Going up north to canada - need advice

[marshall_lin]

Hi there, jon and i are newbies. We purchased our RV in the states and need to take it back to Canada next week. Can we use the water system to get home as it will go a few degrees below zero at night? Or do we drain it out? Would like to use it fully to get home. Would it freeze if we are travelling in it and using it? Thanks linda and jon

[Libero]

What type of RV do you have?
Does it have heated tanks or a heated wet bay?

A few degrees below freezing is usually Ok with a heated coach and some heat in the wet bay when you have shore power works ok for down to say -5 or perhaps to -10C or so at night.

Never leave the water hose connected to city water unless you have a heated hose, or trickle the water, but the down side of that is you need to leave he grey water outlet open which lets cold air back into the wet bay.

Best to have everything buttoned up with some heat. A 60 OR 100w bulb can keep a confined space reasonably warm if you do not have other heat in the wet bay.

Best not to leave the hose connected IMHO. I have travelled in -30C without problem but with thermopane windows, tank pads, wet bay heater. Baseboard electric heaters and propane furnace on and running generator all night - we got caught in a blizard and holed up in rest area for about 20hrs. Everything was fine and we were warm with nothing frozen.

[skigramp]

below 0 celcius ... not a problem

below 0 Fahrenheit ... I suggest you winterize when you start geting to a place where the temps are in the teens

[marshall_lin]

Thanks guys! We have a class c motorhome, coachman freelander. We are in Celsius.

[luvmydolphin]

Depends where in Canada you are going back to. Last year we came back to Winnipeg end of March. Dumped holding tanks just before border but left the water in the fresh water tank. When we got home set my thermostat to 5 C just incase the temp really dropped at night. My tanks are insulated but didn't want to take a chance. You can also put a electric heater inside if you are connected to shore power if temp drops too low. I opened up cabinates under sinks to make sure those areas got some heat. Couple nights it dropped to -15 C so turned on water heater to make sure nothing froze up. For the few bucks in propane, the piece of mind was worth it. Travel safe.

[Libero]

Good advice from luvmydolphin re the doors where water runs. I did and do that also and now I no longer have an A with everything heated for real cold weather operation. So it does make a difference re the type of coach you have because each has different water related exposed components that need freeze protection.

Now I have a B+ and I carry a few gallons of plummers antifreeze as a precaution if I am headed for cold climates and I can add as required. My current rig has insulated tanks but not heating pads, so I bought 12V heat tape to put around pipes, tank inlet and outlets and the macerator. I have wireless thermometers positioned at the most vulnerable points so I can get a reading of the temp from the central control unit. Thermometers are cheap and give you a reading of pending trouble so you can take corrective action before pipes crack.

Suggest you get wireless thermometers before you head north. I secure my thermometers with nylon ties and but whatever works. Also carry a trouble light for additional freeze protection.

Good luck.

[Skip426]

Do, you have all the paper work you need to export the unit from the USA. Have you selected and informed your point of exit?
US customs/export, requires all paperwork in-hand 72hrs in advance.
Contacted RIV, Registar of Imported Vehicles.In Canada.for all their requirments?
More to crossing the border than driving up

[dennis45]

Don't have any guns with you when you cross the border. They will be a problem.

[sdennislee]

Originally Posted by dennis45

Don't have any guns with you when you cross the border. They will be a problem.

Not true. You can take shotguns and most rifles. You must declare them at the border and pay a $25.00 registration fee. I do it every time I cross the border. The registration is good for 2 months.


Registration form: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/f...e/pdfs/909.pdf

On edit: Just noticed you were from Canada, I assume you would therefore understand the rules
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publicati...-eng.html#P011

The form above is for the rest of us (US Citizens) transporting a firearm into Canada.

[GREGORYJ]

We came back from Arizona last January. We checked the forecast-ed over night
low temperature for each nights stop. The first night it was forecast-ed to to go below
-3c to -5c, we dumped & drained all water including water heater.
Then we used a jug(s) of RV antifreeze to flush the toilet, wipes to clean hands, disposable plates & cups to eat, jugs of water to drink & cook,etc. until we got home.

[jmartin]

We are traveling from MI to FL in a couple weeks. We plan on using water, etc., on our RV, but are also concerned about temps. Well also be returning to MI late March..and hope the cold weather is over by then.

[marshall_lin]

We got through the Canadian border yesterday. The export went well and we had all the paperwork. We are in southern ontario and the temps are going down to -10 at night and up to above 0 in the day. We have been keeping the water going with antifreeze down the pipes and black water at night. Keeping RV warm at all times with the furnace and have insulated whatever pipes we could get at. I think the secret is to keep everything moving and working and as heated enough to keep it above 0 most of the time.

[Anodyne]

When does the Alaska highway get clear enough for travel with rv? Thinking about heading up that way this year and like to avoid the crowds.

[AkDee]

Hey by mid April our roads are generally in good shape but may would be best. You should get a book called the mile post it is for the alcan tells what's open and what they offer