cold weather camping

The sad truth is .....it is totally dependent upon the design of the camper. We have spent many nights at -20 F and a few at or below a -30F. and had “no” freeze issues, with minimal things done to the unit. The heater was still cycling, though....it wasn’t off for very long periods of time! Most units cannot handle single digit F temperatures, ours had a factory warranty to a -20 F. Even “if” the unit is designed for cool temperatures, you will burn a lot of propane.

We just finished a 2 week boondocking trip, with a couple of nights below zero F.....we burned-thru about 40 to 45 gallons of propane! But....we were comfortable and the water kept flowing!

Many think that no RV can handle below zero temperatures....possibly the same folks that think the earth is flat!

Wow- I agree- too many negative comments. I see that the OP was scared off.

Many good comments- a camping mentality is good- doing without running water can be a great simplification (drinking water from the store & sponge baths) furnaces suck propane, space heaters do not.

We have many positive winter experiences.

You CAN fill the water tank, maybe some pink stuff in holding tanks... if you can keep the heat on and want to rewiinterize....

Everything with a camper/MH is some work, but we do this for fun, right? No foul if you don’t want to, but sad to see the discouraging comments.

K3WE wrote:
Wow- I agree- too many negative comments. I see that the OP was scared off.

Many good comments- a camping mentality is good- doing without running water can be a great simplification (drinking water from the store & sponge baths) furnaces suck propane, space heaters do not.

We have many positive winter experiences.

You CAN fill the water tank, maybe some pink stuff in holding tanks... if you can keep the heat on and want to rewiinterize....

Everything with a camper/MH is some work, but we do this for fun, right? No foul if you don’t want to, but sad to see the discouraging comments.

He wasn't scared off. He thanked everyone and decided, in light of what he has learned, to go the hotel route. His wife is attending a conference, it's not a camping trip.

He wasn't scared off. He thanked everyone and decided, in light of what he has learned, to go the hotel route. His wife is attending a conference, it's not a camping trip.

Ok, campers cannot be used when attending conferences.

Must have missed that when I read the owners manual. Seemed like it could have been fun.

K3WE wrote:

He wasn't scared off. He thanked everyone and decided, in light of what he has learned, to go the hotel route. His wife is attending a conference, it's not a camping trip.

Ok, campers cannot be used when attending conferences.

Must have missed that when I read the owners manual. Seemed like it could have been fun.

Or maybe you're ok with taking sponge baths parked in a truck stop at 10below zero, while trying to do your hair and makeup and put on your dress clothes to go to a decidedly white collar function in the middle of winter survival camping.
The best part is the OP appeared to not have much cold weather experience, so that could be even more of an adventure! From actually making the trip, to staying warm, to roughing it for a formal event.
Yeah that sounds awesome.......not.
He asked a valid question, got some good things to think about and moved on.
I'll sleep in my snowmachine trailer with a cot and buddy heater, pack into the backcountry and sleep in a hamkock with a tarp over me, camp with no water, wash up in the crick before and or after fishing in it. LOVE those type of trips. BUT when I go to a business event and have to wear a monkey suit for 3 days, the last thing in my mind is how do I keep the water from freezing in my camper!

It would have been fun, but I feel I probably need to get a little more practice under my belt before I try cold weather camping, but I do like the comments and the help.

We have a class C but it has the arctic package (I think that means it has inside water tank and water pump). We just came back from camping on son's land (he has not electric service or water) and had nights in the 14-19 range with no freezing. We left the cabinets open so that heat could get in. Heat on the wall, etc.

Have fun!

dcason, We also have a class c, designed for cool weather. All tanks are in an insulated, heat ducted bay. The worst thing we experienced was last winter.....”de-winterizing” and filling the fresh water tank in single digit F temperatures. A real , pain in the uhh....fingers!

dcason wrote:
We have a class C but it has the arctic package (I think that means it has inside water tank and water pump). We just came back from camping on son's land (he has not electric service or water) and had nights in the 14-19 range with no freezing. We left the cabinets open so that heat could get in. Heat on the wall, etc.

Have fun!

We also have a Class C with an arctic package, but I don't know what Winnebago included with that. It has 12 volt heating pads on the grey and black tanks. The entire fresh water system is in voids in behind the interior cabinets where duct tubes from the furnace run that feed the coach's distributed hot air duct outlets, so these warm duct tubes should pretty much keep the fresh water system tank, the pump, and water lines from getting too cold if we are using the furnace.

I'm curious, about how much propane did you use camping on your son's land in freezing temperatures?

Grit dog wrote:

K3WE wrote:

He wasn't scared off. He thanked everyone and decided, in light of what he has learned, to go the hotel route. His wife is attending a conference, it's not a camping trip.

Ok, campers cannot be used when attending conferences.

Must have missed that when I read the owners manual. Seemed like it could have been fun.

Or maybe you're ok with taking sponge baths parked in a truck stop at 10below zero, while trying to do your hair and makeup and put on your dress clothes to go to a decidedly white collar function in the middle of winter survival camping.
The best part is the OP appeared to not have much cold weather experience, so that could be even more of an adventure! From actually making the trip, to staying warm, to roughing it for a formal event.
Yeah that sounds awesome.......not.
He asked a valid question, got some good things to think about and moved on.
I'll sleep in my snowmachine trailer with a cot and buddy heater, pack into the backcountry and sleep in a hamkock with a tarp over me, camp with no water, wash up in the crick before and or after fishing in it. LOVE those type of trips. BUT when I go to a business event and have to wear a monkey suit for 3 days, the last thing in my mind is how do I keep the water from freezing in my camper!

I have to agree. I love camping. I love my trailer. But if I'm at a conference, I'll take a hotel. Between the business breakfasts and networking dinners, and doing hair and makeup and looking professional... I'm not going to mess with the camper. Conferences mean early mornings and late nights, and I just want a made bed to fall into.