Winter Camping-Oregon

[Maddawg46]

I have not camped in the winter yet. I'm heading to Oregon tomorrow. I have to go thru the cold section due to road closures to get to the coast. I guess I should add some anti-freeze stuff to the windshield washers. What about sewer hose? Never connected or dumped tanks when it's below freezing.

Any inputs are welcome. I hate hard lessons learned!

[450Donn]

Coast is normally above freezing, so no worries mate.

[Maddawg46]

Originally Posted by 450Donn

Coast is normally above freezing, so no worries mate.

I have to go I-5 to 138 to get to the coast. Not worrying about the coast. It's getting there that concerns me. Snow on Sunday, Monday thru Central Oregon.

[twogypsies]

If you're staying in freezing temps for days, then yes, some precautions need to be taken. However, it sounds like you're driving and perhaps an overnight and then heading to the coast (where it won't be freezing).

So.... for those short stays, have water in your fresh water tank and work off it. Don't bother with setting up your hose. It'll be frozen in the morning when you're ready to leave. Same goes for your sewer hose.... dump only when needed and don't let your sewer hose out overnight. They have a tendency to crack especially when you try to store it frozen.

Enjoy the coast!! You'll be just fine.

[450Donn]

Originally Posted by Maddawg46

I have to go I-5 to 138 to get to the coast. Not worrying about the coast. It's getting there that concerns me. Snow on Sunday, Monday thru Central Oregon.

I5 goes thru the Willamette valley not central Oregon. US97 is the main north south route thru central Oregon.
BTW you do not have to come up I5. you can always cross over to 101 further south and drive it north to your destination.

[nwcountry]

Originally Posted by Maddawg46

I have not camped in the winter yet. I'm heading to Oregon tomorrow. I have to go thru the cold section due to road closures to get to the coast. I guess I should add some anti-freeze stuff to the windshield washers. What about sewer hose? Never connected or dumped tanks when it's below freezing.

Any inputs are welcome. I hate hard lessons learned!

Lived in Oregon most of my life, my sis still lives in Coos Bay. Don't skip anti-freeze. She had 35 the other morning, and yes, it froze there.

I don't know about any other things on an RV, I don't own one, yet I'm in Crescent City CA, just across the border from Brookings Oregon. We've had low 30's too. It may not happen often, but once is enough for an engine block Denise

[nwcountry]

Originally Posted by twogypsies

If you're staying in freezing temps for days, then yes, some precautions need to be taken. However, it sounds like you're driving and perhaps an overnight and then heading to the coast (where it won't be freezing).

So.... for those short stays, have water in your fresh water tank and work off it. Don't bother with setting up your hose. It'll be frozen in the morning when you're ready to leave. Same goes for your sewer hose.... dump only when needed and don't let your sewer hose out overnight. They have a tendency to crack especially when you try to store it frozen.

Enjoy the coast!! You'll be just fine.

It does freeze here you guys, just want to let you know. I live here, and my sis lives up on the Oregon Coast. We don't get those temps for long, but we do get them

Also, some black-ice, or just icey conditions in shaded areas. The travel from (I5 over to 101) say Hwy 42 from Roseburg/Winston to Coos Bay gets very hazardous conditions so we have to watch out in Winter They've done a lot of road improvements over the years on 42, but still. Lots of big trucks too. Some logging and chip trucks still moving product

[nwcountry]

Originally Posted by Maddawg46

I have to go I-5 to 38 to get to the coast. Not worrying about the coast. It's getting there that concerns me. Snow on Sunday, Monday thru Central Oregon.

I've driven 38 a lot as well, up to Loon Lake in Summers. Carry chains, although once you get far enough West, it will grow a bit warmer. I like 38 because it doesn't have any major hills/mountains, you drive almost the whole way next to the river.

If you can drive later a.m. any ice could be melted. Don't know about the snow, and exactly where it's predicted. Roseburg/Sutherlin areas can get a lot. Just don't let anyone "push" you to go faster. They can wait, or if you can, which you know, pull off and let the speed-freaks go by

These highways are well traveled, you won't be alone which can be good, or bad The truckers know what their doing, for the most part.

This might help you out, if you don't have it yet:

TripCheck - Oregon Traveler Information

Live cameras etc.

[tquarles]

It definitely gets below freezing on the coast - my first trip out my fresh water hose froze overnight.

If you're living in your unit (i.e. the heat is on) and you work off your internal tanks,
you *should* be good. Get out your fresh water hose, fill the tank, then drain and
put away the hose. Same for the sewer hose. Keep your tanks on the full side,
the volume of water provides thermal mass which keeps it from freezing through
in a short time (like overnight).

Other than that, camping along the Oregon coast in the winter is great - it's practically
deserted, no crowds, no traffic jams, no problems with campground reservations, etc.
You do have to watch out for campgrounds that are closed for the winter though.

All that said, be careful this next week, they're predicting afternoon highs in the mid 20's for Portland starting on Monday...

[capnqball]

Make sure your propane tanks are full along with the fresh water. If staying for the night along the way place a low wattage heater in the wet bay if you don't plan to use the propane furnace. I don't know if your coach has the rear furnace feeding the wet bay as most have. We were just on the central coast a couple weeks ago and it was cool, wet and windy, but not necessarily all at the same time. Drive safe.

[Maddawg46]

I'll
Be at the Oregon Coast late this afternoon. I figure since I'll be there a few days that I should hook up my sewer hose before the temps get down to freezing. Dump my tanks in the afternoon before I leave. That way my hose is not flexing when it's low temperature. Is that the way?
Or leave my sewer hose not connected and connnect the afternoon prior to leaving the next day? With the slide out makes it a lot more difficult connecting water hose and sewer hose.

[tquarles]

I'd keep the hoses disconnected and inside until ready to use them. The last thing
you want is for your sewer hose to be frozen and brittle when dump into it. Cold
plastic has a nasty habit of shattering....

[HavingABlast]

Maddawg46,

Sounds like you are learning a lot about your new coach. You are asking great questions.

How did it go on the OR coast last November got? Any problems? Did you end up taking the126 Westbound out of Eugene headed toward Florence?

Travel safely.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by tquarles

I'd keep the hoses disconnected and inside until ready to use them. The last thing you want is for your sewer hose to be frozen and brittle when dump into it. Cold plastic has a nasty habit of shattering....

Exactly!!