RVing in Winter Conditions

[bill6525]

We are about to take a trip into the mountains where the snow will accumulate and the temperatures could reach down to 5-10 degrees. We are looking for advice regarding slides/operation and awnings should there be snow. Also, preventative measures for water pump operation in the cold, and any other advice anyone may have regarding heating, etc, for making the trip as trouble-free as possible. Thank you in advance for your assistance.

2003 Winnebago
Itasca-Horizon
Diesel Pusher; 40'

[Luv2go]

Hi bill6525! Here's a post I wrote concerning winter camping you may want to look at. To answer a couple specific questions I didn't cover:

Slides - we left them out during snowstorms and swept them after the snowstorms.

For high wind we used some ratcheting tie straps to help hold the slide topper down so it didn't flap. We used towels around the straps at the edges because they still flapped a little and I didn't want them to eat thru the topper material. The tie straps went around the whole slide (we used 3 or 4 linked together to do this).

Awnings - we didn't use the patio awning except on the days it rained and we wanted a somewhat protected area to change out of our ski gear. Ours retracts automatically in high wind, also in weather below freezing, so it is somewhat useless in winter.

[Poptop]

We've done some winter mountain camping and now prefer not to do so anymore, but rather go south instead. Our slide operated fine but you want to get the snow off the awning. We had a foot of snow one night and it wanted to strech the awning and bend the roller it winds up on. We decided not to use the slide as our MH is functional without it and we had fewer cubic feet of space to heat.

The jacks went down ok but didn't want to retract very much. We ended up not using them when it is so cold. Make sure you put jack pads down so the jacks don't freeze to the ground.

As for the water system, make you have heat in the utility bay. If you are plugged into electricity and your basement isn't heated (and maybe even if it is), run a 60W or greated light bulb in the compartment(s) that have water lines and/or a water pump.

If your DP has a block heater turn it on the night before or at least several hours before you plan to leave.

I'd also make sure your DP has an anti-gel supplement in the fuel or has a blend of #1 diesel in it.

Others on this site will no doubt add to these items.

Have fun.

[slickest1]

Great advice. I will add you may want to carry a set of tire chains just in case.