Community Forums

Bluegrass55 · 01-27-2010, 01:47 PM

Hi,

We are Jim and Pam from Palmer, Alaska. We have previously owned a Lance truck camper, Keystone 30 foot Cougar 5th wheel and 35 foot Montana 5th wheel. The Montana was given to us by our dealer as a replacement for the "lemon" Cougar. The Montana was beautiful, but not really practical for us since we do so much winter camping and it was too big to maneuver in many places.

We now own a 30 foot Winnebago Chalet C model (previous rental) with NO slide-outs. This is much more practical for us as the wife can drive it (couldn't drive the 5th wheels), and don't have to worry about snow on the slide-outs and freezing in the open position. It is nowhere near as spacious as the Montana, but we manage very well with 2 large dogs and 2 cats.

When we camp in the winter, we do not use any tanks except for the black water waste, and we "flush" by pouring RV antifreeze in the toilet. We carry bottled water and do our dishes in a dishpan and throw the water out. We have a dehumidifier, but it doesn't work very well when it is really cold out. We also have learned to pull the mattress a couple inches away from the wall in winter which really helps avoid lots of moisture and frozen walls. Every morning we run the RV engine for a few minutes with the heater on full blast to thaw the ice on the windows. We are never camping more than 5 days at a time and usually it is only 1-2 days.

We would like to hear from anyone out there who does cold weather camping and may have suggestions or good ideas on how to minimize the effects of moisture in the RV, etc.

Thanks.............and happy RVing!

rvfolks2000 · 01-27-2010, 02:22 PM

Hello Jim and Pam,
I personally can not help in your answers although I have camped full time in the freezing weather because of job related locations.
Doubt if many have ideas of what you are asking as the joke is when it cools down turn the key on and head south.

Do you just like the cold camping?
Hope you keep warm,
rvfolks2000#513

Bluegrass55 · 01-27-2010, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rvfolks2000

Hello Jim and Pam,
I personally can not help in your answers although I have camped full time in the freezing weather because of job related locations.
Doubt if many have ideas of what you are asking as the joke is when it cools down turn the key on and head south.

Do you just like the cold camping?
Hope you keep warm,
rvfolks2000#513

Hi,

Actually we live in Palmer, Alaska which is 40 miles from our kids and their families in Anchorage. Our youngest daughter and son-in-law have a huge driveway where we leave our RV parked most of the winter so that we can stay whenever we are in town for an extended period of time or will be doing something in the evening and not want to drive home that late. Even comes with free wireless internet and cable TV!

There are times that we will haul our snow machines with the camper and take off for a few days. We also have driven down the Alaska Highway during the winter in our RVs to visit family in the western states when it is cool enough that we don't suffocate!

Our Montana 5th wheel was well insulated and comfortable for winter camping, but our Winnebago is not. So, we are learning how to deal with that.

We don't head south in the winter because there are just too many neat things to do here at that time of year. Where are you located and are you full-timers?

Hope it's not too hot (anything over 65-70) where you are...................!

desertrv · 01-27-2010, 10:08 PM

Welcome Jim. We lived at Ft Rich 73-78, sure did love it. I do remember the serious cold we had and how hard it was to keep the windows defrosted from the inside. We had an overhead camper and it never stayed warm, no matter what we did. I did take some plexi glass and put over the windows, it was better than nothing. I remember keeping something open, window, vent, did help. I agree there are a lot of super things to do in AK in the wintertime.

"007" · 02-01-2010, 01:39 PM

Welcome Jim to irv2.
Have been in ALASKA 57-58 traveled all over interior chasing ACS problems in communication centers. It sure can get cold there.
Your Class C may not have thermal windows but with some ingenuity you maybe able to do some things to make coach more comfortable.
This link has some info that may help but you need furnace going so it works. A vent feed off furnace to heat tank compartments would be one need. Had "C" and did use in winter months but was able to be warm and enjoy also.
Enjoy the forums and do post often.

COLD WEATHER RVING