Community Forums

Excursion 33 · 01-22-2019, 10:11 AM

OK.....Any advice for me.....

Heading to Co Sprgs for a week and the temps will probably be in the low 20's at night. Snow shouldn't be much of an issue where we will be . Maybe just a bit but manageable. One night along the way (coming from AZ) we will stop and get some sleep. When we get to CO Sprgs we have full hookups. Not going to bring a generator as we have plenty of propane and 560W or so of solar. We only have the one night layover somewhere.

I have a pair of chains for the trailer just in case on the 40 or 25 I hit some snow on the road and need them. I doubt if I will though. My tow vehicle is a RAM 2500 4X so I am covered there.

I do have a red button by the gauges for water, battery, gray. black tanks and believe that is maybe for a heated blanket around the fresh water???? I assume I should keep that on at all times when temps are down in the 20's to low 30"s? Anybody know if that is accurate?

I will run the heater at night about 65 as I have read some people do in here.

Since I have never been in cold weather like that any suggestions for me?

Thanks in advance

R.B · 01-22-2019, 10:26 AM

If the furnace is running, you do not need any kind of heating pad running for the water tank at that temperature. We've been down around 5-10ºF many times with no issues and in the 20s many more. I do dump some pink antifreeze into the black and gray tanks to help keep their contents thawed.

I strongly recommend a dehumidifier. Humidity skyrockets quickly in the winter, and when it condenses on cold surfaces, it's a recipe for mold if it happens often enough. A good dehumidifier serves two purposes: humidity removal and a circulation fan for the air.

Do not waste your money on desiccant packs or countertop dehumidifiers. They do almost nothing and just take up space. If you go the dehumidifier route, get one with a compressor (the countertop ones just have a cold plate). We carry a 70 pint Frigidaire.

As for chains, I carry them but have never actually needed them. Make sure you check state laws on what you're required to carry because sometimes it's absurdly high. For example, here in Washington, you're required to carry a pair for the tow vehicle, a single drag chain for the trailer, and a spare pair for the tow vehicle for a five-chain minimum.

Excursion 33 · 01-22-2019, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R.B

If the furnace is running, you do not need any kind of heating pad running for the water tank at that temperature. We've been down around 5-10ºF many times with no issues and in the 20s many more. I do dump some pink antifreeze into the black and gray tanks to help keep their contents thawed.

I strongly recommend a dehumidifier. Humidity skyrockets quickly in the winter, and when it condenses on cold surfaces, it's a recipe for mold if it happens often enough. A good dehumidifier serves two purposes: humidity removal and a circulation fan for the air.

Do not waste your money on desiccant packs or countertop dehumidifiers. They do almost nothing and just take up space. If you go the dehumidifier route, get one with a compressor (the countertop ones just have a cold plate). We carry a 70 pint Frigidaire.

As for chains, I carry them but have never actually needed them. Make sure you check state laws on what you're required to carry because sometimes it's absurdly high. For example, here in Washington, you're required to carry a pair for the tow vehicle, a single drag chain for the trailer, and a spare pair for the tow vehicle for a five-chain minimum.

I have chains for the trailer and tow vehicle just in case.

I will check on a dehumidifier. I may have one here around the house....

How much antifreeze do you put in your gray and black tanks?

Thank you

R.B · 01-22-2019, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excursion 33

How much antifreeze do you put in your gray and black tanks?

Maybe 1/2 gallon each. It's mostly to keep it reasonably thawed when emptier -- a full tank takes much longer to freeze, particularly the gray tank where most of the water is likely coming in hot.

Excursion 33 · 01-22-2019, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R.B

Maybe 1/2 gallon each. It's mostly to keep it reasonably thawed when emptier -- a full tank takes much longer to freeze, particularly the gray tank where most of the water is likely coming in hot.

Makes sense....thank you

60sumtin · 01-22-2019, 08:51 PM

Oddly enough hot water will freeze faster than cold water so keep an eye on things. There's a name for it but it escapes me right now.

ktn1966 · 01-23-2019, 08:34 AM

On cold nights we open the cabinets and drawers, especially those that have access to water lines. When the days are warm I hook up the water hose but disconnect at night and use the tank. You can dump RV antifreeze in to your grey and black tanks but if using them it should not be necessary. If you are worried about them freezing before you dump just run hot water.

Oregon requires you to have and use chains while going over the passes when posted. Without that being said, I have no desire to ever put chains on the trailer.

Off Road · 01-23-2019, 03:43 PM

I have had our ORV in temps down to 5 or so. At temps above 20 I wouldn’t worry much, below 15 I have had some things freeze but they always thaw out with no issues. I don’t have a freshwater tank heater but it has only frozen up once when it was very cold and windy. I keep the heat at 50* at night and am usually without hookups.

ModestMonk · 01-24-2019, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 60sumtin

Oddly enough hot water will freeze faster than cold water so keep an eye on things. There's a name for it but it escapes me right now.

Mpemba Effect

Last year we camped in the 24KTS down to -7*F with no problems. Although I wasn’t camping in it the other night I did experience something new. The furnace was on through a series of negative temp nights to test for the following. The last night it got down to -22F, the furnace kicked off at some point. At first I thought the propane tank kicked, when I checked the tank I was surprised that my gauge was still green and the frost line on the tank showed about a third of the tank. I’m now assuming that tank is too small in diameter to allow the propane to boil off fast enough to replenish itself at those temp’s. Has anyone else had an issue like this?

60sumtin · 01-24-2019, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ModestMonk

Mpemba Effect

I’m now assuming that tank is too small in diameter to allow the propane to boil off fast enough to replenish itself at those temp’s. Has anyone else had an issue like this?

That's it.

Can't say I've used our trailer's furnace while that cold but I have had to use propane blowtorches off 20 pounders for extended periods of time at temperatures colder than than and they worked fine. I suspect they use more fuel than a RV furnace.

Excursion 33 · 01-30-2019, 07:38 AM

Well, this has went well. Only issues I had were both pigtails to the propane cracked as have happened to others, the water line froze and I couldn't get the heater to come back on for a bit.

I called ORV and talked to Kevin. He helped me out on the heater not turning back on when I switched out the propane. You have to turn the heater completely off then turn on for it to reset.

The frozen water hose was due to the RV park having it turned off when they plugged in the cord which heats the line....it is insulated as well. Once the breaker got thrown it took care of that problem.

The pigtails.....I smelled the propane yesterday at about 3:30 or so. I called and talked to someone at ORV and they were surprised on the cracking/leaking. They offered to reimburse me for parts. I was under a time crunch to get the proper pigtails but got into a place about 2 minutes before closing and they helped me out. Sprinted back to the trailer and changed out the pigtails and solved that. I have seen the threads on these pigtails failing. ORV should put a more stout pigtail on the regulator. No reason not to.

So....in about 4-5" of snow while here and temps down to single digits and I must say I am impressed with how the coach has handled all of this cold weather. This was a first for me in these conditions so I learned a few things for sure.

One other thing Kevin had mentioned to me.....the RED switch I believe is for the heater blanket around the water tank. I had that on the entire time. He said not really necessary as it will turn on/off automatically based on the outside temps so not really required to turn it on. I kept it on regardless....lol

Not concerned in taking this trailer out to any conditions now. One concern would be the water hose in extreme cold though......The RV park provided the heated hose and I know that isn't normally provided. Without it and using a non-heated hose it could freeze easily. That would be my only concern at this time.