Heated Hose Alternative

[Brenwol1]

2019 Heartland Mallard M185BH four-season trailer.

We have a trip planned for the last weekend of Nov. to the mountains of Northeastern Alabama and night temps are estimated to be mid to high 20's.

I'm not sure I can afford a $100.00+ heated hose for city water connection.

What are my options? The daytime temps should be in the 40's so should I just fill fresh water tank every day or as needed and leave the hose disconnected?

Thanks.

[Cypressloser]

Forget the heated hose, not worth the money and aggravation, fill the fw. tank remove the hose and live worry free.

[Old-Biscuit]

YEP^^^^^^


Fill tank and use on-board pump


Haven't hooked up to 'city water' in over 10 yrs.

[txcpl]

I sanitize the fresh water tank at least once a year and keep fresh water on board at all times. Never know when you will need it.

[cimplexsound]

They have the heat tap for $45 bucks at Home Depot. It works quite well.


1979 Dodge Tioga Class C 24 foot. 1987 Fleetwood Bounder 34 Foot.

[tuffr2]

I think I was looking at your model and see it has a 52 gallon fresh water tank. I would fill it use the water from the fresh water tank on the cold nights. Actually 52 gallon should last you at least 7 or 8 days. I can take a navy shower with 5 gallons of water easy.

Fill it during the non freezing temps of day. Disconnect the hose and use your on-board self contained water at night.

Enjoy the camping

[NRR]

The heated hose alterative is drain the hose you have and put it into a place it will not freeze overnight. Then use your onboard full water tank as needed. Refill if required the next day.

[fagnaml]

While in the Texas Panhandle as a project manager for two winters when temps dropped into the single digits, I followed my construction managers /superintendents guidance on water hose freeze protection.


Presuming you have a 25 foot long water hose, purchase low cost heat tape at Home Depot, Lowes, etc. that looks similar to this --> https://www.homedepot.com/p/30-ft-Au...C30A/100196471


Use high temperature electrical tape to secure the heat tape the hose then insulate the entire hose with the cheap gray foam "tubes" --> https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt...-204760801-_-N Attach any extra length of the heat tape to the faucet and its pipe to keep them from freezing.


The result is a heat traced, insulated hose for <$50 compared to $100+ for a "heated hose" from Camping World. My self-made heated hose never froze even when temps dropped into the single digits at night / mid-20's during the day for many days in a row.

[Cypressloser]

I would like to add a warning regarding the use of heat tape, but first of all for a trip like that it's not worth going through the hassle as I said in my original reply.
Anybody using heat tape make sure never to cross or overlap sections of heat tape as it will become a serious fire hazard. Always tape the heat tape laying flat to the hose or pipe, try to avoid twisting and never cross or overlap.

After that the entire hose should be wrapped in aluminum foil and then insulated - but that's probably overkill unless you're up in this part of the world and it still might fail if the power goes out only for a few minutes.