So here I am north of Calgary Alberta, got the TT set up in the customers driveway close to where I am building a sunroom, all is good.I know the mercury was going to plummet this weekend, and it did. I wrapped a heat tape around my dump pipes and gate valves - it seems to be working. I am keeping the furnace a little higher than usual just to make sure all corners of the TT stay warm. Ahhhh this is great! (Bob hurts arm patting himself on the back......)Make myself some dinner - time to do the dishes. Plug the sink, turn on the tap to begin water in the sink..... Hmmmm no cold water - huh?Checked in the bathroom, which is first in line from the tank, tub, check, toilet, check, sink, check, all have water, nothing at the kitchen sink, the end of the line.Dangit, thought I had it all figured out! I have a freezeup between the bathroom and kitchen. So I pull the lower drawers out and see the water lines run right past the wheelhouse enclosure, which is made of single layer plastic and no insulation on it! Turkeys! They shoulda insulated the wheelhouse thingys! There is a solid layer of ice all over the plastic housing and the cold water pipe which is right against it, has frozen.OK, leave the drawers out for the trip to get some heat in there. Grab my little space heater, park it on top of a case of Kraft Dinner my wife insisted I bring. (as if I'm going to eat a case of that stuff!!):EI'm going to have condensation running all over the floor but hey! I can mop it up - better that than frozen pipes!Outside temperature is 9.7F right now according to my remote sensor I keep on the hitch.And I thought I had it all figured out! Sheesh! :B

Ya, the cold is a devil to deal with. Hope you can get everything thawed up, Bob.

As a native born 3rd generation born and raised in Southern California guy....I have absolutely no experience what-so-ever with what you describe. Let me see if I get this right....IT'S 9.7 Degrees there right now!? Holy snicker-doodles! And I was just whineing to my wife that it was cold outside tonight when I was just walking the dogs....64 degrees! I had to bundle up to keep from shivering...

I cleared out the stuff under the sink and stuck my heater in there. It wasn't ten minutes and I had water flow again! hah! Victory. I really do thrive on the many challenges that using the RV in adverse conditions can bring!

fordsooperdooty wrote:IT'S 9.7 Degrees there right now!? Holy snicker-doodles! And I was just whineing to my wife that it was cold outside tonight when I was just walking the dogs....64 degrees! I had to bundle up to keep from shivering...Awww 64 degrees, you poor thing - you must be frozen! haha! :BWhen I was working today it was whiteout conditions - wind blowing so hard my TT was rocking and it was snowing sideways! I built a big sundeck over the past couple days and by the time I finished sweeping the snow off it, it was piling up where I started again - ugh!I finally gave up and drove to a Bass Pro store and had an eye feast there. Bought some warmer footwear too....I'm not used to this, I live at the coast where it very seldom freezes or snows.

Hi Bob,Get that dual window fan installed to keep the under cabinet area warm. It keeps my water flowing at -27 C (-16.6 f) in real life testing.I hope you remembered a light bulb for the fridge.

Thought I was doing good in freezing temp - Oops! Not quite

73 Replies

dave17352
Explorer II
Nov 20, 2013
Perhaps the light bulb behind the fridge just helps the heating process that makes the coolant work. Maybe it has nothing to do with the fluid freezing. Just a thought, I am sure it will get shot down!
pianotuna
Nomad III
Nov 20, 2013
Hi Bob,

Any thoughts on adding heat to an underbelly? That is the next area I need to deal with.

BobsYourUncle wrote:
I'm already planning my next rig!

Heated underbelly mandatory and thermal windows for starters...
pianotuna
Nomad III
Nov 20, 2013
Hi,

-12 f is shirt sleeves weather where I live, however the Dometic fridge did not like it.
nevadanick
Explorer
Nov 20, 2013
I have used my TT in temps as low as -12f and everything worked including Norcold fridge.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Nov 20, 2013
Hi nitro,

If it is not factual why does Norcold make a cold weather kit that can be added?

Where you live it is unlikely it gets cold enough to matter. Where I live it can get to -40.

I have had my fridge stop working from the ambient temperature being too cold. I restricted the air flow and added a light bulb. It is controlled by a thermocube tc-3.

This is an easy and safe modification.
nitrohorse
Explorer
Nov 20, 2013
I hate to differ with the free advice on here, but I got completely different advice regarding the use of my fridge during the cold winter months. My dealer's Service Manager told me to use it as I would in the summer. He suggested that I turn the setting down a bit as the ambient temps are lower, but other than that, he said have at it. I told him that I heard internet horror stories about damaging the coils and he laughed. He asked me what I thought happened to the fridges sitting idle in the RVs on the dealer's lot during winter? He asked me if the fluid in the coils froze in them as well as the one that was in use? I left the dealership with my a/c cover in hand and on the ride home, condemplated his theory. Realistically, it makes sense. Why wouldn't the fluid freeze in a static scenario vs. in use? Anyhow, I have my TT parked on a seasonal site up in the mountains of Pa. Most of the folks how camp all year long use their fridge. No one has had any issues doing so. Is this freezing in the tubes theory an old campground tale or is it factual?
BobsYourUncle
Nomad
Nov 20, 2013
colliehauler wrote:
BobsYourUncle wrote:
Going to be a test for the rig tonight.

The temperature is expected to drop to minus 24C / -11F by tomorrow morning.
Currently -18C / 0F

Should be a fun night....
I could not fathom staying in that temp in my RV. It did ok down to the low 20's F.

It's a fun learning experience for sure!

I learned a new one tonight:

Don't throw your dirty laundry on the floor against a wall. The items contacting the wall were frozen there! Pretty amazing considering I'm keeping the inside at a constant 72 /73 degrees.

I had to peel the mattress and bedding off the wall a few nights ago.

And another lesson I learned the hard way: Remove all beverages from truck upon arrival to Alberta in the winter! 2 days ago I noticed a lovely citrus aroma inside the cab. I left a full case of Fresca behind the back seat and forgot about it. Glad I wasn't driving when it exploded!!
colliehauler
Explorer III
Nov 20, 2013
BobsYourUncle wrote:
Going to be a test for the rig tonight.

The temperature is expected to drop to minus 24C / -11F by tomorrow morning.
Currently -18C / 0F

Should be a fun night....
I could not fathom staying in that temp in my RV. It did ok down to the low 20's F.
BobsYourUncle
Nomad
Nov 20, 2013
I'm already planning my next rig!

Heated underbelly mandatory and thermal windows for starters...
pianotuna
Nomad III
Nov 20, 2013
Hi Bob,

Good plan on switching to the full one before sleeping.

Forum Discussion

Thought I was doing good in freezing temp - Oops! Not quite

73 Replies

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

Do RV Batteries Freeze in the Winter?

F550 thoughts?

Will pipes freeze overnight?

Yellowstone second thoughts.

Evaporator freeze-up