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MTBob's avatar
MTBob
Explorer
Oct 16, 2017

"Dry" Camping - Cold Weather

For the first time we are "dry" camping - that is we did not load our camper with fresh water for this trip. We have been traveling from Montana to southern Utah and will return to Montana in about 2 weeks and will likely see night time temps down in the teens when we go through Jackson, Yellowstone and back into Montana.
The camper was previously winterized in Montana since we had subzero temps there before we left, all water lines are blown clear, hot water tank is empty.
So, what we've done is carry 4, 1 gallon water containers for potable water use, using them and filling as we go. We are using both the grey and black tanks for appropriate uses. When we get back to cold country I'll add a liberal amount of Pink Antifreeze in both tanks and keep the sink traps filled with it too.
Hopefully, when we get home the temps will be sufficiently high (above 20 degrees, or so) to allow me to dump the grey and black tanks. If not I suppose I'll add a bit of warm water to the tanks to get a dump.
I think I'll also leave the dump valves open ... at least the grey tank to make sure the dump valves don't freeze during the winter.

Any thoughts on how you folks "Dry" camp?

22 Replies

  • Dry camping is camping without hookups. What you are doing is not "dry camping".

    Leaving the blank tank valve open will only let the water out, any solids will remain and will stick. Not pretty.
  • December 2015 I spent a month driving from Michigan to Utah, hit nine National Parks there and then onto Death Valley.

    Coldest temps I experienced were in the plain states... Lowest was -15F.

    I didn't winterize, instead doing battle with old man winter.

    All exposed sewer plumbing is wrapped with aluminum, then heat tape, more aluminium and finally reflectix. Fresh line from the pump also heat taped. 240 watts of heat pads on exposed holding tanks. Finally hot water recirculation system keeps the rest of the water system limber.

    In the truck bed a little blue generator worked tirelessly, only taking breaks for fuel or when temps were above 40.

    First few years I did true dry camping in the trailer, not even using the waste tanks... No more of that!