Forum Discussion

aboeck3's avatar
aboeck3
Explorer
Feb 15, 2014

cold weather travel

I recently purchased a 2014 Itasca Meridian 36M. Question is since the fresh water and black/grey tanks appear to be Heated, how low a temp can I safely travel (both furnaces on) and not have freezing issues? Both the dealer and factory give me CYA answers in the mid 20's.
  • I try to winterize below 10 degrees. I monitor my wet bay temps. Normally my bays and tanks stay above freezing when the coach temp is kept at 70. However, how fast can you winterize? Most RV parks are closed in cold wx. That leaves truck stops. I like truck stops because you have food, fuel, and many times free wifi. I-80, in WY, got closed down a few days ago. We were stuck in a Flying J for 2 days. We were winterized and flushed with bottled water fortunately they had a dump. In cold wx other problems can come up quickly. We not only had cold, we had over 65 mph cross winds. We hunkered down between 2 big rigs. If you plan on traveling in winter areas where it is cold take it slowly until you build some experience. JMHO.
  • In 09 or 08. We traveled back from Florida in low twenty degree weather. About 600 miles. We didn't have any problems with freezing tanks.
    I am no expert but it would seem, in order, to have a small heater or a heat tape on the pipes in the wet bay. Of course run the generator.
    I don't think we have a 120 plug in the wet bay but there is twelve volt but it would over load the circuit for the bay lights. There is 120 on the bay opposite the wet bay on ours so it might not be at all difficult to wire there. A ground fault plug of course.
    Another idea is if you have heated tanks or if you didn't a heat pad might be available in the size or altered to fit the three pipes in the wet bay.
    Someone here has done something about it I'm sure. I don't hear a lot about cold weather packages on Motorhomes but some do have them. Apparently yours does. Check what they might have done already in the wet bay. Another thing we have at least one drain hole about half an inch in case water get in there. Put a piece of tape over it to keep out some colder air.