How to keep jerry cans from freezing when boondocking?

Great job on getting a early start to the winter camping season. We are still waiting for winter to arrive in the PNW....though it might be happening right now.

I tend to agree with putting them inside. But, in an effort to come up with a different solution, you could try; in the back of your truck, inside an ice chest, that is wrapped up in blankets. You could even toss a couple heat packs in the ice chest if you wanted to be sure....but I think you would be OK without them for just overnight.

But now that you know the weak spot in your plumbing (where it freezes), I would be inclined to solve that and not worry about separate containers of water (until you go somewhere it is colder). Adding insulation in that area perhaps? Or box it in and pump some cabin air down there? Or recirculate the water so the pump cycles occasionally? Or, maybe a really low power heat tape that you can turn on only occasionally and is covered by a good layer of insulation. Whatever you do, I really doubt it will take much.

I know I'd be unable to use the toilet in mine if I put a 6 gallon water jug in the "shower", looks like yours is the same. I'd put them just inside the door when you come in for the night, move them back outside when it warms up a bit in the am. Don't know that I'd do more then 1 or 2 though, they aren't all that light. Could always get something more manageable like 3 gallon. Might be easier to store somewhat out of the way in the trailer, and get out of the truck bed.

http://www.rei.com/product/605745/reliance-desert-patrol-3-gal

Put them in the shower when it is that cold outside. It is sort of out of the way, and a place to keep them inside.

If your plan is to refill the fresh water tank from the jerry cans, you might want to add hot water to them before draining it all into the tanks, or fill the jerry can with 130+ hot water from your hot water tank to heat the fresh water tank a little bit. If you only have 20 gallons of fresh water in the tank, and pump 6 of that into the hot water heater, and those 6 gallons back into the tank, and let those 6 hot gallons back into the fresh tank, it will warm it from say 45F to around 60F - 70F.

In this way, you can have a warmer shower, and reduce the risk of freezing the fresh water tank as well.

Good luck!

Glad that you had a great time camping!

Fred.

we kept ours in the shower and they never freeze in there.

What's in the back of the Taco that keeps you from storing the water there?

LS

I use the jugs too. You just have to keep them inside, there is no other way

Miles