Hello all,I'm new to RVing. Just bought a 5th wheel. I'm going to take it to Angel Fire NM this January and go snow skiing. I've been skiing in NM for almost 20 years and the temperature routinely can get to 20 or 30 degrees BELOW freezing.My unit has a fully enclosed ducted/heated underbelly, heated basement, and heated storage tanks. I know I need to protect my water hose (if the resort has their city water turned on). I will turn on my tank heaters and plan to run my furnace while driving if I we encounter sub freezing temps during our drive. I will only plan on placing my sewer hose out when dumping and return to heated basement after use.Can anyone who's been camping in sub freezing temperatures provide me with any advice? I'm trying to avoid common rookie mistakes encountered while camping in very cold weather.Thank you in advance.

"I know I need to protect my water hose..."Why not fill your tank, use the water pump, put the hose away and not have the issue?

dont underestimate the fuel needed to stay warm or the electricity

Those are pretty demanding temps even for a sticks and bricks house. I am not sure I would risk un-winterizing my plumbing at all if temps would be consistently below 0. Sure you have heated tanks but how much LP? Trying to run your heat in those temps for extended periods of time will burn through a lot of LP. Not sure what FW you have but even with ducted air to the plumbing and tanks, there is still a lot of risk in a length of plumbing or a pump or trap to freeze. If I am staying in below freezing temps, I will winterize, take bottled water and use CG facilities for showers. I wouldn't risk it, but that's me. Most production RV's aren't built to withstand sub zero temps for very long. At or below freezing maybe, but you are talking 20-30 degrees below freezing.

Consider taking one extra cylinder of propane. When you get back from skiing and the indicator just then says you are on the reserve at 6pm and the propane supply is closed for the day can make for a worrisome evening. Don't ask how I know.I would stow the fresh water hose overnight. Just bring it out to fill the fresh holding tank.If chains are appropriate consider at least one set of those flimsy cable chains for the trailer.

We camp in cold weather, but I winterize the camper and buy windshield washer fluid to flush the toilet. We bring bottled water to drink and make coffee. I have fixed broken plumbing in a camper before and getting to some of the fittings is a pain. So we don't take any chances.

Camping in sub freezing weather | Good Sam Community

69 Replies

jdc1
Explorer II
Sep 04, 2020
You want advise about camping in a trailer in sub-freezing weather? Rent a room. It'll be cheaper than fixing all the stuff that'll freeze on that trailer.
azdryheat
Explorer
Sep 04, 2020
Get one of those huge 500 gallon propane tanks, you'll need every bit of it.
ppine
Explorer II
Sep 04, 2020
I used to sleep in the back of my truck in Colorado at ski areas when it was well below zero. The first thing you need are some good down sleeping bags.
You can run some heat if you have power, but try for a temp like 50.
The simplest way to run the plumbing is to winterize it and work around it, but some people like to use everything no matter what. Get some heat tape, seal up under your rig,
way2roll
Navigator III
Sep 04, 2020
Old Days wrote:
We camp in cold weather, but I winterize the camper and buy windshield washer fluid to flush the toilet. We bring bottled water to drink and make coffee. I have fixed broken plumbing in a camper before and getting to some of the fittings is a pain. So we don't take any chances.

Not to mention the damage water can do in the sub floor, walls, etc.
Old_Days
Explorer II
Sep 04, 2020
We camp in cold weather, but I winterize the camper and buy windshield washer fluid to flush the toilet. We bring bottled water to drink and make coffee. I have fixed broken plumbing in a camper before and getting to some of the fittings is a pain. So we don't take any chances.
time2roll
Nomad
Sep 04, 2020
Consider taking one extra cylinder of propane. When you get back from skiing and the indicator just then says you are on the reserve at 6pm and the propane supply is closed for the day can make for a worrisome evening. Don't ask how I know.

I would stow the fresh water hose overnight. Just bring it out to fill the fresh holding tank.

If chains are appropriate consider at least one set of those flimsy cable chains for the trailer.
way2roll
Navigator III
Sep 04, 2020
Those are pretty demanding temps even for a sticks and bricks house. I am not sure I would risk un-winterizing my plumbing at all if temps would be consistently below 0. Sure you have heated tanks but how much LP? Trying to run your heat in those temps for extended periods of time will burn through a lot of LP. Not sure what FW you have but even with ducted air to the plumbing and tanks, there is still a lot of risk in a length of plumbing or a pump or trap to freeze. If I am staying in below freezing temps, I will winterize, take bottled water and use CG facilities for showers. I wouldn't risk it, but that's me. Most production RV's aren't built to withstand sub zero temps for very long. At or below freezing maybe, but you are talking 20-30 degrees below freezing.
Jebby14
Explorer
Sep 04, 2020
dont underestimate the fuel needed to stay warm or the electricity
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Sep 04, 2020
"I know I need to protect my water hose..."

Why not fill your tank, use the water pump, put the hose away and not have the issue?

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Camping in sub freezing weather

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