4 season travel Trailers?

Vintage465 wrote:
For some reason, when I think 4 season, I am thinking you're off the road, away from hook ups and surviving week/s at a time in below freezing temps. I think there should be as much emphasis on power sustainability as there is on the insulation package. I don't know of any rig that "really" comes with enough of a battery pack, solar and back up generator to do that.

Many Northwood MFG trailers come prepped for a generator and if ordered installed at the factory. Most come with or as an option, solar equipped or solar ready. The new buyer can equip any or most trailers with as many batteries as they can afford or fit to the trailer.

I'm not sure of any other MFG that offers as many models in their line up "Gen Ready" as Northwood MFG does. Not every model is gen ready but several are.

For some reason, when I think 4 season, I am thinking you're off the road, away from hook ups and surviving week/s at a time in below freezing temps. I think there should be as much emphasis on power sustainability as there is on the insulation package. I don't know of any rig that "really" comes with enough of a battery pack, solar and back up generator to do that.

ourayphotography wrote:
Hello, new to this site.
I am in Colorado and searching for a small used Travel trailer. I am hearing that for cold weather use, I would need a so-called 4 season, or specially insulated on the underside? Sounds like the water lines etc are run within a heated zone?
Most of the campers I look into, the owners simply have no idea.
Any tips on how and what to look for? Can standard campers be modified for cold weather use?
Thanks!
Michael

Outdoors rv makes 4 season campers. Check out Ketelsens in Wheat Ridge CO. they are a ORV dealer. Might have something used that will suit your needs

Hello all, I probably have to lean towards a standard travel trailer as opposed to a full 4 season. Just none to be found. I can do some weatherizing a bit myself later. Plan to look at this model:
2009 Gulf Stream Amerilite 21 MBS Travel Trailer
Any feedback on this model?
Thanks again!
Michael

I am not super worried about the insulation properties as opposed to things freezing up due to plumbing design. Poor insulation will mostly be less efficient. I can live with that, but things freezing/seizing and bursting would be much worse. I lived in a mountain mobile home park before, and most had single pane windows, very common. I do construction, so I think I can do some modifications if that is possible. I have just never even looked under a travel trailer, and it sounds like there are many plumbing configurations. So far in my search, zero state 4 season, or even 3 season. hmm

How would I do a pressurized air leak test as westend recommended?

Here is one way seal-tech. The test was costing $125 in 2010.
Some people have made up their own system.

One thing to take into consideration, that happened to me.
I bought an A.Fox TC slideout model that was a wood framed unit in 2004. 2004 and prior years had many water leaking issues. I bought it because everyone praised the unit and how well it was insulated.
I replaced it in 2008 with a Lance non slide unit after having to rebuild the AF at a $15k loss.
Using the new 2008 unit at the same campground in the same basic below zero weather conditions, my propane consumption improved by 60% . Plus, i could never get the AF above 65F. It did help to pull in the slide but i had to climb onto the roof in order to clear off the ice/snow on the slides top. Slide-top awnings made the chore more difficult , dont use a slide topper,the wind blows snow under it and you can't get under to chip away the ice.

rv winter camping info/mods

Frank Shore wrote:
...and it adds quite a bit of R-Level.

Really, how much does it add?

If anyone wants to perform the leak test, they can search the Forum as there have been many posts about it. "Sealtech" is one commercial company that performs the test.

Thanks. I googled the Lance 1685's, but they all look way out of our budget. How would I do a pressurized air leak test as westend recommended? I see a few that state hail damage, which I am told is pretty normal.
I have been searching RVtrader and craigslist. Are there some better sites for searching used trailers?
Appreciate it!

PaulJ2 wrote:

FrankShore wrote:
Look at the Lance 1685 and models above that. They offer true 4 Season Packages

X2: Have the Lance 1685 with four season package. Enclosed tanks and valves. Duct heating throughout including into the underbelly tank area.
Includes dual pane windows and vinyl snap on covers for the ceiling vents.

Hey Paul, You forgot to mention the 2 layers of Azdel, one on the outside and one inside - this produces no rot, no mildew, no mold waterproof, and excellent sound proofing, and it adds quite a bit of R-Level. All the heat ducts are located throughout the cabin (including the one in the bathroom!)

You might be able to get away with a well built "three and a half season" trailer. I do a fair amount of snow camping with a small Fun Finder -- the walls, ceiling, and floor contain a thick pad of styrofoam, and I then insulated the fresh water tank. I am guessing that a lot of the newer trailers have similar insulation.

But we have not camped in anything below 9 degrees, so this is not the same thing as a trailer designed to take sub-zero temps. The windows are not double pane, and the water lines are not heated. So we put up foam pads over the windows at night to cut down on heat loss, and I have developed a manual method for circulating hot water into the fresh water tank. (Let me know if you want more details on that.)

Living in Ouray, which is essentially Boondocking Heaven, it may make sense for you to pay the big dollars for an Arctic Fox and a big truck. For us, although we love cold weather camping, most of the time in the Sierra it is above freezing, at least in the daytime. So getting a true four season rig might be overkill for us. Our trailer is very light (2500 pounds), easy to tow with a Tacoma.

Having said that, if Outdoor RV made a 14 foot trailer, I would be sorely tempted!