I will be traveling from PA south late this year into early 2014. I am living in my 5'ver so not winterized. I figure it will take me at least 5 days to get far enough south (Livingston TX) that temps wont be below freezing. I will boon-dock the first 4 nights as it's very hard if not near impossible to find a campground open that time of year up north and on my route.I will run my generator an keep my thermostat at 60 degrees while on the highway and will run it overnight, which means 24/7 for four days the genny will be running! Is that OK? I carry four 30lb LP bottles and the generator is Onan 5500KW. Any estimates about LP amounts used per day? I will keep the stat low and use space heaters to supplement the furnace knowing that the furnace needs to run to keep tanks and water lines from freezing also will run tank heating pads.Is my plan OK? Would you answer my questions from above.

Just curious, why run the genny while driving, the fan on the furnace is 12 volt as is the thermostat so will run off of the battery. Also while plugged to the truck you will be recharging the camper battery.

I would think you must be driving real slow to take that long to get out of freezing temps. I can make here to tenn in maybe twelve hours and that is usually far enough south to be out of trouble. But thats just me.:B

As stated, forget the genny and pad heaters while driving and just use the 12v furnace that is (hopefully ) also ducted and heating your tanks? when you get to your destination then start the genny to keep everything up to stuff for the night. You won't have a problem. I full timed for 9 years across the US and never had an issue with overnight stops using the battery for the furnace, etc. I didn't have a genny either. The trick is to not stay in one place on the battery too long, but if, as you say, you are taking 5 days you shouldn't have any issues. with that much propane it should be MORE than enough for the time you are concerned about. Best of luck and happy travels! :)Dak

Just run the generator when stopped for the night.Check your propane daily. You might use half or third of a bottle per day the first couple days. (furnace only)

2-MTnesters wrote:Just curious, why run the genny while driving, the fan on the furnace is 12 volt as is the thermostat so will run off of the battery. Also while plugged to the truck you will be recharging the camper battery.I thought I needed to.So my refer,furnace,and tank heater pads will all work on the 12 volt side while driving?

traveling in a 5'ver at below 32 degrees | Good Sam Community

23 Replies

Deb_and_Ed_M
Explorer II
Nov 16, 2013
We've been camping for almost a decade in our Class C whose tanks are out in the cold. Asothers have said, we start winterized; and as we drove south, we flush with antifreeze. Also add af to the gray tank if we run any water down the sink. When we're certain we'll not have below-freezing temps at night, we'll go ahead and use regular water. As we head back north, we'll winterize when needed, then use the same pink-flush method.

We also use Reflectix cut to fit the windows; styro vent blocks; and a heavy quilt to separate the non-insulated driver's area from the rest of the mh. We've stayed warm enough using an electric heater, and use the campgrounds shower.
dave17352
Explorer
Nov 15, 2013
mdamerell wrote:
As long as you are moving your tanks will not freeze. The sloshing around will keep it from freezing. We would idle semi's in the winter to keep loads from freezing as the vibration from the engine was enough to keep most liquids from freezing.

This sounds crazy to me, but maybe it works great! I just have never heard this before. Seems to me if the water is sloshing on a surface that is sub freezing that it is going to freeze.
GoPackGo
Explorer
Nov 15, 2013
I think for this exercise I would winterize the rig, plan to drive a little longer each day and then crash in motels each night. Drive up, get out and walk into the motel to a nice warm room and get plenty of rest. In the morning, take a hot shower, then head out to the rig, get in and drive off. Will not need to spend time setting up or to break camp. And no worries about frozen pipes, low batteries, or running out of propane. It just seems so much easier to do it this way.

Tim
mdamerell
Explorer
Nov 15, 2013
As long as you are moving your tanks will not freeze. The sloshing around will keep it from freezing. We would idle semi's in the winter to keep loads from freezing as the vibration from the engine was enough to keep most liquids from freezing.
mlts22
Explorer II
Nov 15, 2013
As for heat, I'd run the generator only a few hours to keep the batteries charged, as it will gulp propane like a thirsty college student who just got his first keg of PBR.

Were I boondocking in a 5W for a while, I'd consider two things:

1: I'd seriously consider a Honda 2000 watt generator, or something similar coupled with an extended run tank. No, this won't fully power the rig, but it will be enough to keep the batteries charged. Save the propane for the furnace.

2: I'd also consider some skirting for the fifth wheel. Skirting will keep the wind from blowing underneath the tanks, and will give you some added outside storage space (not really secure from two-legged scavengers, but good enough for a lot of things.) Skirting will help if in one place for a few days.
harley76
Explorer
Nov 15, 2013
Seems like your doing things the hard way, like some of the other posters, we winterize before leaving. I've made the trip from Mi. to the gulf each year leaving in Jan. I take a few gallons of drinking water and a few gallons of pink to flush with. I've never had a problem and only run the furnace at night when we stop. When traveling don't forget to check out casinos for one night stops, they are open all year and some even have full hookups and are very cheap to stay at (providing you don't actually go inside the casino, lol) We also are slow travelers, about 3 days to get down to the gulf.
aruba5er
Explorer
Nov 15, 2013
We don't leave until after Christmas for AZ so the camper is winterized. We take a 5 and a3 gal container of water and a case of bottled water for drinking. Flush the toilet with pink. I keep the thermo at around 50. Warm enough to keep the refer running. I don't see why you would need to run the genny, the furnace will be enough until you settle in for the night and then you may want more heat. If really cold we crank up the genny and turn on electric blankets. Last time we went we did not put water in the tank until Demming NM because it was so cold. Winterize it. It will be chaeper than a repair of broken pipe or replacement of the pump.
Dave_H_M
Explorer II
Nov 15, 2013
me I would not go thru all the gyrations. Just winterize if you have a fresh water bypass.

It takes me a tad less than 2 gallons.
Spleenstomper
Explorer
Nov 15, 2013
Just to let you know, it was 26 degrees here is Louisiana yesterday morning. It is not normal for this time of year.
2-MTnesters
Explorer
Nov 15, 2013
HappyKayakers wrote:
I would be concerned about heating ducts being blocked by slides while driving. I'm not an HVAC tech but I've heard this is a bad thing.

Not sure how the heating ducts are configured on OP's coach but on mine they are centered down the middle of the coach. 2 in living room, 1 foot between opposing slides when retracted so no obstructions, 1 in kitchen at end of counter cabinets so not obstructed when slide is retracted, 2 in bathroom area and 1 in bedroom beside bed so not obstructed when slide is retracted. Is a common practice to run furnace during winter travel. Tim