I hope to do my first cold weather camping soon. I know the mattress is about 30* in there so I was wondering about how one goes about prepping for cold weather camping? I currently have the water lines and drains winterized. The two 20# LPG tanks are full. I may not have electricity but will pack the electric heater anyway.Do you heat up your camper a day or so ahead of time?

I keep my camper plugged in all the time at home and I have a small electric heater inside to keep things around 40f. other than that...I don't do anything else. my camper heats up pretty fast and its never been an issue thus far.by the way...coldest....-17f at night. yes my water system is winterized and the heater ran A LOT but we slept fine.

If the mattresses are foam and have been stored for awhile, they may be slightly damp which will certainly interfere with warmth when winter camping. You might bring them (and bedding) into the house a few days before you leave- that would make sure they don't have any moisture in them when you get there.Other than that, I doubt that preheating the camper itself would make any difference since most cool off so fast even the shortest of trips are likely to end with a cold rig at the destination.

I have been i cold weather with a warm camper. A trip down the road cools it off very quickly. I do have mattress warmers so I do turn those on while traveling and that keeps the bedding warm.

If it is very cold, we will run electric heater at home before leaving. We will take the camper skiing-about 3-5 hrs drive. We run the heat on a low setting while driving (50 deg F) and crank it when we get in.

I have a non basement camper so usually will leave a 110 ceramic heater running prior to leaving then use the propane heater while i am out. You learn where there are drafts the first time you use in in the severe cold (around rear door window, front passthrough window, battery box, etc. I have no problem going well below 0 in my camper.

Do you warm up camper before heading out for winter camping?

32 Replies

Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
Nov 07, 2013
If the mattresses are foam and have been stored for awhile, they may be slightly damp which will certainly interfere with warmth when winter camping. You might bring them (and bedding) into the house a few days before you leave- that would make sure they don't have any moisture in them when you get there.

Other than that, I doubt that preheating the camper itself would make any difference since most cool off so fast even the shortest of trips are likely to end with a cold rig at the destination.
the_tc_life
Explorer
Nov 07, 2013
I keep my camper plugged in all the time at home and I have a small electric heater inside to keep things around 40f. other than that...I don't do anything else. my camper heats up pretty fast and its never been an issue thus far.
by the way...coldest....-17f at night. yes my water system is winterized and the heater ran A LOT but we slept fine.

Forum Discussion

Do you warm up camper before heading out for winter camping?

32 Replies

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