Camping at 25F w/ full hookups and no protection under TT

Take some 5 gallon water jugs in case the temps drop low. If it looks like low temps (local weather the day before should give best information).. then fill jugs and unhook water hose. You could drain low point drains (if you have them) if really worried.

I took my TT into sub-freezing temps for the first time a couple of weeks ago. I took it to Truckee, near Lake Tahoe, CA. Forecast was for lows near 25, highs mid-30s. Based on some research, I thought I would be ok. Filled my fresh water tank, and plugged into electric only, with no hookups. Ran the furnace and electric heaters. We were toasty warm inside.

Everything was fine until about 11pm our first night, and then the water pump would not make a sound. We had no water for the remainder of our trip (2 days). I tried hooking up city water the next morning and night, and no luck.

The owner of the rv park said it was 9 degrees at the park in the morning. My phone app said it was 25 in Truckee. So, it could just have been too cold. But, something froze within 4 hours of arrival.

I am not sure where the water froze. All my lines are enclosed, except for the line from the fresh water tank. And the pump is enclosed, but close to the outside shower door, isolated from the rest of the TT. I suspect the pump lines froze.

When I got home (50/40 degrees), it took a couple days for the pump to start working again, and everything is fine now.

So, I would make sure any exposed lines are insulated/heated, and that heated air gets to your inside lines. (Although I have no proof that works yet. I hope to make some mods and try again this winter).

I hope relating my experience helps.

Hey, I live in Ocean Shores, and I don't think you'll get anywhere near 25 degrees during March. Heck, there have been complete winters where I haven't had to winterize my TT. It's January and the low temp so far this winter has been 32.1 as indicated by the memory on my outside thermometer. Don't forget your rain gear though.

Last winter we went showshoeing at the local State Park and we just dry camped. It was just a weekend deal so it was not worth draining the antifreeze etc.

The Park had a nice heated washhouse and we took enough water for cooking and coffee.

The temp was about 20 degrees at night so we used a space heater to save on propane.

Pretty much had the place to ourselves. The park only plowed about eight spots but they say they get a couple of campers every weekend.

Is the 25F daytime or nighttime temperature? If night I wouldn't worry too much. Just open the cabinet doors at night and disconnect the fresh water hose.

I fulltime in my 3 season TT at MINUS 25. Gets a little dicey sometimes but I make it work.
plus 25 is a non issue.

heated water hose....

Hi,

How many pipes are exposed to the great outdoors? Will the daily temperatures rise to well above freezing?

I always filled the fresh water all the way up. Never left hose attached. Cabinet doors open for the pipes. But that was in temperatures down to 0. I put rock salt in the waste holding tanks to keep them from freezing. Never had a problem. My underbelly also was exposed. In 25 degrees I would put a little salt or pink stuff in the tanks and that all you would need to do in my opinion. I agree just use sewer hose to dump. Don't leave it hooked up.

chracatoa wrote:
No, nothing is enclosed (except the ones that are inside the trailer of course).

I think I can keep some anti-freeze in the tanks. I'm worried about the pipes.

Yes, it is rare to get to 25F at Ocean Shores though it happened at least once :)

Maybe I can let the faucets dripping a little bit?

Dripping faucet won't work. It's not enough flow to prevent the fresh water hose from freezing, and, it will either overflow your grey tank or freeze up your dump valve and sewer hose.

Fill the fresh tank to 3/4 full and work off that. After filling the tank, bring the hose inside to keep warm. Take it back out when you need more water in the tank.

Hook up the sewer hose, only while dumping.

Open cabinet doors to allow warm air to get to your pipes.

Put a little insulation around the outside shower handle.

Keep the heat turned on.

Bring enough antifreeze to winterize in case of emergency.