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USMC46's avatar
USMC46
Explorer
Jan 18, 2014

Winter in Missoula Area

We may have need to spend the winter in the Missoula /Bitterroot Valley area next winter (Nov 2014-March). Anyone know of a park in the Missoula area open during those months ? If you have wintered there, how did it go ? Assuming I take the precautions provided in all the tips on this forum, what kind of experience would winter in Missoula be in a coach ? Thanks.

4 Replies

  • We have friends who winter in Missoula. They actually work year round at a campground there. They are fulltimers. Check your PM's.

    Dale
  • Woodalls directory should tell you which RV parks (if any) are open year round. There are a couple North of Missoula on Hwy 93 that might be.
    Having done a couple of winters in Billings, one in a Suncrest Class A and one in a 32 foot fifth wheel, I recommend skirting around the coach. I used 48 inch wide Reflectix wrapped around the coach and covering the grille and windshield. I built the water line with hard copper tubing, installed heat tape according to the instructions, and wrapped it with fiberglass pipe insulation. I left the grey water dump valve open all the time, and opened the black water only when necessary. The sewer hose did not freeze. I had V-1 Propane bring an 80 gallon tank out to connect to the fifth wheel, and they kept it full. On the Suncrest, I used a 100 POUND bottle, and that was a nuisance when it got cold. The larger tank, filled as needed by the distributor, was MUCH better! In the Suncrest, there was considerable cold air leakage around the door, so we bought a blanket from a thrift store and hung it as a draft blocker. It helped greatly. I installed window film on the inside of the windows, and that also helped. We bought the foam plugs for the ceiling vents to insulate them.
    I can't say that we were totally comfortable, but we survived nicely. Looking back, I almost wish we had rented an apartment!
  • Face reality: no recreational vehicle is designed for use in those extreme temperatures. While the averages show the lows to be in the teens, you can expect actual temperatures in the below 0 range often. The costs to equip the RV for use in such extreme temperatures, the costs of fuel trying to stay warm, your individual comfort level, and the risk of a life threatening situation should any component of your wintering plan fail makes renting conventional housing a more practical solution.
  • I'm not sure, but maybe Jim and Mary's is open year round. It is not in Missoula, but fairly close. Have you done any cold weather camping in the past? The biggest challenge, IMHO, is heat - for the coach and you. You will need lots and lots of lp, or diesel if you rely on aqua-hot. Brrr, sounds awful, but then again, I am in FL :)