electrical outlet for heat tape

[Brewer & Nancy]

First freeze is expected this week here in Rociada, NM. Am wrapping my hose with heat tape and covering with the black tubes today. Sure wish there was an outside electrical outlet near the water connection on the rig, 09 LTKE. Choices are an extension cord under the rig to the outlet near the door or to the power post. Distance is about the same. What have you done to solve this delima? Thanks B

[MonacoMama]

I am talking as a Motor-home owner ..but we would have run the electricity directly from the post.
I was up in Oregon the beginning of 2008 during snow season as seen here and all I used was the foam wraps...

[Brewer & Nancy]

MM, that's what I did. eliminating the possibility of some electrical problem in the rig. Thxs for your imput. B

[wa8yxm]

If you are at home.. About all you can do is drop an extension cord from the other side outside outlet

If you are in a park.. Many pedistals have a 20 amp outlet next to the 30 or 50 amp one.. I use that one to keep the battery minder on my car in power..

[Batman_777]

I use the park's outlet for the heat tape. Use high quality foam pipe insulation tubing (they have some really cheap stuff.. get the better), split down the center, lay the heat tape down inside, then place the hose inside, use tie wraps to secure. Don't wrap the heat tape around the hose.. It can get too hot and melt the hose. The heat tape I use came from Home-depot and has a thermostat that will turn the heat tape on at freezing. I tie wrap the small thermostat to the park's pedestal faucet and plug it directly into the park's 110v outlet. The heat tape says it used 128 watts. Also, I purchased the 31 foot for extra and to lay any extra in the wet bay area.

[janieD]

This may be a silly question but when you are camping in snow/cold country are you in parks with full hookups? We live in Iowan and I thought I understood that most of the parks here turn off the water in the winter but are there places where they don't do that in the winter?

[Batman_777]

We are in a park with full hookups.. The park keeps the water turned on year-round and uses heat tapes for their plumbing at each site.

[Jim & Bona]

Hook Up and Head South. Now!!!

[BookIIRoadtrash]

For just a few nights of freezing I just fill my fresh water tank and use the internal water system. I then unhook the hose and put it away. Another trick is to leave a facet dripping and the water in the hose is moving and doesn’t freeze.