Camping in a winterized TC

Instead of the RV anti-freeze, one could also use the winter formula windshield washing fluid for dumping down drains and toilets.

Folks at 5 Star RV in Henderson, Colorado advised this. Said it was better priced than the RV anti-freeze and it worked great for us.

Is the problem while camping? Or storage between camping trips?

While camping, our Bigfoot requires nothing special, just keep the heater turned on and set low. Between trips you can empty the holding tanks, drain the fresh tank, and blow out the lines with compressed air. All that takes less than 1/2 hour. But it does leave the hot water tank. If you have an electric option on that you could just leave it on. Without that maybe a bit of heat tape tucked up in the flue tube?

Camping in the winter is the only time to go in my opinion. Kids are in school, crowds are gone, roads are empty, don't need reservations, prices are lower. We have been in Yosemite Valley and had to share the (entire) campground with as many as three or four other parties. Try that in the summer!

My camper is 4 season with ducted tanks but I would have to re-winterize between trips. Just doesn't make sense to me. We hardly use the water system anyway so It's pretty easy to just live out of a jug. If it was a longer trip then maybe it would be worth it. Plus I'd need to leave it heated all day when I'm away from the camper.

PS Buzzcut,

do you have dual pane windows? I wasn't planning on building insulating panels for the windows as I have dual pane windows. Of course every bit helps but just not sure if it would be necessary for the hassle.

I use all of my water system, but here is a video from O.R. about winter camping.


http://www.outdoorresearch.com/blog/stories/tiny-house-tour-2014-episode-two-parking-lot-culture?utm_medium=Social-post&utm_campaign=FB+Tiny+House+Tour+3+Parking+Lot&utm_source=Facebook

We just use RV antifreeze to flush and carry other liquids separately. There are showers where we go for longer periods. For the colder weather we avoid having both slides open at night since that increases the area to heat and makes the furnace run more. We do add heavier sleeping cover. We don't camp out where we could wake to lots of snow in a remote area. Over night at a ski area is our most likely place for snow.

The only time we have had any of the systems not operable was with many days of temperatures that never go above 30 degrees during the day and even then it was only the water pump that had the water inside of it freeze. After a day of 40 degree weather the water in the pump thawed and no more problems.

If we encountered those subfreezing temperatures more often I would look into finding a way to keep the water pump warmer.

Good suggestions.

I'll add these.
Try to keep condensation mopped up, and to a minimum.
Add some loft (blankets, foam, or sleeping bag) underneath you while you sleep.
Insulate your exterior compartments walls that are also your living space walls, the crank up roof vents, and windows.
Insulate under the floor with foam board. Add a rug.

The blower on the furnace will kill your battery fast, really fast!
There are many options for a auxiliary heat source.
(Buddy heater, Olympic Wave 3 & 5).
Unless you have access to a 120 volt source for an electric space heater.

The only other thing I do different is we use bottled water for brushing teeth, washing up, cooking. Small easy to pack and 12 bottles can really go a long way.


Bucket with a trash bag for toilet, or the other obvious options that are avalaible. And baby wipes.

Nothing goes down the drains period.... till spring.

Try it, have fun and get back with us with what worked for you.

Heading down to Carlsbad and Guadalupe Mountains Thursday but keeping my water system off. I like the bucket and trash bag. Momma will not, however, so i will be using the black tank.

hedge wrote:
PS Buzzcut,

do you have dual pane windows? I wasn't planning on building insulating panels for the windows as I have dual pane windows. Of course every bit helps but just not sure if it would be necessary for the hassle.

the foam panels took me all of 30 minutes to cut all of them from one 4x8 sheet of foam. With the exception of the back door they all snap into place with nothing needed to hold them on. I have velco on the back door foam only.

double or single pane it helps. it also eliminates inside condensation on the glass and skylights.

It was 5 degrees in Yosemite last year and we were in t shirts inside with the furnace on its lowest setting and it rarely cycled. I do have r13 fibergass behind every outer compartment door too.