How cold can I go?

slow_steamer wrote:
This past summer we purchased a 1985 32' Beaver RV and we want to take it out the weekend after Turkey Day. The weather report for the park in the mountains we're considering staying at says it's going to get down to 24 deg with little wind. Will my RV survive this chill if we're in it?

I'm pretty sure it doesn't have any special cold weather equipment or modifications.

Thanks.

Is this "park" an RV park with full hookups, or a state park with no hookups?
Make sur3e your propane is full before you start. The furnace uses a LOT of propane in cold weather, you will need a full tank!
Have fun.

You'll be fine, if you use your onboard water tank and pump! Since electric is part of the park fee, use a couple of ceramic heaters in the coach. Set your thermostat on a comfortable temp so if the heaters can't keep up your furnace will kick on. Don't worry about opening cabinets, and your basement should be fine at 24 degrees outside nighttime temps.

Only issue might be having two heaters on one circuit, and blowing a breaker. So plug each heater on opposing sidewalls and you should be OK.

I spent last Winter in the Detroit, MI area. 25 below plus the wind chill (no effect on RV systems) and we were toasty warm. Yes, we used A LOT of fuel to ensure our comfort and I also added some aux heat to the water bays but I had a remote temp monitor so I always knew what was going on and whether I needed to make any changes. I don't think I actually needed the additional heat in the bays but the electric was free and I had to pay for the diesel!

Going down to 24 isn't even an issue. I would fill the FW tank and disconnect the hose but aside from that just kick back and enjoy. No special precautions should be necessary.

You will survive sub-zero temps in that coach. You should have diesel heat which will keep your insides and your bays toasty warm. It it is not a diesel coach then you will have a propane furnace which will do the same thing, just handled somewhat differently.

If you have park power, put clamp lights with 60 watt bulbs in your wet bins. At 0 degrees, with the bins closed, ours held 50 degrees well. I purchased two cheap remote thermometers, one for each bin, and kept an eye on them. Couldn't find ones with more than one outside sensor. Make sure the bulbs are not touching anything, and point the reflectors toward the wet stuff. Still a good idea to run the furnace a bit to move a bit more warm air.

Welcome to the forum.
Open the cabinet doors under the sinks to allow the warmer air to circulate.
And leave your water heater on.

Enjoy your cold weather camping. It will be fun.

Use onboard water and your pump. Don't depend entirely on your electric heater(if you use one). Let your furnace(s) run some and the heat ducts should keep your water pipes ok. I can't comment on your basement heat for the tanks but mine has registers for that.