Cold weather advice

[trode]

We sometimes camp in cold weather, but haven't yet with this Motorhome. I have a "must do" trip this weekend, I will be headed a little north of home base, but weather man promises well below freezing temps and possible mixed precipitation and ice accumlations. Over night I know of course my hose will freeze (actually water hose to MH), so I will disconnect and drain, but what I am not sure about is the wisdom of keeping water in the fresh water holding tank overnight for occasional toilet flush, morning shower before hooking hose back up, etc... Expected lows in the teens! (really cold, for us Carolina folks)

I am wondering if the heat of the motorhome will keep the fresh water tank from freezing overnight?

What other precautions should I take regarding possible ice accumulation? I assume the insulation in the roof is not good enough to allow freezing rain to accumulate on the roof.

Ideas???

[Lincolnboy2]

Originally Posted by trode

We sometimes camp in cold weather, but haven't yet with this Motorhome. I have a "must do" trip this weekend, I will be headed a little north of home base, but weather man promises well below freezing temps and possible mixed precipitation and ice accumlations. Over night I know of course my hose will freeze (actually water hose to MH), so I will disconnect and drain, but what I am not sure about is the wisdom of keeping water in the fresh water holding tank overnight for occasional toilet flush, morning shower before hooking hose back up, etc... Expected lows in the teens! (really cold, for us Carolina folks)

I am wondering if the heat of the motorhome will keep the fresh water tank from freezing overnight?

What other precautions should I take regarding possible ice accumulation? I assume the insulation in the roof is not good enough to allow freezing rain to accumulate on the roof.

Ideas???

Tom, put a small trouble light with a 75 watt or 100 watt bulb in your fresh water compartment if you don't have a furnace heat duct that keeps your fresh/holding tanks from freezing.

Most motorhomes...(check on yours) have a heat duct that goes keeps the holding tanks/fresh water tank from freezing.

If temp is above freezing during the day, re-fill the fresh water tank onboard, then unhook and drain the hose before temps drop. Depending on usage, you can get by from 3-5 days that way without worrying about fresh water hose freezing/draining/etc.

Hope this helps!

[jeryan59]

I just spent 10 days in CO in below zero night time temps (coldest -15F), I would skip trouble light for utility compartment and go to hardware store and buy a $15-20 electric space heater with a thermostat. I would also insulate the bottom plastic tray in your utility compartment or lay a blanket on it.

I built my own heated fresh water hose. Home Depot sells electric heat tape, I stretch hose out, I wrapped the hose with cheap foil, then I ran the electric heat tape down the hose. About every 6" I used electric tape to secure heat tape to hose. Then I purchased foam pipe wrap with a slit and put that over all everything. I again used electric tape about every 12" to secure it. I never froze up, but make sure park has provision so there line doesn't freeze. Otherwise just use your holding tank assuming you have heated basement.

If you don't have heated basement I would put some RV antifreeze in both holding tanks and use some water jugs to flush toilet and use campground facility for showering.

The other thing i did was crack one of my ceiling vents just enough so the fan would run on low to keep condensation to a minimum when we were inside, I never had any moisture on inside windows other than 1 night when I forgot to start the fan when we got home from skiing! :(
Good luck.

[Lincolnboy2]

Agree, J E Ryan! Much better advice...!

I forgot, my Uncle who has been RVing for 30 years had the little space heater mounted to a board in the utility bay and could travel/camp in temps down into the single digits during the winter. Much better idea than the heat lamp....

[Gorlininc]

Your furnace will warm your storage areas. My wet bay has a 300 watt 12v heater. My tanks have heat pads. I think these are standard on most motorhomes. Is check to make sure everything works. I have a 2001 diplomat so it's an older coach.
Good luck
Rick