Community Forums

Roam America · 08-24-2008, 07:17 AM

What do y'all do to insulate the roof vents when cooler weather comes to town. I don't want to do anything that I could not easily undo if I need (or want) to use the vent. I plan on heading to warm weather before it gets too cold, but will still have to survive cooler weather in my RV; until after Christmas that is.

Roam America · 08-24-2008, 07:17 AM

What do y'all do to insulate the roof vents when cooler weather comes to town. I don't want to do anything that I could not easily undo if I need (or want) to use the vent. I plan on heading to warm weather before it gets too cold, but will still have to survive cooler weather in my RV; until after Christmas that is.

RedGuy · 08-24-2008, 07:31 AM

Depends on what you consider cold? I've camped in temps down to 34F at night in my travel trailer and had no problem at all keeping warm with out plugging the roof vent (I only have 1) and just running the furnace. They do make vent plugs thought that you just stuff up there to add some extra insulation.

Hitchhiker · 08-24-2008, 07:50 AM

We cut a few 14" square pieces from some 4" thick foam rubber and stuff them in when it really gets cold. They seem to work as good as the ones Camping World sells and we had the foam rubber laying around left over from some other project.

They aren't pretty but they're not in there too often or for very long.

RotorWing · 08-24-2008, 08:06 AM

I did the same as HitchHiker except I added some of that 1/8" reflective bubble stuff to the top of each of mine. This worked excellent last winter at temps down to 0 degrees.

Like HitchHiker said, it is cost effective if you have some of this already laying around from another project or are planning on doing more than one project to use up what you have to buy. Otherwise I would just buy the vent plugs from CW.

Cheers,
Chris

Lil'Darlin1972 · 08-24-2008, 08:07 AM

<span class="ev_code_PURPLE">We've camped in campgrounds with weather in the 30's and never had to plug up with roof vents. We use a small rotating space heater and we rarely even have to use the furnace.

I suppose if you are dry camping in the winter you may want to plug up the vents to save on propane with your furnace. But if you have hook ups I wouldn't think you'd need to bother...</span>

TXiceman · 08-24-2008, 08:35 AM

We have stayed in our previous Avion 5er down to 17 dF and no problems. We ran two 1500 watt ceramic heaters and the furnace enough to keep the basement from freezing.

In cold weather you will need to keep a vent cracked open to keep the moisture from building up and condensing on everything. We use the foam cushions on the closed vents.

When cooking crack open a window near the stove and run the vent fan on low. Showering...open the bath room vent and as soon as you are our of the shower run the vent fan for about a minute and then shut down and close it all but a crack.

Ken

RedGuy · 08-24-2008, 01:02 PM

What I would be more worried about is my water lines and tanks freezing.

I think my lines might be ok, since they are all inside, but are along the outside wall. The only one that I'd be concerned about is the ones running to the kitchen sink since they run under the floor, so they'd probably not stay as warm. I might even install a shut off for those 2 lines. Also my black and grey tanks are exposed so I'm sure in any prolonged cold weather they'd freeze. But I don't plan on camping in the dead of winter, but maybe into late fall. So it will still be warm durring the day, and probably won't go more than a few degrees below freezing at night.

Where will you be staying in your trailer until Christmas? Obviously some places will have a harsher climate than others.

mountainkowboy · 08-24-2008, 01:35 PM

We have camped down to 24*, our MH has the artic-pack on it so there are heaters in the important "no freeze" bays. We have the camping world fuzzy vent plugs and they seem to work very well...

Roam America · 08-24-2008, 03:30 PM

thanks all for the advice. my tanks are in the heated area - as long as the heater is running of course.

I don't expect to be in long term cold weather until we get to Texas. maybe occasional 30's or so or a rare 20's. i am thinking of getting heated wrap for the water hose just in case so it doesn't freeze up. i have a small ceramic heater but no outlet in the storage bay. that may just be a project while it is still warm.

Ray,IN · 08-25-2008, 02:25 AM

I use the aluminum-covered bubble sheet stuff. I cut a piece a bit larger than the opening, we have a skylight plus roof vent. Once pushed into the opening it will stay from friction.
Instead of insulating your water hose and dragging it out each night, consider keeping your fresh water tank filled and operating self-contained. This way your hose doesn't freeze while refilling your tank. FWIW, ice in a slinky destroys it quickly, I don't leave it out in sub-freezing weather either.

The above may be moot. I thought you were traveling in sub-freezing weather instead of parked.