I have need to reside in my coach this winter in the Bitterroot Valley south of Missoula, or in Missoula. I have located a couple of parks who are open in the winter. Both parks require/suggest having a large external propane tank installed and serviced. I can do that. I have been advised by some that I need to skirt the coach, and by others that I don't need to do that. I would appreciate any suggestions from those who have parked and lived in their coaches during occasional sub-zero weather, and long winters. I have heard that the interior walls will "sweat" due to the cold outside versus warm interior. Is that creating a potential mold problem, and is there a way to prevent that ? Dehumidifier maybe ? Any serious suggestions welcome. Thanks.

Skirt and run dehumidifier 24/7.

Skirt it. Insulate and heat tape the water hose. Heat the faucet, large propane tank and lots and lots of cash. Couple years ago we wintered in our fiver in Portland area. 25 gallons of gas was not uncommon a week. And it only got down to around 14 for a week or so.

Skirt it with hay bales to keep the cold air from blowing underneath as well as to keep the snow from piling up underneath your coach. We only hooked up our water to fill the tanks and only hooked up the sewer lines to drain the tanks. We used electric space heaters as much as possible which tends to keep the moisture down inside of your coach. We also had a portable AC/heat pump that worked fine at even zero temps but this required a single hose venting to the outside. We had 50 amp service so if you are using 30 amp service, you may be stuck with using propane for most of your heat. An electric blanket also helps to keep you comfortable at night. We have one of the low voltage units that uses very little AC. If you have dual pane windows, the condensation may not be too much of a problem BUT your windshield is single pane and you may want to put towels at the base to soak up any condensation that accumulates behind the curtain.

There is a sticky on winter camping under the full time forum.You need to protect the fridge.Montana will be a dry cold so a dehumidifier probably won't be needed or useful.

RV refers work by transferring the "heat" in the refer to the outside, via the coils in the back. If the temperature outside gets too cold, your refer will stop working, in fact it may freeze up and fail.Some combat this with a 100watt bulb in the back of the refer.In Montana you may not need a dehumidifier, it's really dry there in the BitterrootThe area you are trying doesn't get a cold as out east, like Billings or Great Falls, but it still can get to -20 or -30.I would skirt, heat the underside, get a large tank, etc, etcRead the cold-weather sticky.

Staying in Coach in Montana Winter | Good Sam Community

14 Replies

pianotuna
Nomad III
Sep 08, 2015
There is a sticky on winter camping under the full time forum.

You need to protect the fridge.

Montana will be a dry cold so a dehumidifier probably won't be needed or useful.
rgatijnet1
Explorer III
Sep 08, 2015
Skirt it with hay bales to keep the cold air from blowing underneath as well as to keep the snow from piling up underneath your coach.
We only hooked up our water to fill the tanks and only hooked up the sewer lines to drain the tanks.
We used electric space heaters as much as possible which tends to keep the moisture down inside of your coach. We also had a portable AC/heat pump that worked fine at even zero temps but this required a single hose venting to the outside. We had 50 amp service so if you are using 30 amp service, you may be stuck with using propane for most of your heat. An electric blanket also helps to keep you comfortable at night. We have one of the low voltage units that uses very little AC.
If you have dual pane windows, the condensation may not be too much of a problem BUT your windshield is single pane and you may want to put towels at the base to soak up any condensation that accumulates behind the curtain.
donn0128
Explorer II
Sep 08, 2015
Skirt it. Insulate and heat tape the water hose. Heat the faucet, large propane tank and lots and lots of cash. Couple years ago we wintered in our fiver in Portland area. 25 gallons of gas was not uncommon a week. And it only got down to around 14 for a week or so.
bgum
Explorer
Sep 08, 2015
Skirt and run dehumidifier 24/7.

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Staying in Coach in Montana Winter

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