Community Forums

Bstreitz · 05-27-2014, 07:10 AM

We are going full time in August/September and plan to spend the winter in Colorado with family - about 9500 ft I have been doing a lot of research on the internet and via forums. So far the Entegra has the best insulation I have found. I am also considering Newmar. We are looking for 2008 to 2011 at this point.
Any feedback on either of these coaches or, any others I may have missed in terms of working well in a cold winter? We will be living in the coach through the winter.
Many thanks in advance.

Genset · 05-27-2014, 07:36 AM

Foretravel units with the Aqua Hot are about as good as it gets for handling the below zero temps.
Dave M

poppopc · 05-27-2014, 11:26 AM

Fore travel if your budget will permit,.

Stealth01 · 05-27-2014, 02:44 PM

Newmars with heated tile floors and Oasis heating system should do well. We've had our in some very cold weather.

Crasher · 05-27-2014, 02:48 PM

Insulation in the upper part is only part of your concern. I had an 03 Phaeton that we would leave WI in mid January and travel south. Although the bottom of the coach was insulation board, I had 2" of urethane sprayed on the underside including the wet bay tub. I also added a 12 volt "Back Seat Heater" (like Holiday Rambler used for years) to the water compartment. The coldest we had was -17* with full fresh water and the temp monitor was never below 38* with the 12 volt heater set to come on at 42*. Nothing ever froze up, but without additional insulation under the wet bay, it surely would have. Every coach I have seen does not have insulation under the wet bay tub. Most are not built for cold weather.

DSL417 · 05-27-2014, 02:55 PM

Entegra and Newmar independently rated above the rest in the mid-range coaches, in that order, but they both use similar building styles. Newmar uses electric floor heat while Entegra uses aqua hot tubing routed under the floor. Aqua hot works;hear good things about electric as well.

Mrchips · 05-27-2014, 04:18 PM

Aqua hot, Hydro hot....etc works great and will certainly keep you warm inside......BUT you better have an endless supply of diesel fuel or be able to go get a tank full every month. I keep my floor heat on and an oil/elect heater in the living area and in cold weather the hydro hot sucks the fuel. So much so all I could think was wow as the $$$$ rapidly evaporated from the fuel tank.

PDR John · 05-27-2014, 06:53 PM

So far the coldest we've stayed in our Newmar Dutch Star as been around 0. Wet bay never got below 45.

The inside stayed at 72, I don't fear the cold. Nor do I have to prep the way we did in our Fleetwood Providence.

Bstreitz · 05-27-2014, 07:45 PM

This is a fantastic forum. Thanks to everyone for the thoughtful and helpful responses. As much as I 'd like I do not think we can swing a Foretravel. I am glad to see the Newmar Dutchstar and Mountainaire do very well in the cold. We will be buying a used coach and there may not be a used Entegra available when we are ready to go.
I also like the idea of looking at and possibly adding to the insulation in the wet bay. We will have access to power so can run small heaters/light bulbs in the basement and possibly for the hydrohot system too.
Can hardly wait to hit the road.!

pumper9x9 · 05-28-2014, 06:30 AM

You might want to look at Triple E coaches made in Canada. Reason is that it's cold up there and they build coaches that can handle the cold.

Snomas1 · 05-28-2014, 06:46 AM

I live in Colorado and have stayed in temps as low as 10 degree, but don't like the fact that the heater runs constantly. You will use huge amounts of propane and would be wise to add an external tank to the MH. Some Jan & Feb days can get up to 45 degrees but we head south to miss most of the cold weather here.

"007" · 05-29-2014, 12:21 AM

The furnace LP or Aqua Hot ---Oasis will need to run during cold weather or your holding tanks and plumbing will freeze up under floor, electric heaters will only help in living area.
If its a LP furnace large propane bottles can be hook into the LP plumbing for long periods.
Tank drainage will be the problem and water hose, sewer hose you may not be able to leave hooked up.

Here are some links for winter camping and normal winterizing.

Here is a thread of someone's experience winter boon docking.

SeattlePirat · 05-29-2014, 09:14 AM

Not to be redundant but the purpose of a motorhome is to move when the wedder gits cold.

Gordon Dewald · 05-29-2014, 09:26 AM

Insulation is only one of the issues with cold weather living. If you are planning on showering, cooking, etc you have to be aware of the ventilation. Most coaches have poor to marginal ventilation so a lot of the moisture generated by living in it can migrate into the walls. Come spring there may well be a mess.