First time winter camping

Hi,

Consider using insulbright fabric. Do cover the metal frames, too.

Any problems with the Reflectix freezing to the glass due to condensation?

When camping and winterized (and our Class C doesn't have a lick of protection: the black and gray tanks are exposed, along with all the plumbing for those) - we use the RV toilet when truly necessary, but flush with about a quart of antifreeze. Have camped when the temps were down in the mid-20's without any problems. Here's a pic of our 5th wheel, which I am currently getting ready for cold-weather trips with Reflectix over the windows:



The Reflectix, with the shades pulled down over it, helps keep the RV nice and warm since windows have such lousy R-values. I also have Camco vent pillows stuffed in the vents. With this same setup in our Class C (plus a quilt separating the driver's area from the rest of the "house"), we were able to stay adequately warm just using an electric heater (the furnace is so loud it keeps me awake)

I've used my TT in cold weather, numerous times. Here are some of the challenges I've experienced:

1. Finding a dump station can be difficult. I've been in campgrounds that will only provide electric. No running water and no dumping.

2. I have electric tank and pipe heaters installed to within 10 inches of the dump valve. High winds and very cold temps, that wasn't good enough to protect the valve itself. Now, I carry plenty of disposable pocket warmers. When I leave the campground, I remove the cap on dump valve and put in a couple warmers . Then replace the cap. They keep the valve thawed until I can get to the dump station. Don't dump the warmers in the sewer.

3. Had an ice storm that killed shore power in the campground. I had enough pink stuff to winterize right away.

4. I've had ice build up on television antenna. Had to get up on the roof and thaw it out to bring it down storage position.

5. I've had the propane regulator freeze up. Plenty of gas in the bottles, couldn't get any out.

Disposable pocket warmers, RV antifreeze, ladder, and a 12 volt hair dryer come in real handy.

1775 wrote:

wbwood wrote:
We drove through a local campground the other day and noticed one of the spigots had a heat coil of some sort attached to it and it was plugged in. This is in North Carolina, I wondering if further north they have similar type thing.

Once you get north of Maryland most campgrounds close for the season - either in late October or sometime just after December. We have stayed in a campground in PA that has these heat coils on their water pipes and spigots. They had been staying open all year but now will close starting in January because they feel business is just too scarce until March to make it worthwhile to stay open.

Around here it depends on where the rv park is located for e most part. If you stay out of the mountains, 99% of the time they are open all year long. Start heading into the mountains and they start closing around end of October. Some of the state parks will close as well.

1775 wrote:
We have camped in the winter "on the grid" and the only challenge was water and that was not really a challenge at all. We were plugged into shore power so we could run an electric space heater or the RV's propane furnace and stay nice and warm. Drinking water was bottled water - we just filled bottles from home and then refilled as needed at the campground restroom. A Brita water pitcher is good if you have concerns and want filtered water. Washing was done in a basin and hot water was heated on the stove or in the microwave. The basin was dumped out each morning at the campground restroom. We bought toilet waste bags in the camping department at Walmart - sold in most camping stores - that are made to go into a potty but fit right into our RV toilet held in place by the seat. These are made to gel any liquids that go into them and deodorize anything else. After use these zip closed and have a double bag that completely seals them and they are legal to dispose in any garbage dumpster. They hold a lot and one bag was fine for the two of us each night for late night nature calls. We use the campground restroom during the day - or the restrooms at wherever we are during the day, and use these bags at night when we don't want to go outside and take a cold walk to the facilities. It all works out fine and is easy. Our RV stays winterized and we have no problems at all.

You sound a lot like the article we just posted. Lol. Except we mentioned using a porta potty instead.

We've been guilty before this past winter/spring time that we couldn't camp beyond fall. We were kind of forced to try it and realized that we could pretty much as you say at an rv park with decent bath houses.

wbwood wrote:
We drove through a local campground the other day and noticed one of the spigots had a heat coil of some sort attached to it and it was plugged in. This is in North Carolina, I wondering if further north they have similar type thing.

Once you get north of Maryland most campgrounds close for the season - either in late October or sometime just after December. We have stayed in a campground in PA that has these heat coils on their water pipes and spigots. They had been staying open all year but now will close starting in January because they feel business is just too scarce until March to make it worthwhile to stay open.

We have camped in the winter "on the grid" and the only challenge was water and that was not really a challenge at all. We were plugged into shore power so we could run an electric space heater or the RV's propane furnace and stay nice and warm. Drinking water was bottled water - we just filled bottles from home and then refilled as needed at the campground restroom. A Brita water pitcher is good if you have concerns and want filtered water. Washing was done in a basin and hot water was heated on the stove or in the microwave. The basin was dumped out each morning at the campground restroom. We bought toilet waste bags in the camping department at Walmart - sold in most camping stores - that are made to go into a potty but fit right into our RV toilet held in place by the seat. These are made to gel any liquids that go into them and deodorize anything else. After use these zip closed and have a double bag that completely seals them and they are legal to dispose in any garbage dumpster. They hold a lot and one bag was fine for the two of us each night for late night nature calls. We use the campground restroom during the day - or the restrooms at wherever we are during the day, and use these bags at night when we don't want to go outside and take a cold walk to the facilities. It all works out fine and is easy. Our RV stays winterized and we have no problems at all.

We drove through a local campground the other day and noticed one of the spigots had a heat coil of some sort attached to it and it was plugged in. This is in North Carolina, I wondering if further north they have similar type thing.

tatest wrote:
If your TT is truly four-season, you should be able to fire up the furnace, warm it up, dewinterize, and have full use of the RV. That's what four season is supposed to mean. p

I've got a 4-season, and am interested in this. I've been looking around, but noticed that campgrounds around me close, and was wondering if one is open, would their water work in order to dump and clean out before winterizing again?

If your TT is truly four-season, you should be able to fire up the furnace, warm it up, dewinterize, and have full use of the RV. That's what four season is supposed to mean.

Using it winterized basically means not using the plumbing, it becomes a hard-sided tent with heat and stove. My tip is to stay on the grid, or have a power source, because battery power for furnace, fridge and lighting is not going to last long, particularly in cold weather.

I RV in the winter, but mostly to get to where it is not below freezing around the clock. Sub-freezing use of a RV needs a different strategy, and I've mostly seen it done with four season motorcoaches, which bring along substantial powerplants and heating plants with big fuel supplies.