traveling in cold weather

When we RV in those temps we do nothing special.

Hi Wyo,

Similar to other fridge problems the damage is accumulative, so an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

WyoTraveler wrote:
Very good info. I have always wondered about item #5 though. In Wyoming I ran my TT and now my MH fridge in zero degree weather and it keeps on working. I guess at some point it will stop by freezing up.

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

I've used my RV at -37 C (-34 F). Read the thread.

Very good info. I have always wondered about item #5 though. In Wyoming I ran my TT and now my MH fridge in zero degree weather and it keeps on working. I guess at some point it will stop by freezing up.

Also, it can't hurt to check if the rig has tanks have heating pads, or at least a furnace vent. Heater pads will help, and a furnace vent will also keep things above freezing.

Heater pads are nice because it allows you to keep the tanks warm without having to keep the furnace running, although it does run the house batteries down. When parked at a site with FHU, you can use electric space heaters to save propane. Just keep cabinets open as stated above.

If worried about the gate valves, dump a bit of soapy water or RV antifreeze down the toilet, traps, and sink. This lowers the freezing point, and makes the water turn into a slush when frozen rather than a solid, pipe-breaking ice chunk.

So far, I've camped in weather going into the teens at night using this method and keeping the propane heater on, no issues.

Lastly, most RVs are not well insulated. Just keeping the thermostat at a comfortable temperature will keep the tanks warm unless the weather is going to go well below freezing and stay below freezing for days on end.

Hi,

I've used my RV at -37 C (-34 F). Read the thread.

Best advise to look where the fresh, grey and black tank are in your particular MH. Then where are the dump valves and pipes located? If they are in heated compartments you can withstand colder weather than if they are out in the open. JMHO. Don't go by what other people do. If their tanks are heated and yoursw aren't they can withstand lower freezing temps.

Harvard wrote:

lane hog wrote:
"Not as worried about the waste tanks. They're below the floor, but there's enough room for ice to expand upward if we get to freezing more than overnight."

That may not work IF the tank drain pipes are such that they could be full of water upstream of the gate valve(s). JMO

My gate valves are on the tanks, and both the black and grey pipes are dry, which is another reason why I'm not too worried... But not all coaches are built like a Winnebago...

Hi,

Have a look at the sticky thread under full time rv'ing called "winter camping".

winter rv camping

lane hog wrote:
"Not as worried about the waste tanks. They're below the floor, but there's enough room for ice to expand upward if we get to freezing more than overnight."

That may not work IF the tank drain pipes are such that they could be full of water upstream of the gate valve(s). JMO

Also check to see your unit has heat tape...we have a 24 foot class c and it has heat tape on the black and grey tanks.
Our fresh water tank is under the dinette (hubby added another that is exposed below so we have options). Yet some of our fresh water lines are in the basement and prone to freezing.
Donna