Chicago Living in the Winter

[ddozier234]

Good morning All,


I hope your week has been great for you. On the 10th of November I am headed to Chicago to start a new project. I have secured a site outside Chicago that caters to contractors. It was tough but I was able to find a spot at least for the time being. If you know of a full hookup RV park near Chicago please let me know. I will be in the area from mid November to the through April.



The main reason I'm reaching out to you is to get tips, tricks and hacks to make a scary situation (living in and RV in what could be extremely low temps) as pleasant as possible. I have a heated fresh water hose already, the under belly is enclosed and the tanks are heated, but I have no idea what else I may need.



My wife and I own a 2011 Forest River Cardinal 3150rl.

[hamm2018]

See about blocking the wind from getting under the rig with something. So use haybales, others use canvass.
Also try to see if you can get a larger propane tank delivered and add to the rig. Usually you can get a 75- 100lb tank placed outside, maybe larger. If not you will probably be filling those 30lb bottles every other day.
Watch your discharge hose it will freeze up, also your discharge outlet and valves.
Seal your windows better to help with heat lost. If you are going to have 50 amp get a couple of electric heaters to help save propane.

[1960C182]

I think I would look into a room at one of those long term stay hotels or short term lease on a small apartment. Living in a RV Fighting a possible harsh winter by Chicago standards wouldn't be fun to me. A typical Chicago winter is bad enoug.

[kdauto]

Yeah, not sure I'd want to try wintering in a trailer that far North. If you do try it, I'd say a remote temperature kit for the basement is a necessity. We bought an inexpensive kit and have 3 remote sensors, I think they all work via bluetooth. Under 40 bucks. We leave one outside, one in the basement and the other goes inside the trailer for when we're hauling in freezing temps. We can see if the trailer heat is working down the road.

[Skip426]

You'll have to be skirted to the ground , "no if ands or buts " extra propane and be ready to bring the slides in during storms.

As a South Dakota farmer once said about winter there.

" You do realize , that the only thing between here and the Artic circle ; is a barbed wire fence at the Canadian border !"

That statement could easily apply to Chicago .

[Jerry Burks]

Winter camping in Chicago...sounds like a Halloween prank.

[Archer2]

Something else regarding looking for a park “near Chicago”. There is a city called Chicago but it is pretty small area-wise. What most people mean is the Greater Chicago area, which is huge. It may encompass an area roughly from roughly Wisconsin to the north, Indiana to the south and west from Lake Michigan to Aurora depending on who you ask. That is a triangle with sides about 50 miles each.
So be careful and get a map. And for what it is worth I can’t imagine a job that would pay me enough to go (back) to The Chicago area.

[Marine359]

Being from Chi-town, the only good thing about winters is that many of the potholes fill with water and freeze, making driving much more pleasant. If you survive the cruel and unusual punishment of camping there during winter, you could probably make some good bucks by writing a book, filming some You-tube, and maybe some National Geographic. Please post again when you thaw out.

[oscarvan]

Originally Posted by Marine359

filming some You-tube

Youtube channel and a Patreon account. Now you're talking. Out there at 3am in a -47ºF wind chill with a heat gun on the water faucet because you haven't had a shower in 3 days. That's gold man.

[oatmeal]

There are only a few RV parks in the Chicago area that have full hookups--most campgrounds are county or forest, and are electric only.

There's a KOA 50 miles northwest of Chicago, but it closes in October. However, right near the KOA is a place called Lehman's Lakeside RV Resort, and it's open year-round. My knowledge is limited to the fact that it exists--I've never been there.

What kind of refrigerator do you have--absorption or residential?

[Fast E]

Rent an apartment/house. You don't know what cold is. FOR NINE MONTHS OF THE YEAR.

[TXiceman]

Forget the RV and find a corporate suites or small efficiency. You will not have a fun time during the winter.

Ken

[kdauto]

Yeah, because factor in a campsite, then add an easy 20-30$ of propane each DAY and rent will start to look cheap and way more comfy too.

[Rhagfo]

I had a friend that wintered in the Chicago area in a Class A DP, said he was fine.