound sleep with a bear clawing in because it smells food through the gaps with Velcro or the slide for the bed.

What has been real experience with this?
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2012, 04:47 PM   #2
T and C
TrailManor Master
 
T and C's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 432
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by B&J from Texas View Post
I have searched as best I can to find out how TM perform in bear country. I'm either not knowing where to look or it hasn't been asked.

In Grizzly country, they have bear lockers for food storage. I've seen what the state parks show when people leave a candy bar in the car and bears tear in. I just have visions of being wakened from a sound sleep with a bear clawing in because it smells food through the gaps with Velcro or the slide for the bed.

What has been real experience with this?
I have never heard of a bear breaking into an RV. I would not doubt that it could or has happened, but I never heard about it.

If one tried to come into mine while I was in there, he would get a little surprise.
Tom
__________________
TM 3023

TV 2010 F-150 4.6, factory tow pkg, air bags
T and C is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2012, 04:58 PM   #3
Redhawk
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

I don't know about grizz, but around here I have seen the Black bears help themselves to food left outside in the coolers, but not inside a camper. If you are camping in a RV park, they usually go for the trash cans if starving, but mostly stay away from all the people and goings ons. Make a lot of noise and they usually move on pretty quickly. Beleive me, there's more bears in town than there are in the mountains....so it seems.

This one was in the back yard this week helping himself to the bird feeder, he moved on as soon as I tapped on the window.

  Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2012, 05:34 PM   #4
TM_Matt
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

My first major trip w the TM was to Yellowstone. I saw quite a few grizzlies! I even saw a black bear. Follow instructions and you should be alright. There were plenty of tent campers at YS, too. There are risks. I wouldn't let a few bears stop me from enjoying life.
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2012, 06:22 PM   #5
Bill
Site Team
 
Bill's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The mountains of Scottsdale, AZ, and the beaches of Maine
Posts: 10,088
Default

B&J -

We have camped in Yellowstone, and in the high Sierras. In both places, entry was forbidden to tents and to campers with canvas sides, but entry was readily granted to a TrailManor. In Yellowstone, the rules were "no food in the camper, and no food or coolers in the tow vehicles". In the Sierras, bear boxes were provided for each site, and the rangers were VERY insistent that all campers use them, checking every site at least twice as each evening progressed. Did they work? I don't know, but in the week we were there, there were no reported bear incidents in the campground.

My guess is that if a grizzly wants to get into your camper or tow vehicle, he will. A hardside camper makes it harder for him, but not impossible. That is part of the experience of being outside. So make it a point to make your site less attractive than your neighbor's site.

Bill
__________________
2020 2720QS (aka 2720SL)
2014 Ford F-150 4WD 5.0L
Bill's Tech Stuff album
Bill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2012, 08:42 PM   #6
countrygirl
TrailManor Master
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,346
Default

When I belonged to the group: Outbackers.com someone posted a pic of a keystone outback that that been broken into by at least one bear.

I have googled around tonight and found some reports of campers broken into. I got more hits with travel trailer then camper or rv.

Examples:

http://www.tetonvalleynews.net/news/....html?mode=jqm

http://www.tricitynews.com/news/126616193.html

Last August we camped at the WMA in the Ocala National Forest. We always look for bear sign as we drive in ...they love to claw the electric poles etc. We also saw sign on the trails where we compete in 3d traditional archery. Track, scat, logs turned over for grubs etc.
We saw more sign then usual...we slept in out TM and never heard a thing...and we have a very quiet generator. I cooked the first night..we had no problem...the next night...more people had been on site longer...Not only did families cook but their were outdoor food vendors with dining areas at the WMA that served 3 meals a day. We had left the forest to go to a fish house. I was amazed at the mess the bears made throughout the camping areas of the WMA...this includes the bunks houses too.

We never heard a thing that night. We were fine...and had no problem. Now I wonder about not hearing anything...
__________________
2019 FORD 150.
2007 Trailmanor 3124KS...still got it.
Robin 1,000 Lb Weight Distributing Hitch ...still got it.

We replaced the tires on the TM July 2017 I will update when I have time to get the specs

What's new...we went to all LED lighting and love them.

New 3/25/16 two new horizontal propane tanks.
countrygirl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2012, 12:38 PM   #7
moaboy
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Bears just add to the "ambiance" of a place, don't you think?

That's my thinking I guess until I have a bad experience...
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2012, 02:51 PM   #8
clown9644
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Bear says he would never tear your place ;up! Honest he is a good little dog.

Dave
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-28-2012, 11:45 PM   #9
PopBeavers
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Bears don't bother me when I go backpacking. But I don't go backpacking in grizzly country. And, I don't store my food in the tent. Not even tooth paste or chap-stick goes in the tent.

I have never been closer to a bear than 30 feet from momma and her two cubs. Four of us were hiking along the trail.

Deer are interesting when backpacking. I have been surrounded by 20+ deer, the closest less than 15 feet away.

When backpacking in California, I am more concerned with rattle snakes.

Safety is relative. I nearly killed myself in a solo snow skiing accident February 2011. One more neck injury and I am likely dead. So, falling down a flight of stairs in the city could be more dangerous than a wild animal in the woods.

Life is for living, enjoy the ride.
  Reply With Quote
Old 07-30-2012, 07:42 PM   #10
namklg
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Like all have said, follow the park instructions on food and you should be safe. We have camped in Colter Bay Campground in the Tetons with both a pop-up and our TrailManor. With the pop-up, we moved all the toothpaste, smelly stuff, food and dishes each night into the truck cab.
With the TM, we did not have to move food each night into the truck cab. We never emptied the refrigerator.
We did have a mama bear and her cubs about 100 feet from us in the pop-up during the dinner hour. But, nothing happened that night to food sources.

One thing to remember is that most cars have a remote key fob with an alarm. Have that near you in bed and if something starts to happen, push the panic button! You will have lots of help in a short time.
  Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
bears, safety, security


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Newby questions northernsailor General TrailManor Topics 27 03-17-2011 03:26 PM
general winter questions... knuckledragon General TrailManor Topics 8 01-24-2011 09:01 PM
TrailManors vs. Bears B_and_D Off Topic 13 01-17-2005 03:33 AM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 10:18 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 2022 Trailmanor Owners Page.