DS cold weather tips

[JFNM]

For all you full-timing DS owners.

Now that evening temps are getting near freezing (yes, my migration south has started), I'm wondering if ya'll do anything "special" to help keep the cold out at night? Note, I am not talking about below freezing temps.

The obvious items already done include insulation pad things in the ceiling vents and... turn the furnace on. Hmm, not much of a list.

Specifically wondering about the microwave/oven vent to the outside, dash cover or any other secrets. My shower sky-light is such (nearly flush) that "plugging" it does not appear to be an option (not even sure if it would make any difference).

This rig is MUCH better equipped for the cold(ish) temps than my last rig but still looking for hints and tips!

Thanks!

[JFXG]

We have found our '02 DS to be very well insulated. The only special steps we take in cold times are to keep the window shades / curtains drawn (we do have insulated shades), put insulated pillow blocks in the two roof fans, and we have two small ceramic heaters as supplements-- mostly to circulate the heat, which tends to stratify when using the heat pumps a lot. We don't block the shower skylight (we both prefer to have it there), we don't cover the MW/conv vent (we use it), and we keep a thick blanket on the dash year 'round for the cat.

Having said that, we generally avoid hard winter conditions. We do regularly experience temps that dance around freezing or maybe the high 20s, and occasionally we've gotten into short spells (5-10 days) of temps in the mid-teens. You just have to remember to check the overnight forecasts. We use the heat pumps routinely, down to about 38*. Overnight lows lower than that get the furnace so we'll have warm air routed to the water bay.

Hope this helps!

[Mr_D]

Up until Feb of this year we've had DSDP's (a 2000 and then a 2002), both ordered new. Both had dual pane windows but other than an optional roof insulation package in the '02 nothing more in the way of cold weather prep like tank heating pads.
Never did much other than putting a 100 watt bulb or 200 watt heater in the wet bay, run a heater inside and open a few of the doors that had plumbing behind them.

[JFNM]

Thanks for the input!

I'm a full-timer and mostly dry camper/boondocker so electric heat is a bit of a luxury. I spend my winters in southern New Mexico and Arizona so my "cold" is relative - typically above freezing overnight temps. If colder temps are approaching, I usually find a different place or some shore power.

Keeping the heat I do produce inside the rig is generally a useful task. The idea of insulated window shades is interesting. I've spent the summer keeping heat OUT of the windshield so have to reverse my thinking a bit now.

[PDR John]

I have a whole thread about being in single digit temps, from last winter as we were headed out.

I haven't quite figured out linking from the iPad yet. You can find it by searching my user name.

We're in zero and below a few times a year, don't have to do much in the DS with Oasis.