Hi all, I realize there's a recent post about camping in the winter, but it talks about a better insulated fifth wheeler camping in NM subfreezing temps, my situation is different.My travel trailer (Prime Tracer 24DBS) comes with what the manufacturer calls an extended season camping that includes:Roof (R-14) Double Layer FiberglassFloor (R-14) Extra Thick Bead FoamFront Cap (R-14) Double Layer Fiberglass InsulationEnclosed And Heated UnderbellyEnclosed And Heated Holding TanksI take it I can probably delay winterization until late fall and use it normally? I'm asking because we are planning our last trip of the season for the end of November (Thanksgiving), hoping to camp in the white mountains in NH. It gets pretty cold above tree line on the 4000 footers but in the valleys where the campsites are located the averages for that time of the year are 27F at night to 45F during the day.I wonder, will it be too late into the season for camping with my unit without taken any precautions? If so, what I should worry about to avoid a catastrophe? Thanks in advance!

You'll need full hook-ups. Your propane use will go through the roof without it.....and keeping the tanks from freezing will require juice too. 12v won't cut it.

27F? Easy with electric power. Just know where the closest propane store is and what hours they are open.

If you're actively camping, aside from the propane (and 12V) usage, you shouldn't need to take any special precautions in that sort of weather with your RV. Obviously you don't leave the water hose connected overnight--and probably the campground would have shut off any water hookups at the campsites already anyhow.I've camped in roughly similar conditions in my motorhome, which I think is similarly equipped for cool weather use (though possibly more poorly insulated). If you have single-pane windows, they will let out a good bit of heat.Where you may need to be a little more cautious is in the storage before using the trailer, and after it's used but before it's winterized. A few hours a few degrees below zero during the night, when the average temperature is warmer, won't cause problems; however if it gets colder you need to have the heat on or the system winterized. Similarly, a long drive through sub-freezing conditions (with the furnace turned off, especially) could be problematic.Do be aware that there is a good bit of variability in weather in New England; some years are milder than average, some more severe. It's entirely possible to have snow sticking around on Thanksgiving. Your RV should be able to handle that; but you might not enjoy the process.

Thanks for all the replies so far, I'm planning for full hookups, there are a few RV campsites in NH that operates all year round. It sounds like I should be OK if I make sure I have the furnace running on propane during the drive (it's only 2-3 hours away), disconnect the city water overnight, and maintain the storage compartments closed as much as possible, did I miss anything?

You are planning on more caution that you will need. With hookups no big deal at all. You can use a little ceramic heater to keep the rig in the 50s easily. Your plumbing will be protected. You can often get some solar gain by keeping your big windows open and facing them south. YOu can use electrical heat tape on your plumbing or just take your chances in those kind of temperatures.

Camping in cold temps, bad idea? | Good Sam Community

jaycocamprs
Explorer
Sep 20, 2020
NErunner wrote:
Hi all, thank you very much for all suggestions, very helpful as usual.

It looks like I should also be watching the weather prior to the Thanksgiving camping trip since my camper is stored in my unprotected driveway near Boston, usually we can get a few days below freezing in Nov, who knows what the weather will look like, I need to be prepared for the worst. All tanks are empty on storage except the water heater, should I still hook my camper to house power and have the furnace running during below freezing nights?
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I'd drain the WH & blow the lines. Heat works if you just dip below freezing. But you could see a real cold snap up there. In Georgia it's what I do, but here in Nov thats COLD.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Sep 20, 2020
richclover,

The fans use a scant 27 watts when on high. Ideal use of a small inverter.
NErunner
Explorer
Sep 20, 2020
Hi all, thank you very much for all suggestions, very helpful as usual.

It looks like I should also be watching the weather prior to the Thanksgiving camping trip since my camper is stored in my unprotected driveway near Boston, usually we can get a few days below freezing in Nov, who knows what the weather will look like, I need to be prepared for the worst. All tanks are empty on storage except the water heater, should I still hook my camper to house power and have the furnace running during below freezing nights?
richclover
Explorer
Sep 20, 2020
pianotuna wrote:
richclover,

not if you get a twindow fan to replace the cold air return grill.

Agreed and a good idea.

That’ll take electricity, 12 or 110v. Generator or plugged in, shore power. Gotta pay for the heat one way or another ;)
Lantley
Nomad
Sep 20, 2020
Camping in cold weather is not a bad idea as long as temps go above freezing during the day.
However when temps remain below freezing for prolong periods, multiple days cold weather camping is a bad idea.
Camping than becomes more of a survival mission which takes the fun out of camping.
patperry2766
Explorer II
Sep 20, 2020
rexlion wrote:
wa8yxm wrote:
True Story. This was around 1971 give or take a year.> Temps in Lower Lower MI hit -40 and then some (past -40 in the negative direction) Propane would not vaporize. Fuel oil gelled.. Many people .. Er.. Froze their... you know what.

One gentleman in I think Wisconsin had made a bet.. He claimed (in advance) that on what by coincidence turned out to be the coldest night in a long time He'd be comfortable in a sleeping bag in a pup tent on the xx Green at the local golf course.. And he had the most comfortable night's sleep of anyone in that town... (He had the proper bag you see.. artic grade).

As for me.. Well we had heat (natural gas) where I was so it was not too bad but then I went to Church, where the sign said "For your health and comfort the FUEL fund deserves your generous support" It was Fr's annual State of the Parish financial sermon...

He explained how the parish had had to invest in a physical (heat) plant due to the closure of the commercial steam plant that used to serve Downtown Battle Creek (MI) and how for the first time in the Parish history they had to borrow money to do it.. But Greyhound had decided some land the parish owned that was not good for much other than wearing out lawn mowers (Land there is terraced and the parish owned land on 2 levels. this was the lower level and a fairly narrow strip) was the perfect palce for a new Bus Station.

So the boilers are paid for
They don't work... but they are paid for.

MAN was it cold in church.
Hmmmm. I grew up in MI (closer to Bay City, a ways north of Battle Creek) and I don’t recall any -40F or anything close to that, in any winter. As an 8th grader on a farm, I had to get up well before dawn to feed the cattle in ‘71; I think I would have noticed temps that low. Are you sure this isn’t one of those fish stories, like where the fish gets bigger over time? ;)

coldest recorded temps per state

My dad worked in the oilfields of ND for a few years before we moved to Texas. He said that life takes on a special level of suck working there in the winter. Up to almost the day he retired, during the winter he always kept several blankets and about a weeks worth of non-perishable food in the trunk of his work car. He said that was instilled in him for survival training during winter work ther because that was pre-cell phones and if you broke down somewhere in the sticks, you might not see another person for a while
jaycocamprs
Explorer
Sep 20, 2020
27F at night to 45F during the day. No problem, just fill the tank and run the pump. Use a small heater to take some of the load of the furnace, during the day. But you still want it to run some as the temps drop at night. Take some RV antifreeze with you and winterize before you leave.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Sep 19, 2020
richclover,

not if you get a twindow fan to replace the cold air return grill.
richclover
Explorer
Sep 19, 2020
NErunner wrote:
Hi all, I realize there's a recent post about camping in the winter, but it talks about a better insulated fifth wheeler camping in NM subfreezing temps, my situation is different.

My travel trailer (Prime Tracer 24DBS) comes with what the manufacturer calls an extended season camping that includes:

Roof (R-14) Double Layer Fiberglass
Floor (R-14) Extra Thick Bead Foam
Front Cap (R-14) Double Layer Fiberglass Insulation
Enclosed And Heated Underbelly
Enclosed And Heated Holding Tanks

I take it I can probably delay winterization until late fall and use it normally? I'm asking because we are planning our last trip of the season for the end of November (Thanksgiving), hoping to camp in the white mountains in NH. It gets pretty cold above tree line on the 4000 footers but in the valleys where the campsites are located the averages for that time of the year are 27F at night to 45F during the day.

I wonder, will it be too late into the season for camping with my unit without taken any precautions? If so, what I should worry about to avoid a catastrophe? Thanks in advance!

Mid-20’s night and 40’s daytime wouldn’t bother me. Especially if your days are sunny. “Heated underbelly” ... My last bumper pull and current 5’er had the same and heat is provided by the furnace ducting through the floor area, front and rear, to the furnace floor vents. If yours is the same I would be running the propane heat. 55-60 degrees nighttime on the thermostat works for me. Throw a “log” on when you roll out to fire up the coffee. 65 degrees daytime.

If you depend on electric space heaters you may well freeze the plumbing in the underbelly/basement. An extra propane tank would be a good thing.

Disconnect the city water and drain the hose after filling your tank for a couple of days needs.

I never run my furnace while towing. It takes time for a rig to cold soak.

Have fun!
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Sep 19, 2020
valhalla360 wrote:

Had to look it up...All time record low for November is -23F...for the entire state. In November it's -12F.

Yes, you can get freezing weather in the fall but if you watch the weather reports, you are unlikely to get caught in anything like this.

Well I said one of the -40 days was Christmas morning. That's not in November. The others were in January I think 3 of 'em.

Google does not list the -40 days but as I said I was there

It does show the lowest temp ever recorded in my was like -56
I was NOT there.