Community Forums

spectrum581 · 02-17-2018, 05:17 PM

Looking for some tips for winter travel. I went to Arizona and when I returned home the black tank angrey tank dump valves were frozen. Atr the any class A that have basement heat for freeze up protection? I used rv anti freeze hoping not to freeze up. Not enough obviously. thanks in advance for any info

Bigd9 · 02-17-2018, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spectrum581

Looking for some tips for winter travel. I went to Arizona and when I returned home the black tank angrey tank dump valves were frozen. Atr the any class A that have basement heat for freeze up protection? I used rv anti freeze hoping not to freeze up. Not enough obviously. thanks in advance for any info

Our Class A does have basement heat, but I always supplement it with a electric bulb and/or electric heater. I use a wireless indoor/outdoor thermometer to monitor the basement temperatures.

Here we are camping in 5 degree temperatures.

nothermark · 02-17-2018, 05:34 PM

Were you running your furnace? Most A's have some basement heat from the furnace.
You also want to invest in one or 2 channels of remote temperature monitoring to see what is happening down there.
You can add supplemental heat when parked fairly easily. Probably need the generator when driving. That said there are some small 12 VDC heaters that have less power/heat.

MisterT · 02-17-2018, 05:35 PM

yes, we do something similar, use a small electric 'temp controlled' heater in the wet bay - I generally will use an extension cord and plug it into the residential outlet at the RV park or Campground's power box. If not, I run the extension cord underneath the coach and over into my main bay which has it's own 120v outlet.

I usually set the 'temp' knob on it's lowest setting, since it's designed to come on even in temps that are not quite low enough to cause any freezing within the bay. This gives us peace overnight and no worries about freezing. The inside of the coach should be warm enough to keep any interior lines or water sources from freezing. The water heater should also keep it's water warm. And, even if I'm still concerned, I get up every several hours and run the hot water thru both sinks and the shower.

Bigd9 · 02-17-2018, 05:49 PM

Just noticed that you have a Discovery motorhome . Yes, you do have basement heat, however, you will have to figure out which furnace will blow warm air down there. On my Discovery, it is the rear bedroom furnace. That means you need to leave the bedroom heat on and pretty warm. Since we like to sleep when the room is cool, so I turn down the bedroom heat and use the supplemental basement heat.

While driving in very cold weather, I leave the two 100 watt basement bulbs on using the inverter current.

spectrum581 · 02-18-2018, 09:09 AM

I no longer have a Discovery motor home, Ihave had a 2014 Coachman Sport /coach 360DL, purchased in March, 2017.

MSHappyCampers · 02-18-2018, 09:53 AM

This is how I handled the freezing problem!

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/bay-heaters-149096.html

Bigd9 · 02-18-2018, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spectrum581

I no longer have a Discovery motor home, Ihave had a 2014 Coachman Sport /coach 360DL, purchased in March, 2017.

Woops, sorry, I saw the Discovery listed in your profile

FullTime2014 · 09-08-2018, 05:13 PM

Would you happen to have a temperature sensor to show what your basements temperature got down to while it was 5° outside?

Bigd9 · 09-09-2018, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FullTime2014

Would you happen to have a temperature sensor to show what your basements temperature got down to while it was 5° outside?

Each coach is different, and each weather condition is different. Our wet bay is heated by the rear bedroom furnace. We generally like the bedroom a lot cooler than the living room so that means we don't use the bedroom furnace much. Because of that we have to electrically heat the lower compartment.

In my experience in our 2006 Fleetwood Discovery, down to 25 degrees the wet bay stays above freezing by itself. Above 15 degrees it stays above freezing with the two 100 watt bulbs. Above 5 degrees we use a portable electric heater and keep it above freezing. I use a indoor/outdoor wireless thermometer to keep an eye on the temperatures. I do have one water line in the bedroom that freezes. It runs along the outside wall and it has no way to heat it. I plan to make modification to allow the warmer room air to get to it.

FullTime2014 · 09-09-2018, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigd9

Each coach is different, and each weather condition is different. Our wet bay is heated by the rear bedroom furnace. We generally like the bedroom a lot cooler than the living room so that means we don't use the bedroom furnace much. Because of that we have to electrically heat the lower compartment.

In my experience in our 2006 Fleetwood Discovery, down to 25 degrees the wet bay stays above freezing by itself. Above 15 degrees it stays above freezing with the two 100 watt bulbs. Above 5 degrees we use a portable electric heater and keep it above freezing. I use a indoor/outdoor wireless thermometer to keep an eye on the temperatures. I do have one water line in the bedroom that freezes. It runs along the outside wall and it has no way to heat it. I plan to make modification to allow the warmer room air to get to it.

Thanks, Bigd9

CWSWine · 09-09-2018, 07:23 PM

I use one of these and small heater.

Farm Innovators TC-3 Cold Weather Thermo Cube Thermostatically Controlled Outlet - On at 35-Degrees/Off at 45-Degrees

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006U2HD2...v_ov_lig_dp_it

Fairfieldwiz · 09-09-2018, 07:52 PM

As the days go by, I learn more and more about how poorly constructed most coaches are. At freezing and below, you're going to run into burst pex piping, waterpump failures and waste tanks with the contents frozen. I have tank heaters on my 2014 Thor Hurricane and an electrically heated water hose and I've been advised by people smarter than I that I still shouldn't attempt it.

Bigd9 · 09-10-2018, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fairfieldwiz

As the days go by, I learn more and more about how poorly constructed most coaches are. At freezing and below, you're going to run into burst pex piping, waterpump failures and waste tanks with the contents frozen. I have tank heaters on my 2014 Thor Hurricane and an electrically heated water hose and I've been advised by people smarter than I that I still shouldn't attempt it.

Thats a shame. When I look at the picture in post 2, I just want to get out there again. The winter time hiking, cross country skiing, downhill skiing are all waiting for you. Oh the wildlife really comes out when the campers don't show up any longer. It's a magical time camping in the winter but its not for everyone. We bought our motorhome to use. And use we do. Like any activity, it does take knowledge, planning and the correct equipment.

One last tip: don't use a white frisbee in the snow!