Preparing for the freeze
So a few months ago, the wife and I, packed up all our stuff, hauled it to a storage unit in oregon from missouri, bought a used 99 Jayco Eagle 25 footer and started traveling aroynd the pacific north...
Forum Discussion
NWB, after reading this forum for nearly a decade, I'll pass on the tips that I've learned.
1) Skirting. Use something to skirt the trailer. Anything to cut circulation underneath. I'd even go so far as to skirt around the hitch area. You can buy pre-made skirts for this that use either Velcro or snaps. Don't forget to include any and all slides!
2) Many use a couple 100w bulbs underneath to help keep plumbing warm.
3) Make sure your dump valves are protected or they'll freeze up and you'll be in deep doo-doo, literally.
4) If you can get on-site propane delivery, rent a 100lb propane tank, or even 2. Propane will be a =lot= cheaper and you won't have to schlep tanks every day or 2.
5) Get some 1/4" bubble wrap and put it on the windows for extra insulation. You can wet the glass and just stick it on. A lot of people use the skylight "plugs".
6) Get 1 or 2 of the oil-filled heaters and use those as well as the furnace. The furnace will =have= to run to push warm air to the underbelly, assuming it's set up that way.
7) Leave under-sink cabinets open to allow warm air to circulate around the plumbing. These areas can turn into real cold spots in extreme conditions. A small fan may be needed to help with this, as well as moving warm air around the FW in general.
8) When using the furnace, condensation can be an issue. Make sure you leave a top vent cracked open to allow moisture to escape. Having the bubble wrap on the windows can help with this, too.
9) Lots of thick throw rugs on the linoleum.
This is about all I can think of at this point. As someone else said, check the avg temps in the area and see how extreme the temps are likely to be, but prepare for the worst case.
Lyle
1) Skirting. Use something to skirt the trailer. Anything to cut circulation underneath. I'd even go so far as to skirt around the hitch area. You can buy pre-made skirts for this that use either Velcro or snaps. Don't forget to include any and all slides!
2) Many use a couple 100w bulbs underneath to help keep plumbing warm.
3) Make sure your dump valves are protected or they'll freeze up and you'll be in deep doo-doo, literally.
4) If you can get on-site propane delivery, rent a 100lb propane tank, or even 2. Propane will be a =lot= cheaper and you won't have to schlep tanks every day or 2.
5) Get some 1/4" bubble wrap and put it on the windows for extra insulation. You can wet the glass and just stick it on. A lot of people use the skylight "plugs".
6) Get 1 or 2 of the oil-filled heaters and use those as well as the furnace. The furnace will =have= to run to push warm air to the underbelly, assuming it's set up that way.
7) Leave under-sink cabinets open to allow warm air to circulate around the plumbing. These areas can turn into real cold spots in extreme conditions. A small fan may be needed to help with this, as well as moving warm air around the FW in general.
8) When using the furnace, condensation can be an issue. Make sure you leave a top vent cracked open to allow moisture to escape. Having the bubble wrap on the windows can help with this, too.
9) Lots of thick throw rugs on the linoleum.
This is about all I can think of at this point. As someone else said, check the avg temps in the area and see how extreme the temps are likely to be, but prepare for the worst case.
Lyle
