Winter Camping. I've always loved the idea of traveling in colder climates (yup, even the snow) in my RV. Stopping for the night and bedding down in a warm RV with a hot meal before. Getting up in the morning to have a hot shower and
some brewed coffee and
breakfast. Watching the snowfall through the big windows.
Great idea. Difficult in practice. Most RVs aren't equipped to camp in the dead of winter. If the temps stay below freezing, all sorts of things can go wrong. Can you camp in the winter anyway?? Well, the answer is...sort of. Read on.
The primary concern is water. When it freezes it expands. Enough to burst pipes and do some real damage. If you aren't aware, most RVs plumbing has pipe runs that are VERY difficult to get to. A split in one of those could be catastrophic. Hard to repair since they are almost impossible to get to without taking down or cutting into the walls and floors! This is why we drain all the water and blow out the remaining water before winter storage. You could also pump in non-toxic RV antifreeze instead. Next up is the heat lost through single-pane windows and the seals. Thankfully, I have dual-pane glass in all my windows, so they are not that bad. Still, they can be insulated easily with plastic film.
The main problem with wintering in RVs is they aren't really designed for colder weather in the first place. Most aren't well insulated and lose heat VERY fast from the interior spaces. The water and waste tanks have at least one surface hanging below the living areas (though a very few RV's have enclosed tanks) so they are exposed to the cold with NO insulation. How can we get around these limitations??? I started with
using Mylar to fully insulate all the windows. This stuff is easy to work with and very inexpensive AND works great!
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| My Single Compartment |
Insulate and heat! If you are going to be parked a long time (the definition of long is really flexible depending on your own opinions as to what it takes to set up and tear down!). You can surround the lower exposed sections of your RV with insulating material and seal out the wind and weather from getting underneath. This will do A LOT to keep things warmer under there and inside. Much heat is lost from underneath and insulation is the easiest way to stop a great deal of it. As always, the primary concern will always be the water in your pipes. If you have compartments that are next to the pipes, you can either run a duct from your furnace into the compartment(s) or simply place a low-wattage light bulb in there to generate heat. The first solution is great if you can make it work. You have to use an old style incandescent bulb (
no LEDs!) because they generate about 85% heat for 15% light output. That will keep the compartment (and the pipes) above freezing.
That won't help with the exposed tanks though. There are quite a few solutions to that problem, mostly based on heater pads that stick to the tanks themselves. The main issue with all these electrical solutions is that they rely on A LOT of amps to work. Fine if you are at a campground, plugged into shore power, not so good if you are running on battery power only. You COULD just not use water. Some folks use RV Antifreeze to flush their toilets. Umm...OK, but I really like having a hot shower in the morning and I am NOT bathing in the "pink stuff!" Besides, my tanks are large and would need some BIG pads.
Winter camping can be done...after a fashion, but it's not really the same as my perfect image. Maybe the manufacturers will catch on and make some RVs that are configured for four season...though I don't believe that is likely.
Be Seeing You...Down The Road,
Rich "
The Wanderman"
www.thewanderman.com
The primary concern is water. When it freezes it expands. Enough to burst pipes and do some real damage. If you aren't aware, most RVs plumbing has pipe runs that are VERY difficult to get to. A split in one of those could be catastrophic. Hard to repair since they are almost impossible to get to without taking down or cutting into the walls and floors! This is why we drain all the water and blow out the remaining water before winter storage. You could also pump in non-toxic RV antifreeze instead. Next up is the heat lost through single-pane windows and the seals. Thankfully, I have dual-pane glass in all my windows, so they are not that bad. Still, they can be insulated easily with plastic film.
Many trailers are touted as "Four Season" units nowadays, but I don't trust that. Our 2012 Arctic Fox is Four Season, and much better than our 97 Nash was, but still I'm skeptical.
ReplyDeleteYou haven't heard of Bigfoots ?
ReplyDeleteI have done quite a bit of winter camping, well below zero type winter. My tanks are empty. I carry water in 5 gallon containers inside (fill them where convenient), put a dishpan in the one sink I use to collect all grey water (dump it outside where appropriate) and use a bucket toilet with double plastic bags. I keep the lid down on that bucket and sprinkle baking soda in there every so often. The bags (don't fill them too full) can be dumped in a blue boy (freezes there), a pit toilet or flush toilet (when convenient). I travel solo and stay in one place for 5-10 days and longer, depending upon access of water and a toilet. I also use the bubble enclosed Mylar insulation on my Windows and skylights and use cut kid's pool noodles to insulate areas around the dash (I have a motor home) and other leaky spots. I use a Mr Buddy heater to extend my heating. It's lovely camping in the winter and you usually have the entire place to
ReplyDeleteyourself.
Anon,
ReplyDeleteI've never said winter camping COULDN'T be done, I reference all the extra work you have to use your RV as a tent with a heater.For most of us, RVs represent the conveniences of home while on the road (or in the woods!)
It isn't impossible, rather not as easy. And for me...not as fun nor relaxing.
More power to you, though!
Rich "The Wanderman"
I just got a 2015 Minnie Winnie in February. It is 4 season set-up and tanks enclosed. Last winter I skirted with 1/2" reflective foam around back half and heat lamps on the tanks. Dumped sewer twice a week.
ReplyDeleteThis year I am going to skirt with a homemade insulation blanket and 2"foam and more reflective foam all the way around. Keeping the heat lamps on the tanks, dumping and refilling twice a week. Salt in tanks. I like my hot showers, too. This is all when we are plugged in.
Will be making periodic trips which will be off grid in cold, snowy areas. Will be blogging on success/failure of that.
mrsd,
DeleteI look forward to hearing your results!
Rich "The Wanderman"