Winter camping

Deb and Ed M wrote:
Either you will need to have ALL the plumbing enclosed in heated spaces (that particularly includes the dump valves) - or - you can use any old RV as long as you protect the plumbing. Drink and cook with bottled water; flush the toilet with antifreeze. Our old Class C had exposed black and gray tanks, and we never had problems with anything freezing as long as we added antifreeze to any liquid that went down the drains. We'd use the showers at the RV parks we stayed at. We added reflectix insulation to the single-pane windows; and stuffed foam into the overhead vents - and our 28' MH stayed pretty toasty, usually using an electric heater as the main source.

Yup, I've done the same thing deer hunting many times except we didn't use the holding tanks either. I remember quite fondly one year in Crystal Falls, we had to thaw out the water before we could even put it in the coffee pot to make coffee. The TT was basically shelter that provided a stove, some heat, and a somewhat comfortable bed with a nice warm sleeping bag. It was a good "step up" from by previous hunting excursions which were in a tent. Now I've graduated to a cottage; plenty of heat, hot and cold running water, shower, nice cushy beds. I think I'm spoiled.

I'm not interested in retrofitting anything. I want to buy an RV that is built for cold weather

Hi,

Unless you have an RV custom built, you simply won't find a unit that meets all the needs of -40 weather. There will need to be modifications.

lucasland wrote:
I'm not interested in retrofitting anything. I want to buy an RV that is built for cold weather

If you are willing to look around for something used, Canadian manufacturer Bigfoot used to make a series of Class C models that were designed for four-season use. They have since cut back to making only truck campers and travel trailers.

Motorcoach converters will build for four-season use, they do this for many of professional travel coaches that move bands, stage crews, pop stars around and those that get used as dressing rooms for movie locations (although that market has been moving toward semi-trailers). Typical use of these travel coaches, however, is that they are never shut down while occupied, using the main engine or a large generator as source of power and heat. Not really RVs, and expensive (high six figures or low seven figures when new). Similar costs apply to custom RV conversions of motorcoaches.

Otherwise, look at high-end Class A motorhomes. I know Newell Coach builds for four-season use. The factory has a few 7-8 year old used coaches for sale at $800,000 to $900,000 (a new one will be in the neighborhood of $2,000,000).