Hi! A quick question for you here...I am in Canada and I want to use my small travel trailer during the weekends up to thanksgiving or so (in Canada thanksgiving is October 13th) but the temperature during the night are VERY near of the freezing point and I am wondering what I can do to protect my travel trailer for the upcoming month because I am not ready to go with the winterizing procedure yet.My first idea now is to install a small (and very safe) electronic portable electric heater inside the camper and set on the freezing protection point (around 5'C). Since all water connection and hose are inside the camper's cab and since floor and walls are slightly insulated, do you think it can be enough to prevent damage by freezing?Of course the temperature are not very low at this time, the lower it can be during night is like 0'C or maybe -1'C...

We often use our TT right through to Cdn. Thanksgiving. We do not winterize until after and have no problems. You really need a hard freeze to do any damage. We have had snow on the roof at Thanksgiving and not a problem so long as day temps go above freezing.

I guess if you're confident that all of the water lines are in places where a bit of heat will keep them from freezing, that's a perfectly good plan. I did a lot of designing in my TT to make sure that all compartments have good airflow. I used mesh fabric for panels and cabinet doors. I've insulated the floor fairly well and also the walls. I have a complete thermal break inside walls, floors, and ceilings , using foam insulation between interior paneling and the frame. What I've found is that without fans to push heated air into those tight spaces, they will remain cold. October temps in Canada might not cause a freeze in those separate areas if a heater is used but I wouldn't be confident about that theory in the dead of Winter. I'm in MN, BTW.

If you have a 12V compresser blow out the water lines with air and make sure that you dump the tanks before heading home. Start with the cosest to the city water hook up and blow the line until you get nothing but air, close the valve and move to the next valve. You don't need much air pressure to get the water lines empty. Don't forget to drain the fresh water low drain point.I have been blowing out the water lines for years now and the only anitfreeze I use is what I pour down the drains.

We camp like that often. With the heater operating, I open all the drawers and cabinet doors to allow the warmer air to get into the hidden spaces.No problems so far.Plus. I keep the hot water heater on.Have fun.

Hey, I'm in the Muskoka region in Ontario. I use my TT until the weekend prior to Halloween. We take the kids out to Algonquin Park for the annual Halloween event. Last season there was snow on the ground already and overnight lows below freezing, daytime highs slightly above freezing.We used a combination of the built-in propane furnace and a portable infrared electric heater. We also used heated blankets on the beds. Using the heated blankets allowed us to drop the air temperature inside the TT, since there is HEAVY condensation due to the outside air temperature difference.You will need to vent the moist air outside resulting in losing most of your heat for a little while each morning.. but it is still a fun way to camp!Where do you live in Canada?

Extended season use of TT near freezing temperatures

Nvr2loud
Explorer II
Sep 15, 2014
Hey, I'm in the Muskoka region in Ontario. I use my TT until the weekend prior to Halloween. We take the kids out to Algonquin Park for the annual Halloween event. Last season there was snow on the ground already and overnight lows below freezing, daytime highs slightly above freezing.

We used a combination of the built-in propane furnace and a portable infrared electric heater. We also used heated blankets on the beds. Using the heated blankets allowed us to drop the air temperature inside the TT, since there is HEAVY condensation due to the outside air temperature difference.

You will need to vent the moist air outside resulting in losing most of your heat for a little while each morning.. but it is still a fun way to camp!

Where do you live in Canada?
ed6713
Explorer
Sep 15, 2014
We camp like that often. With the heater operating, I open all the drawers and cabinet doors to allow the warmer air to get into the hidden spaces.
No problems so far.
Plus. I keep the hot water heater on.

Have fun.
hddecker
Explorer
Sep 15, 2014
If you have a 12V compresser blow out the water lines with air and make sure that you dump the tanks before heading home. Start with the cosest to the city water hook up and blow the line until you get nothing but air, close the valve and move to the next valve. You don't need much air pressure to get the water lines empty. Don't forget to drain the fresh water low drain point.

I have been blowing out the water lines for years now and the only anitfreeze I use is what I pour down the drains.
westend
Explorer
Sep 15, 2014
I guess if you're confident that all of the water lines are in places where a bit of heat will keep them from freezing, that's a perfectly good plan. I did a lot of designing in my TT to make sure that all compartments have good airflow. I used mesh fabric for panels and cabinet doors. I've insulated the floor fairly well and also the walls. I have a complete thermal break inside walls, floors, and ceilings , using foam insulation between interior paneling and the frame.

What I've found is that without fans to push heated air into those tight spaces, they will remain cold. October temps in Canada might not cause a freeze in those separate areas if a heater is used but I wouldn't be confident about that theory in the dead of Winter. I'm in MN, BTW.
Jack_Diane_Free
Explorer
Sep 15, 2014
We often use our TT right through to Cdn. Thanksgiving. We do not winterize until after and have no problems. You really need a hard freeze to do any damage. We have had snow on the roof at Thanksgiving and not a problem so long as day temps go above freezing.

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Extended season use of TT near freezing temperatures

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