Community Forums

birdhunter · 10-09-2017, 08:56 PM

Has anyone camped in their Country Coach up north for the winter in extended Sub-Zero temperatures? As as cold as minus 20 or 30 Fahrenheit at times. If so I would like to know what modifications you needed to do, etc. I mean plugged into 50 amp service and water of course.

Rich 2002 Magna

dons2346 · 10-09-2017, 09:12 PM

I spent a week when it was 4 at night and 14 daytime. It was not fun.

If there is snow, pull the slides in to keep the melt run off from the roof from freezing on the toppers. Keeping the slides in will reduce the area you have to heat. A lot of heat is lost around the seals and the short sides of the slides

Fill your water tank every day or two and take the hose in. It is harder to freeze 100 gallons than 20-30. Don't keep your sewer hose out as it will freeze also.

Put extra heating in your water/sewer bay near the water pump to keep everything from freezing. I used a 100 watt light bulb and a small space heater.

Keep your diesel tank full if you have a Hydrohot unit, use a product to keep algae from growing.

Park the coach so that the sides receive maximum sun shine during the day.

You will probably have a problem with condensation and you will have to deal with that. Either buy a small dehumidifier or learn how to modulate window and vent openings at both ends of the coach. You have to move air to prevent condensation.

Buy a nice comforter, get flannel sheets for the bed, buy a pair of long johns,

Skip426 · 10-09-2017, 09:30 PM

-20 or -30 F ; you aren't camping you're trying to survive .
If you have a propane furnace , you have to insulate and warm the tank ,( and keep it over 1/2 full

) because you are very close to the temp where propane will no longer vaporize .
At -40 you can carry propane in an open bucket .

birdhunter · 10-09-2017, 10:38 PM

I was in-15 at night up to about 5 during the day for about 2 days by accident. With two electric heaters, the floor heat, and the hydronic diesel heat coming on at times I was over 70 degrees upstairs and quite comfortable, although I do seem to remember the door got frozen shut I think from condensation and I have to smash it with my shoulder to get out. A dehumidifier would be key. With the hurricane heating the Water Bay and a 200 watt personal electric heater also running down there, something froze up the entire water system after 2 days, the roads cleared somewhat of snow and I got the hell out of there. I never figured out exactly what be froze. The real weak link is lack of active fan driven hydronic heaters in the water bay as I have upstairs. On my Magna at least, they are just in line convection radiators in the water bays.

Rich 2002 Magna

Old-Biscuit · 10-09-2017, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by birdhunter

I was in-15 at night up to about 5 during the day for about 2 days by accident. With two electric heaters, the floor heat, and the hydronic diesel heat coming on at times I was over 70 degrees upstairs and quite comfortable, although I do seem to remember the door got frozen shut I think from condensation and I have to smash it with my shoulder to get out. A dehumidifier would be key. With the hurricane heating the Water Bay and a 200 watt personal electric heater also running down there, something froze up the entire water system after 2 days, the roads cleared somewhat of snow and I got the hell out of there. I never figured out exactly what be froze. The real weak link is lack of active fan driven hydronic heaters in the water bay as I have upstairs. On my Magna at least, they are just in line convection radiators in the water bays.

Rich 2002 Magna

If you have already experienced -15 and had issues WHY would you consider giving -20/-30 temps a go at it

Spent 4 weeks in -19*F temps, snow.ice....stayed warm/toasty BUT went thru propane like a running nose..constantly having to get one 30# cylinder filled every other day

smlranger · 10-10-2017, 05:00 AM

Our Country Coaches are built well and we all brag, at times, about how comfortable they keep us in hot and cold weather. However, I would not expect to do what you plan and not have problems. The cold is an issue but add snow and/or ice accumulation on the coach and it just gets more complicated.

birdhunter · 10-11-2017, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

If you have already experienced -15 and had issues WHY would you consider giving -20/-30 temps a go at it

Spent 4 weeks in -19*F temps, snow.ice....stayed warm/toasty BUT went thru propane like a running nose..constantly having to get one 30# cylinder filled every other day

Because I might have to this time. That was minus 15 without modifications to the coach to deal with it. Are you saying you camped in - 19 with no mods and no problems other than having to buy a lot of propane? Nothing froze up in your water system?