RV Winter in Washington State

[Johnny55]

I am working through January in West Richland and living in my 2007 Winnebago Itasca 26B. I would really like to get by without spending $2000.00 plus on skirting I will likely never need again. Can I get by with just insulating my water hose?

[Johnny55]

I am planning to work through January in Washington State in my 2007 Class A Winnebago Itasca 26B. The temperatures in this part of the state are normally mild. However, they can occasionally reach 6 degrees F.



Adding skirting I will likely never use again is going to cost me over $2000.00. I don't think my neighbors would appreciate me surrounding my coach with hay bales either! So my question is, can I get by without skirting?

[FleetMan]

We lived in a 27’ travel trailer the winter of 2003 - 2004, South Sound area, south of Fort Lewis. WX got down into the teens many times that winter, several snow falls of 10 to 15 inches that stayed for awhile. Fabricate a skirt from a roll of bubble wrap type aluminum foil insulation attached to the vehicle and using stakes for rigidity. Heat tape and insulation for water lines and water faucet, suggest a trouble light and 60 to 100 watt bulb for water compartment plus underside heating for the coldest days, ceramic heaters to augment interior heat. You should not need heat for your waste water drain lines just drain and flush on the warmer days and close all valves when done.

[1bigmess]

You will need a heated water hose to get fresh water from the campground. I spent last winter in Pendleton so that's not very different from Richland, and those without the heated water hoses in the RV park had *no* water.

Skirting does more than keep the water flowing, it can also save you some propane for heat. See what materials the RV you'll be staying at will allow for skirting. If only the truck tarp vinyl fabrics, than you could probably get by most days without skirting, but there will be days when liquids that aren't protected from the cold will freeze up. If you know you'll be someplace all winter, check to see if a local propane delivery service will bring you a smaller residential bottle and fittings so you have plenty to use.

When it gets well below freezing and stays there, I also add a gallon of RV antifreeze to each sewage tank about once a week in order to keep them from freezing up solid. I've done this for three winters now in three different places with temps that dropped below freezing for days and I haven't had any leaks develop (yet?).

[Wbonsell]

We've lived on the Kitsap Peninsula for over 25 years and have rarely seen temps into the teens. A little snow is possible but low temps in the 20's and 30's are more likely December/January. I'd just keep faucets running a bit on the really cold nights and maybe a warming light in the wet bay. Rain and mildew will be more of a concern. Good luck

[Roadmiester]

What part of the state? It makes a difference. We are north of Spokane and have seen -26 and over 30 days where it never got above freezing. We will be in the 30's in a day or so at night.

Roadmiester
09 Dynasty Regal IV

[winniman]

Close the bottom in with some of this stuff. Should only be couple hundred bucks at the most. My friend did his this way. He used good quality tape like they use to mask off a car when they paint it. None of it stuck in the spring when he removed it. He also piled some snow up against it. That helps a lot. As stated, try to set up a bigger propane tank, but also use electric as much as you can. Propane is very moist, and causes a lot of condensation in the rv. You will find leaving the cupboards partially open will help with air circulation, and condensation. If you have a slide, you have to keep the snow cleared off it, as well as not letting the roof build up too much. Ice will result if you don't.
https://www.amazon.ca/AES-Industries...61S59JS8GWN4XV

[flamebuster]

I live 45 miles north of Richland and have been here for 50 plus years. The winters are cloudy and generally cold 15 to 20 deg. at night are common and only warming to low 30's.
But the brutal storms do occur where the temps. drop to -20 and the wind howls day and night for a week, some call them Artic express. Snow isn't a big factor on the avg. but it can get to a foot deep or more. Tri-Cities seems to be right in the storms path traveling between the blue mtns. and Cascades.I would advise at least some sort of sturdy skirting to keep that cold wind out, a lot cheaper than frozen pipe damage and sleepless nights worrying about that cold wind..
Take a drive thru Horn Rapids rv park or Moon River park and see how those long term campers are skirting there trailers and renting the 125 gallon propane tanks for the winter. They have it pretty well figured out and most will offer other unseen tips if asked. and welcome to the area....

[FatChance]

Originally Posted by winniman

Propane is very moist, and causes a lot of condensation in the rv.

A propane furnace vents all combustion byproducts, including water vapor and carbon monoxide, outside the RV so it does not introduce any moisture into the interior.

[1bigmess]

Originally Posted by FatChance

A propane furnace vents all combustion byproducts, including water vapor and carbon monoxide, outside the RV so it does not introduce any moisture into the interior.

Very true. Water is produced by combustion, but if that water from combustion is getting inside the trailer, you've got bigger problems than just the moisture, you've got CO in your trailer, and you're gonna get sick and maybe die.

The moisture that will condense on the windows and walls is from *you*. Your breath, your body, your cooking and eating, and anything you bring in that has any moisture to evaporate into your closed up box of an RV. It's quite normal, hard to prevent, and none of it is from, nor should it be, from running the propane furnace.

Running the propane stove or oven, that will introduce moisture from combustion into the RV.

I have a small dehumidifier running 24/7, year 'round. I try to exchange some air in the trailer every day, even in winter on the warmer days, in order to help reduce moisture.

After all, these boxes, if we seal then up tight enough, and we try to do that especially in the winter, will hold some water.

[hfbundy]

Do you really need that much water? I have had motorhomes since 2010 and have never hooked up a water line or a sewer line. When your fresh water holding tank gets low refill it and dump your grey and black water holding tanks. A friend hooked up in Del Rio, TX several years ago and they had a cold snap down in the 20s. He left his frozen dump line when we left.

[FatChance]

Originally Posted by hfbundy

A friend hooked up in Del Rio, TX several years ago and they had a cold snap down in the 20s. He left his frozen dump line when we left.

Wait, what? You're kidding, right?

[garyre]

Line your rig with straw bales to help insulate and block wind...cheap and disposable when done...we use them during elk hunting season and make a huge difference.
Good luck..

[1bigmess]

Many RV parks have rules against hay or straw bales.

Originally Posted by garyre

Line your rig with straw bales to help insulate and block wind...cheap and disposable when done...we use them during elk hunting season and make a huge difference.
Good luck..