Community Forums

Yellowreef · 10-25-2011, 11:06 PM

So, I am going to go camping in cold weather and fully expect the temperatures to drop below freezing at night. I will be dry camping so no worries about disconnecting water hose ect. However, this is my first time and I really have no idea if there is something else I should or shouldn't do to avoid potential disaster. All three tanks are exposed under the rig, as are the sections of water lines and pipes coming in and out of them. The rest of the water system should be ok if I'm running the furnace inside, but Im not sure if that will help the exposed stuff. Is there anything I need to do different than camping at warmer temperatures? Should I keep the water heater on at night to prevent those lines from freezing? The water heater stuff is pretty exposed too through the vent. Any insights will be appreciated.

RV Wizard · 10-26-2011, 02:46 AM

Tune on the water heater and if you can underpin the tanks would be great for the next time you go and it is below freezing for many hours. Otherwise, go have some fun and don't worry about it.

Tallyrver · 10-26-2011, 05:45 AM

We're going camping in the cold this weekend ,supposed to get in the 40's in north Florida.

LOL

Have fun

Wayne

VSPA · 10-26-2011, 06:25 AM

An idea that was passed on to me by another camper is to leave the cabinet doors under all sinks open as it helps keep the temp at the same temp as the main living area.

CCFROMFL · 10-26-2011, 06:31 AM

What is ment by "underpin" the tanks ? ? ? ?

Thanks

62_inrightlane · 10-26-2011, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CCFROMFL

What is meant by "underpin" the tanks ? ? ? ?

Thanks

I think what is being suggested is to box in the exposed tanks / plumbing. My previous RV, a travel trailer, had the entire bottom of the unit covered in plastic sheets that looked to be 3 ply material. A honeycomb inner layer and then the outside skins. The material was about 1/4 inch thick and extremely lightweight and flexible. It provided enough protection from the elements to keep everything from freezing. We camped when nighttime temperatures got down into the 20's and we had absolutely no problem. Now the hose from the city water connection was another story. We had to go to our on board water tank.

It's amazing how much of a difference stopping air flow by covering can help.

Hope this helps

Yellowreef · 11-28-2011, 12:46 PM

Everything went good with the cold weather camping. Had one tense moment when the now full gray water tank read empty one cold morning after a freezing night, the noight before it was reading full. I immediately thought something had burst and dumped all the water on the ground. Nothing had happened, other than the sensor not working right. All in all it was a good experience and we even got enough snow to make a snow man the one morning. We then drove down the mountain to the world where it doesn't snow