Hi folks.We have a camp trip to NV Beach which this weekend Friday-Monday which I planned months ago. NV Beach is near S. Lake Tahoe(6300 ft elev)and is a dry camp site. Well winter came early this year and night time lows are forcasted to be between 28-33 degrees. Day time temps will be in the mid to low 60s and sunny. No snow or anything.We have a 2003 Trail Cruiser 23QB. It is not an all season and has exposed tanks and what not.I thought I would be OK but thinking again Im not sure. I dont want any lines to freeze and crack but I figure just having the furnace on while sleeping will keep everything inside ok. I figure since this is not a deep long term freeze the tanks should be OK. I have been mainly worried about out friends who were tent camping. What are you thoughts?

No worries, you'll be fine at those temps.

Sounds like perfect camping weather to me ! Enjoy.

Great, thanks for putting my mind at ease.How about the tent campers? haha I warned them. At least there are casinos close by in case they cant make it through the night.

Take along a propane lantern and an extra six pack of propane bottles .Instead of running your battery down to run the furnace use the propane lantern to heat the trailer.Open windows and vents when you do this .Buy a box of duraflame logs to get the campfire started and to add to the fire if it gets smoky . Not for the main fuel but to keep the wet wood burning .Full fresh water tank and another 5 gallons in your pickup .Dry camping is best !

Sounds like my style of fall camping here in Maine, enjoy!

lows below freezing, bad idea to camp? | Good Sam Community

37 Replies

Majja13
Explorer
Oct 04, 2013
that should not be to bad. I have exposed tanks and go on an 12 day elk hunt where it can get below zero, (but that is not often) I just put a gallon of the RV antifreeze in the black water and grey water tanks, sleep with the heater no issues so far. Leave your bathroom door cracked to let the warm air circultae in there as well.
JiminDenver
Explorer II
Oct 04, 2013
mlts22 wrote:
One trick I've done in an area that allowed generators until 7-8 PM was to use an electric space heater on its own extension cord threaded through the mousehole at 1500 watts, and another heater at 750 watts. I went about my business with both heaters cranked. Then when it was time to retire, I put away the electric heaters, fired up the propane furnace, which was easily able to maintain a comfortable temperature even with the outside weather being in the teens.

That's a great idea. I've used a dual hot plate and electric fry pan to use the extra power while charging, running heaters would be the same thing and leave the batteries well charged for a night of running the furnace.
PatrickM
Explorer
Oct 04, 2013
wuhungsix wrote:
Just got a call this morning from the campsite. Due to the government shut down they are also shutting down. So less than 24 hours and we are scrambling to save this camping weekend.

Funny thing is I called them on the first day of the shutdown and they said I was good and they were not dependant on the feds. Unbelievable.

Try Zephyr Cove, they're up the road about 10 minutes.

And it's cold and windy. I take it back about 37F, I woke up to 30F.
wuhungsix
Explorer
Oct 04, 2013
Just got a call this morning from the campsite. Due to the government shut down they are also shutting down. So less than 24 hours and we are scrambling to save this camping weekend.

Funny thing is I called them on the first day of the shutdown and they said I was good and they were not dependant on the feds. Unbelievable.
mlts22
Explorer II
Oct 04, 2013
One trick I've done in an area that allowed generators until 7-8 PM was to use an electric space heater on its own extension cord threaded through the mousehole at 1500 watts, and another heater at 750 watts. I went about my business with both heaters cranked. Then when it was time to retire, I put away the electric heaters, fired up the propane furnace, which was easily able to maintain a comfortable temperature even with the outside weather being in the teens.
PatrickM
Explorer
Oct 03, 2013
wuhungsix wrote:
PatrickM wrote:
wuhungsix wrote:
Hi folks.

We have a camp trip to NV Beach which this weekend Friday-Monday which I planned months ago. NV Beach is near S. Lake Tahoe(6300 ft elev)and is a dry camp site. Well winter came early this year and night time lows are forcasted to be between 28-33 degrees. Day time temps will be in the mid to low 60s and sunny. No snow or anything.

I live really close - top of Kingsbury Grade which is about one mile from the campgrounds.

Even on the 21st when we got snow on Ebbetts Pass (Hermit Valley, Alpine Lake, Mosquito Lake, etc.) it didn't fall below freezing at where you're going to camp.

So don't worry, we're seeing low temperatures, at the lowest, of 37 degrees, and this is at even higher elevations (>7300') so down at lake level, you're going to be just fine.

Yes, it'll be cold but you'll not even come close to freezing. Have fun and remember ... clockwise around the lake!

Thanks for the info! but care to explain ..."clockwise around to lake"?

Thanks everyone for the input. I topped off my propane tanks this morning and we have a ton of winter clothing packed in the TT. Plan is to run the furnace through out the night

I'll post a picture of our trip when I get back.

Drive clockwise around the lake. Everywhere you'll want to pull over and grab a picture will be on the right. If you drive counter-clockwise, you'll either have to wait to cross traffic, or have to run across.

The zig-zag portion before you reach Vikings Holm & Emerald Bay overlook for one. A few turn outs by Zephyr Cove. The vista point north of Sand Harbor.
CavemanCharlie
Explorer III
Oct 02, 2013
I understand why using a electric heater would be bad if your in very cold temps and you have enclosed belly tanks that are getting some heat from the furnace. My waste tanks are in the open anyway and if it gets much below freezing for very long I have to winterize. My freshwater tanks and lines are all inside of the camper.
JiminDenver
Explorer II
Oct 02, 2013
Charlie

I'd use a electric heater if I ever had electric. HD is right about the tanks in some cases, I know some use a fan to force air thru the ducts.

We set the stat at 74 when we get to a site and leave it there. we filled the two 20 pound tanks at the beginning of the season and haven't run out in three weeks of cool, rainy weather. Seeing freezing is pretty normal spring and fall, high 30's at night is down right summer like at 10,000 ft.
wuhungsix
Explorer
Oct 02, 2013
PatrickM wrote:
wuhungsix wrote:
Hi folks.

We have a camp trip to NV Beach which this weekend Friday-Monday which I planned months ago. NV Beach is near S. Lake Tahoe(6300 ft elev)and is a dry camp site. Well winter came early this year and night time lows are forcasted to be between 28-33 degrees. Day time temps will be in the mid to low 60s and sunny. No snow or anything.

I live really close - top of Kingsbury Grade which is about one mile from the campgrounds.

Even on the 21st when we got snow on Ebbetts Pass (Hermit Valley, Alpine Lake, Mosquito Lake, etc.) it didn't fall below freezing at where you're going to camp.

So don't worry, we're seeing low temperatures, at the lowest, of 37 degrees, and this is at even higher elevations (>7300') so down at lake level, you're going to be just fine.

Yes, it'll be cold but you'll not even come close to freezing. Have fun and remember ... clockwise around the lake!

Thanks for the info! but care to explain ..."clockwise around to lake"?

Thanks everyone for the input. I topped off my propane tanks this morning and we have a ton of winter clothing packed in the TT. Plan is to run the furnace through out the night

I'll post a picture of our trip when I get back.
Huntindog
Explorer
Oct 02, 2013
In many units the built in furnace also throws some heat into the tanks and plumbing. A electric heater being used in it's place would forgo that feature.
CavemanCharlie wrote:
2012Coleman wrote:
JiminDenver wrote:
You have battery, propane and a furnace, use it. You bought the rig to be comfortable not huddle around a lantern or a propane heater that can kill you. (especially at altitude)
Reading through this - I have to agree with this. I don't understand the use of a small cannister of propane in order to save the TT's propane or a few bucks. Can't see using electric heaters either. Cost should not override safety or common sense. Also, if you are dry camping, what pipes will freeze? Turn off the pump then release pressure - if any by opening the faucets. Do this just before going to sleep.

Because he going to dry camp he can't use a electric heater but, I use a oil filled electric heater to heat my TT quite often. Why use the propane I must buy when the electricity is included with the cost of my camping pass. Usually when I dry camp I do it on days when no heat is needed and if I do need some I just run the furnace at bedtime and get it nice and hot in there and then shut it off.