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MO _ Jack · 01-22-2007, 08:20 AM

As most of you know we are experiencing the worst ice storm we have had in twenty years! When we lost power Saturday night(Jan 13) I had no idea that it would be out for so long of a period. By Sunday morning things were getting serious. Our home is total electric and we had to start thinking of "Plan B". All the Hotels/Motels within 100 miles of us who had power were full. We started to think of our options and decided to move into the 5th wheel. I did not even try to put the slide out (frozen solid). I fired up the furnace to start warming things up. After a couple hours the inside temperature got up to around 50 but I could tell that the furnace was taking a toll on the battery, I did not have a generator so I plugged the truck (diesel) into the camper and left it running for what would turn out to be 20 hours. The temperature fell to 9 degrees that night but we stayed warm enough (around 60). The next morning we did find a motel that had room for us for 2 days. We took the room and enjoyed hot showers and bathed in the warmth!

When we left the hotel we had the good fortune of finding a 5550 watt generator (the last one in the store)! I loaded it up and we went back to the house. I hooked up the generator to the freezer and refrigerator and the camper. I also added a couple of electric space heaters to the camper. We stayed as warm as toast for the next two nights until the power came back on Saturday. Lessons learned The camper is far more than a recreation vehicle, it is a life line! The next one I purchase will have a "winter package" so I can have running water if I need to hibernate in the camper again.

Jack

MO _ Jack · 01-22-2007, 08:20 AM

As most of you know we are experiencing the worst ice storm we have had in twenty years! When we lost power Saturday night(Jan 13) I had no idea that it would be out for so long of a period. By Sunday morning things were getting serious. Our home is total electric and we had to start thinking of "Plan B". All the Hotels/Motels within 100 miles of us who had power were full. We started to think of our options and decided to move into the 5th wheel. I did not even try to put the slide out (frozen solid). I fired up the furnace to start warming things up. After a couple hours the inside temperature got up to around 50 but I could tell that the furnace was taking a toll on the battery, I did not have a generator so I plugged the truck (diesel) into the camper and left it running for what would turn out to be 20 hours. The temperature fell to 9 degrees that night but we stayed warm enough (around 60). The next morning we did find a motel that had room for us for 2 days. We took the room and enjoyed hot showers and bathed in the warmth!

When we left the hotel we had the good fortune of finding a 5550 watt generator (the last one in the store)! I loaded it up and we went back to the house. I hooked up the generator to the freezer and refrigerator and the camper. I also added a couple of electric space heaters to the camper. We stayed as warm as toast for the next two nights until the power came back on Saturday. Lessons learned The camper is far more than a recreation vehicle, it is a life line! The next one I purchase will have a "winter package" so I can have running water if I need to hibernate in the camper again.

Jack

Lynnvt · 01-23-2007, 03:40 AM

Hey MoJack,
I'm glad you guys are okay. You are lucky to have found a generator. Hope you all thaw out soon. Weather all over the country has been crazy. Vermont didn't get winter until January! Yikes, the ski areas don't like that!

full-timer · 01-23-2007, 05:23 AM

Another good reason to have an rv. Not only for recreation but possible a life saver.
Glad you are doing ok.

Joe

Mrs. Mik · 01-23-2007, 05:38 AM

Yes, they can be a lifesaver! We also keep ours fully stocked in the summer, and change the freshwater tank frequently. If there's a storm where the electric is out, we have no water, either, because we're on a well. It's nice to know that we have a full tank in the 5er so we can use the bathroom without worry! We also have a genny (not an RV genny, but a LOUD contractor-type) that we can use to power the two freezers, fridge & maybe more importantly, sump pump!

We've been lucky in the winter and haven't had any storms that have knocked out our power for any length of time, but again, there's that genny!

Glad you're doing OK!

Julie

MO _ Jack · 01-23-2007, 02:28 PM

Thank you all! We are still hanging in there. The electric has gone off a few times but only for a few hours. I never thought I would LOVE a contractor style generator as much as as I do.

I am giving serious thought to becomming a snowbird next winter.

Jack