Community Forums

iMaki · 02-04-2014, 08:52 PM

Brochure says insulation values are 12 floor, 7 walls, 15 roof. Enclosed, unheated, uninsulated underbelly. Black and grey tanks are heated electronically with pads. No pad on fresh water tank. So how in the heck can you camp in freezing temps without the fresh water tank, unheated plumbing, exposed dump valves, exposed low water drains, etc.? My guess is you can't. How can you just heat 2 holding tanks and leave everything else to freeze up? It makes no sense to me.

Skip426 · 02-05-2014, 01:27 AM

I would guess the clowns in the planning department , aren't RVers.

JEBar · 02-05-2014, 01:30 PM

unfortunately, all too often, manufactures make decisions that are heavily based on the bottom line and not on use .... of all the issues you mentioned, the exposed valves bother me the most .... the 12V tank heaters are a good thing, other than just to be cheap, no clue why they wouldn't have them on all tanks .... in most cases, if you keep your OEM furnace going during subfreezing temps, heat should be ducted into the underbelly and help keep the tanks from freezing

Jim

iMaki · 02-05-2014, 03:31 PM

UPDATE: Spoke to Forest River factory rep, and he assured me everything is either wrapped or covered by a heating pad or wrap including the fresh water tank and holding tank valves. This is encouraging. I'll talk to a dealer at the RV Show to button up the specs, but Rockwood is back under consideration.

450Donn · 02-05-2014, 03:43 PM

Remember, Rockwood is more of an entry level RV than other brands. You really get what you pay for. Spend a little more, get a Cedar Creek or Cardinal and you get way more livability in cold weather.

JEBar · 02-05-2014, 03:46 PM

please ask how they are heating the exposed valves .... my bet is they will say the fluid in the heated tanks will keep the valves from freezing .... can't say I buy that under low temps with wind

Jim

iMaki · 02-05-2014, 03:54 PM

He said they r wrapped with electronically heated wrap/pads and everything is thermostatically controlled to kick on as needed.

jlb27537 · 02-05-2014, 03:59 PM

What crock......If you can see the valves, they will freeze shut in below freezing weather. I do not care what heat pads are on the tanks.

iMaki · 02-05-2014, 04:10 PM

I don't know if they are exposed. I'll look closely tomorrow at the show. He made it sound like everything that could freeze has protection.

Skip426 · 02-09-2014, 11:53 AM

JMHO. I'd question the " 12 floor " rating as well, the main floor may be R-12 , but the slide floors are the insulation weak point. Any unit you look at make sure it is usable with the slides in; because it may be necessary to have the slides in order to keep warm.

iMaki · 02-09-2014, 12:01 PM

TY! We went with Starcraft 294RESA Travel Star Galaxy TT. Heated, insulated, enclosed underbelly. Absolutely beautiful, but we did take a hard look at the Rockwood which didn't seem as well made.

JEBar · 02-12-2014, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iMaki

I don't know if they are exposed. I'll look closely tomorrow at the show. He made it sound like everything that could freeze has protection.

as this is being typed we are spending the winter in a CG located north of Houston at Lake Conroe .... while out for a walk this afternoon we went by a Rockwood Signature 5er, no clue as to model year .... the valves are outside of the underbelly, exposed to the elements .... they may or may not be doing the same with this year's models

Jim