Greetings all.I am considering moving into an RV for full time living. I am a single guy with no children to be concerned about and am now looking at a BT Cruiser style RV, still undecided on weather I want an RV model with sliders or not due to leakage issues.anyways, I live in western Canada and spend about 7 months a year in colder below freezing temperatures; its' pretty rare in my area for temps to fall below -20c.What I want to know is how 'full timers' live in their RVs during the freezing winter months, and how they avoid freezing pipes and other winter issues while living.I also want to know how well insulated RVs are built, and any other information that anyone can offer.thanks all. :)

We stayed in our RV throughout the harshest winters. We just put 1,500 miles between the RV and the frozen tundra. I got cold just watching the folks on the Weather Channel dealing with 2' - 4' of snow and below freezing temps. Sometimes I couldn't finish my pina colada. Actually I don't know of an RV brand that can handle that temp or a roof that will handle that much snow. Just my opinion and I could be wrong.

Many oilfield workers have spent the whole winter or more in North Dakota during the oil boom and they did it in various types of RVsWe have spent 'some limited' time in winter weather with -19*F temps and 2' plus snowPROPANE PROPANE PROPANERun that Furnace 24/7 and you will stay warmWaste tanks/drain lines/fresh water tanks........that depends on whether or not underbelly is insulated and enclosed with source of heat to the enclosureWe have furnace duct to enclosureWould prefer heater pads on tanks and drain lines PLUS furnace duct.Furnace duct alone was marginal------Propane Propane PropaneWe went thru 30# (7 gallons) each day during that -19*F stintAnytime temps go below 20*F and stay low it becomes a on going effort to keep water from freezing.....waste tanks/drain lines/fresh water tank are most susceptible and plumbing lines running behind/thru cabinets next to outside wall can also be problem areas (leave cabinet doors/drawers open at night). Outside showers .....stuff the opening with insulation.Maintain 55*F as minimum 60W light bulb in outside fridge compartment will help fridge to continue to workPropane Propane PropaneElectric space heaters can be used to keep immediate area warm but lack heating ability for tanks/lines.RV Furnace needs to runPioneers did it in covered wagonsMan since the dawn of time as survived living in cold climatesJust need to be self sufficient, hearty and determined

I wintered over in Coronach, Sk,(81) The Pas, Mb, ( (86) Coteau du Lac, PQ, (82) Winnipeg ( 87, 89) andWhitecourt, Ab.(2000))in 3 different TT.'s Very difficult to find and maintain water facilities from freezing. It wasnt cost effective , or fun to winter in an rv in such places. I did it for my work, and because no matter the difficulty, I preferred my rig to a motel or apartment. Therefore the difficulty and cost was not an issue. My family and dog could come along. mods must be made to almost any rv ,and special attention to water supply and disposal regardless of mfgr. claims to ensure its extreme weather service.

Lot's of good info in this thread

n7bsn wrote:Lot's of good info in this thread except in # 3' about the heated hose, Dianne does not explain that the thermostat on the hose must be exposed. All heated hoses, home made or made. somewhere else have a thermostat at one end, or the other. That thermostat must be open to the weather., not in aservice compartment. Of course thecamp has to have equally heated water site supply, or the issue is moot?

FT RV Living in Winter conditions | Good Sam Community

RampantRoamer
Explorer
Apr 19, 2016
ramgunner wrote:
Propane, Propane, Propane = right on the money. If you have heater pads on the tanks and heat to the underside, most likely they will be fine. The drain hoses and the connection to them will most likely freeze, however. Depending on how far back the outlet connection is frozen, you may have real issues draining the tanks.

thanks for the input Ramgunner!
i'll have to look around for either a cruiser with heating pads in place or find the pads and install them myself.
I wonder if heat tapes would be of some use to keep the fittings and connections useable?
SDcampowneroper
Explorer
Apr 20, 2016
DianneOK wrote:
SDcampground owner....I did not write the article....it is a reprint with permission.....
.
Thank you Dianne, for the clarification. I understand you are not the author and you posted the article as a forward.
My reply was meant as a rebuttal to help inform about heated water supplies.The author did not clarify the necessity of or location of heated hose or supply thermostats. They must be exposed to the weather to protect as intended.
My apology to you or anyone for mistaking you as the misinformant.
Max
SDcampowneroper
Explorer
Apr 20, 2016
RampantRoamer wrote:
plugging into power at a camp site for heat tapes is a simple idea, but what 12 volt solutions would I have when rural camping and no external power is available? would running the propane heater and generator be enough to keep the pipes from freezing? I suspect that the winter would be very expensive indeed.
Sure, you can run a genny and use propane to keep warm, as long as the temps are warm enough for propane vaporization. Propane is not reliable in temps well below freezing. At - 44.3 f degrees, not usefull at all, as that is its boiling point.
Talk to your local propane supplier about cost, supply, suitability.
free_radical
Explorer
May 02, 2016
RampantRoamer wrote:
Greetings all.
I am considering moving into an RV for full time living. I am a single guy with no children to be concerned about and am now looking at a BT Cruiser style RV, still undecided on weather I want an RV model with sliders or not due to leakage issues.

anyways, I live in western Canada and spend about 7 months a year in colder below freezing temperatures; its' pretty rare in my area for temps to fall below -20c.

What I want to know is how 'full timers' live in their RVs during the freezing winter months, and how they avoid freezing pipes and other winter issues while living.
I also want to know how well insulated RVs are built, and any other information that anyone can offer.

thanks all. :)

Call some RV sales places and ask them what rig would be suitable for full timing in winter in Canada,,
I honestly dont know any..although I would guess some class A buses would easily be able to do so,,you would just need to run generator pretty much continuously..
Some people stay in campgrounds even in winter and plug into its utilities,but then its probably cheaper and more comfortable to just rent an appartment or a motel..
-----
Eventualy when I retire I plan to build a true four season Canada rated RV to travel in,,insulated like a house..so I can go anywhere anytime..
B_O__Plenty
Explorer II
May 10, 2016
GoPackGo wrote:
Can it be done ? Sure. There are folks on this forum who are doing it.

RVs are not insulated worth a d**n. They bleed heat (or AC). Notice how there's about a 2 ft air gap under them which helps all that cold wind to completely encircle the rig. There is no room in the walls to have 2x6 insulation.

Listen to the folks who are quoting propane consumption figures; then find propane cost and do the math. Supplemental heating with electricity will not be cheap either.

It will be cheaper (ands way less work) for you to rent an apartment or house.
Couldn't agree more. Anything will be somewhat warm if you run enough propane through it but at what cost??

B.O.
SDcampowneroper
Explorer
May 10, 2016
Rebuttal
The OP is referring to his rv as Home. as mine was, so no trouble or cost was insurmountable. No apartment or motel could be a % as good as our home regardless of the challenges.

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