How cold can I go?

Last year we spent the night in a truck stop and it got down to 1 above. We were still winterized so used windshield washer and a little pink stuff to flush. Bedroom slide out. Two electric heaters and a little propane from furnace. Let generator run all night. We were warm and I could have had water in tanks had I needed but so much easier to travel in colder climates for first two to three days without the worry. Showered in truck stop.

Well, we made it without any freezing. I think we didn't even come close. Used electric heat the entire time. The built in heater and a space heater. We got a little chilled until we figured out how to balance things. Oh, and we put a pan of water on the stove for some humidity and that seamed to really warm things up.

Now to deal with the thrown fan belt. :S

slow_steamer wrote:
I'd like to thank everyone for their input. We're going to go for it.

The park we will be staying at is an RV park with full hookups. The water is off for the season so we'll be using our tanks.

We'll let you know how it turns out.

Please let us know the outcome. I am sure it will be a good one! In case you missed it, we easily handled -25 degree "real" temps while in Detroit last year but it does take a lot of fuel and close attention to what's going on inside the cabin and inside the bays. We bought a weather center with a remote temperature sensor which we located in the wet bay. I could monitor exactly what was happening out there and make any adjustments necessary. Many years ago I headed for Vermont to go skiing with an entry level diesel coach and propane furnace. I didn't monitor anything and still, no issues! It was just a weekend trip and we dry camped in the ski lodge parking lot. Some of the greatest memories ever! Do it, suck up the cost of running the heater and live to tell your friends about what a great time you had!

My coach is a 2004 and I survived clear down to 9* one time. Just keep everything as warm as possible.

...you can also gain valuable knowledge actually doing it.

Very good statement! Too much knowledge is passed on over and over that is learned on this forum, and not from first hand reality. This virtual knowledge is said so many times that it becomes gospel. It really limits new owners of MH's with a certain amount of paranoia.

... BTW no damage from the froze water line. After the trip/thaw never a leak to be found.

One night of 24 degrees (assuming the OP's vintage MH has some form of PEX) "should" not be an issue. Yes, there is a very small possibility a line might freeze, but it should not burst. If the OP is living in the rig that night, and using the toilet, very unlikely a line would even freeze.

If they wanted to be super extra safe, leave the HW running all night. Middle of the night use the HW & cold to wash your hands with, same thing in the morning.

Now if they have that old grey pipe stuff (based on their MH vintage) that isn't PEX based which has a long history of breaking under plain normal use, then there could be a small issue that a slight freeze will burst it. That stuff is a ticking time bomb, and will go just a question of when, but that is for the internet paranoid bucket.

AllegroD wrote:
I do not agree with those that say "Yes! Go for it". As many have said, your setup is important. You need to determine how your MH is setup and insulated. Are all lines protected. If so, I would still open the cabinet drawers to allow better heat to plumbing. Is your wet bay and tanks enclosed, insulated and have heat? You will need plenty of LP & if off grid, plenty of battery. A single 12v or 2 6 volt may not make it through a night. Your furnace needs 12v all night.

You are right to be cautious but you can also gain valuable knowledge actually doing it. We were big winter campers for almost 10 years and we did meet our match one Christmas. Highs were in the single digits and we did have a froze water line. By the end of the trip we were living with slides in and we went through an obscene amount of LP. For us, with that coach we learned it's limits. BTW no damage from the froze water line. After the trip/thaw never a leak to be found.

I'd like to thank everyone for their input. We're going to go for it.

The park we will be staying at is an RV park with full hookups. The water is off for the season so we'll be using our tanks.

We'll let you know how it turns out.

I do not agree with those that say "Yes! Go for it". As many have said, your setup is important. You need to determine how your MH is setup and insulated. Are all lines protected. If so, I would still open the cabinet drawers to allow better heat to plumbing. Is your wet bay and tanks enclosed, insulated and have heat? You will need plenty of LP & if off grid, plenty of battery. A single 12v or 2 6 volt may not make it through a night. Your furnace needs 12v all night.

Don't open your slides and you'll stay warmer. Go to Home Depot and get some foil insulation for windows, especially the big front window. To avoid excess humidity in the MH don't take long showers. Run water at a minimum. Move your mattress out from the wall a few inches during the day to let it air out. Sleeping will cause humidity on the wall and hence, the mattress. Have fun!

Supplying the heat is one thing and keeping it in is another.
I found that lot of RV have holes that will let the cold air in with no restrictions.
Huge holes around plumbing, "cold" cord compartment that is open to the interior.
Ceiling vents can transfer lot of energy as well.
I keep saving Styrofoam packing from all the boxes I am getting and "somehow" always find a use for it sooner or later.