There are many things to do and see in winter; beautiful winter landscapes, snow skiing, hunting, snowmobile rides and much more. It’s no wonder so many people enjoy using their RVs all year long. As winter approaches each year, I receive numerous emails requesting information on using RVs in cold temperatures. One reason I have not written on this topic in the past is because it would require more than a short article to cover it in depth. Another reason not to write about this in the past is that there is no guarantee that your RV can or will be 100 percent protected from the harsh elements of winter by following written advice on the subject.
What I can do is offer you some tips and ideas to help you protect your RV if you plan to use it during the cold winter months. I simply cannot guarantee that it will be 100 percent protected. These tips and ideas are for short-term winter camping in your RV. If you plan to take extended RV trips in cold weather, there are many other precautions and measures to consider, such as using insulated baseboards at the bottom of the RV.
Note: What we will focus on is how to protect your RV during cold weather camping. It is extremely important that you also understand how to protect yourself and other campers in cold temperatures.
One of the first considerations for driving RVs in cold climates is whether you will be traveling in freezing temperatures. If this is the case, and there is water in the RV’s water system, the plumbing lines or the water heater tank could freeze, resulting in expensive repair bills, not to mention ruining your RV trip to the country. of winter wonderland. To prevent this from happening, I travel with the water system winterized. It’s actually a lot easier to winterize an RV than most people think, and it’s not very expensive either. I have winterized and primed our RV up to four times in one winter. Note: Our “Winterizing and Storing Your RV” DVD will teach you how to winterize your RV yourself, and save money, especially if you like to use your RV during the winter months.
The good news is that it is still possible to use the bathroom facilities when traveling with the RV winterized. We take gallon jugs full of water to use in the toilet, and if your holding tanks are not getting hot, you can put some RV antifreeze in the holding tanks to prevent the contents from freezing. Add RV antifreeze through the toilet for the black water holding tank and through the shower or tub drain for the gray water tank. The antifreeze will also protect the P-trap in your shower or tub, which is usually below floor level. The amount of antifreeze required for storage tanks will be based on the size of the tanks, and more RV antifreeze will need to be added as wastewater is added to the tanks to prevent the antifreeze from thinning out.
Do not allow holding tanks to fill completely before emptying during cold weather camping. This will reduce the chance of freezing, which will cause damage to the holding tanks. Bring bottled water for drinking and other necessities like cooking, washing, and brushing your teeth when the RV is winterized. We have a five gallon jug that we always take on the road, filled with tap water from our house, for our pet’s drinking water and our other needs. This comes in handy when the RV is winterized.
When we arrive at our destination I try to select a site that will be exposed to the sun throughout the day, but also where there is some type of windbreaker available. Position the RV on the site so that the front or rear is facing the worst of the wind, not the side of the RV. If there is an electrical connection, I winterize the water system so we can use everything. All the water lines in our motorhome are above ground level, in a heated space, so we don’t have to worry too much about freezing the water system as long as the RV is heated. We leave the water heater on when the water heater tank is full so there is no chance of it freezing. Some water heaters run on LP gas and electricity. Note that if it is in electric mode it will use 9-13 amps.
It is important that you know where all the pipes in your RV are located. Some RVs have heat ducts that go to basement storage areas where the water system is exposed to outside temperatures, but many RVs do not. If parts of the RV water system are below ground level, in areas that are not heated, it may freeze and damage water lines. If you are connected to an external water supply, one option is to leave a leaking faucet on the RV, to keep the water moving and lessen the chance of the water lines freezing. Another option is to use thermal tape to protect exposed water lines. Thermal tape can be purchased at most hardware or construction supply stores. Make sure it is suitable for the types of water lines in your RV and if you plan to use it on a water hose.
If it is very cold outside and there is a possibility that the outside water supply will freeze, or if the camp’s water supply is cut off during the winter, I fill our fresh water holding tank and use it for all of our water needs. . Again, keep in mind where your fresh water tank is located; The bear is above ground level in a heated area. If the campground showers are still open, it is a good idea to use them to prevent the gray water holding tank from filling up so quickly. In this situation, it may be in your best interest to keep the motorhome winterized and simply use the campground facilities.
Tip: If you haven’t purchased your RV yet and you know you’ll be using an RV in cold weather, be sure to include an artic package option when you buy it. Some packages include higher R-factor insulation, closed belly, heated storage tanks, double-pane windows, and more.
Happy Camping,
frames
Copyright 2006 by Mark J. Polk Owner of RV Education 101