My wife is going to a conference in Lafayette, Indiana the 2nd week of February. I would like to take her and stay in the our 27' coachman freelander. I have never camped in cold weather before. What do I need to know?

You need to know how to protect yourselves and your rig from being so cold or frozen that she will wonder why she ever trusted you to do this. It's simple, just try it at home first, then make adjustments, then try it again and again within an easy pull of home, then try it really cold and by then, you might have it figured out enough to risk what could be fun, or a complete disaster.

...that this post will be closed or moved to General Rving.

Stay in a hotel is my recommendation. Camping in freezing weather is not at all fun. If you insist on camping, assuming you can find an open campground, I hope you have good supply of propane. Your motorhome is not insulated like your home.

Investigate how well your RV is insulated to protect the water system from freezing. That is the main difficulty with RV camping during winter. Every part of the system needs to be within the insulated area and where heat from the furnace can get to it. If the water system is not protected then keep it winterized and don't use it. You can use water from jugs. Pour RV anti-freeze down into the grey and black tanks to keep them from freezing.

1) Reserve and stay at a private CG (GS/KOA) that has hot showers and heated bath rooms. The CG owner and others will be there to help you if you have any unforeseen issues.2) Be sure your propane tanks are full, the switch-over regulator works and there are no leaks in the lines or fittings. Test the furnace and the water heater BEFORE you leave.3) Bring along an electric blanket (or mattress heater) and a good comforter blanket for the bed.4) Thermal bottoms and wool socks are highly recommended because the colder air is near the floor.5) A small electric heater (ceramic or oil filled) for supplemental heat during the evenings while watching tv.6) Fill your FW tank when you arrive on site and don't expect to use a city water hookup during freezing nights. 7) Expect condensation to form on the windows and cold spots on the walls.8) Bring a good bottle of cream sherry to help warm-up your insides.

cold weather camping | Good Sam Community

Scottiemom
Nomad
Nov 17, 2018
I doubt there is any campground open in/near Lafayette in February. We lived in central Indiana for over 40 years. Not fun in the winter. You might get lucky with the weather, but then again, chances are NOT. And getting lucky just means no ice or deep snow. Whether will still be cold. And we've never found anything we would even like there. The closest we found we would stay in was Remington, Indiana.

Best advice is to drive up and stay in a nice hotel.

Dale
drsteve
Explorer
Nov 17, 2018
I see you're in Mississippi. How is your winter driving ability? Indiana roads in February, are likely to be wet, slippery, icy, and/or snowy. A poorly timed winter storm could have you driving your MH in some very challenging conditions, or sitting somewhere waiting it out.

I second the hotel suggestion.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Nov 17, 2018
“What do I need to know?“

Do lots of reading regarding cold weather camping then ask away. Are you an experienced outdoors person? For instance is your vehicle’s windshield washer fluid rated for zero? Or 32 and above common in warmer areas?
naturist
Nomad
Nov 17, 2018
I just got back from dragging our TT from Virginia to Albuquerque and back for the Balloon Fiesta. I did that in part because I dislike hotels and prefer my own bed, bath, and kitchen. I grew up in Northern Ohio, which has pretty much the same weather as Indiana. I also recommend a hotel over the RV. Highly. By a lot.
dewey02
Explorer II
Nov 17, 2018
I used to live there, and I completely agree with folks that mentioned that travel may be more of a problem than camping. It might be nice weather or it might be terrible, with icy roads. If her conference is at Purdue Univ (West Lafayette, right next to Lafayette) then you might enjoy staying at the Student Union, which has a hotel (or at least used to have one). Very nice, old building in the middle of campus.

As John Denver once said when doing a concert at Purdue: "Ain't no one laughing in Lafayette!" And "Lafayette..what a great town. Gateway to Delphi, Badger Grove and Montmorenci!"
RGar974417
Explorer
Nov 17, 2018
Don't listen to the negative Nellies. We have often camped in cold weather. Bring small electric heaters to suppliment your furnace.Fill water tank and use that. If you leave the hose on over night it could freeze. Don't leave sewer hose hooked up.Use it only when you need to dump.We also put a large pot of water on low to put some humidity into the air. Of course only do that while you're awake.Have fun.
FordDiesel250
Explorer
Nov 17, 2018
Lafayette is a nice college town with lots of history. Cold weather camping is a crapshoot because you do not know if you will be in a mild climate or its going to really cut loose. Best you can do is find out what campgrounds if any are open and then reach out to them and tell them what you are thinking of doing and then keep an eye on the weather.
larryherrington
Explorer
Nov 19, 2018
Than to all for the advice. I will stay in a hotel and keep my camper home in Mississippi. If it gets below 80 degrees, it is cold.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Nov 19, 2018
old guy wrote:
go ahead and while you are at it start looking for a new RV to buy next year after yours freezes over. I am not a fan of winter camping
Lol, really?
While, I's stay in a hotel vs dragging a camper to Indiana in February, it can be done. Just more spartan, more work or less amenities, like water, than when it's warm.

Depends if the wife needs full amenities or not. She's going to a conference, not a hiking trip.
T18skyguy
Explorer
Nov 19, 2018
For what it's worth, there are campers that are rated for cold weather, like the Arctic Fox, but your still going to have a lot of problems as described above.I'm in 31 degree's in my Greyhawk right now, and two electric space heaters are holding it well, but if it got a lot colder I'm not so sure.