Well, work has been very poor for me locally where I live. Overall economy is quite down compared to years ago. I have found that it is only the beginning of the winter season and I have run out of work.So, I decided to head to Calgary Alberta, with my TT in tow and work my butt off for at least a month to catch up, and put something into the reserves for the rest of the winter.Not exactly something I want to do but I have to.I'm not overly concerned about keeping the inside of my TT warm - I will find a place to plug in and run a small heater to supplement the furnace. I'll likely go through a lot of propane, but thats ok too. I have been looking at the road conditions from the BC coast to Alberta. Not too good right now. Lots of snow on the roads and more coming. My truck is 4 wheel drive and my tires have nearly 80,000 miles on them. Going to cure that tomorrow morning with 6 new Michelins.(LTX M&S2) Tires on the TT are like new. Hopefully the trip through the mountains goes well. Just have to take it slow and careful.When I'm in Calgary the temperature will likely be swinging from below freezing to sometimes above freezing. More likely more freezing than not when I get into December. I'm thinking about my waste tanks. Gotta use them but I'm thinking I may get a freezeup in the dump pipes and gate valves.I am thinking of getting a heat tape and wrapping up the area to keep it from freezing. Have any of you done this? If so, how did it work? I thought maybe I could find some quick and easy way to skirt the trailer in but I will be moving around a lot, taking it with me from jobsite to jobsite. What do you guys think?I don't want to get motels - too expensive and I hate motels.

Spend a couple of bucks and a few hours, here is a good online resource......you will be fine.http://www.ultraheat.com/

http://www.ultraheat.com/http://www.ultraheat.com/

Hey Bob,I haven't done it yet since I don't need to face the Winter in the TT but I have plans for dealing with the waste tank. The best solution I could come up with is to build a frame around the tanks, install heating tape of choice (I plan to use gutter de-icing cable), and insulate the tank frame. The drain pipes will get a wrap of conventional pipe heating cable and a wrap of insulation. I already have a switched GFCI receptacle in an all-weather box mounted on the frame. I figured that even if I choose to park without AC available, the AC heat cables will eventually thaw the slush out of the drains. I do have an inverter with solar so may be able to keep everything from becoming a giant ****sickle.Good luck on your trip!

Heat tape is most effective when used with insulation. Without insulation the cold breeze just blows the warmth away.

westend wrote:Hey Bob,I haven't done it yet since I don't need to face the Winter in the TT but I have plans for dealing with the waste tank. The best solution I could come up with is to build a frame around the tanks, install heating tape of choice (I plan to use gutter de-icing cable), and insulate the tank frame. The drain pipes will get a wrap of conventional pipe heating cable and a wrap of insulation. I already have a switched GFCI receptacle in an all-weather box mounted on the frame. I figured that even if I choose to park without AC available, the AC heat cables will eventually thaw the slush out of the drains. I do have an inverter with solar so may be able to keep everything from becoming a giant ****sickle.Good luck on your trip!Awesome idea - thanks! :) I can do that easily.A few winters ago I had to deal with the giant poopsicle! It wasn't fun!

Trip to freezing area for a month - concerns | Good Sam Community

17 Replies

louiskathy
Explorer
Nov 07, 2013
Get an insulated tarp (rectangle) big enough to cut in half and use that to skirt around. Our MH has bay doors so we just lift the door, put a screw where the grommet is and close the door on it. It hangs on the ground by at least 4" and it does not blow in. It's own weight holds it down. Now, I'm not sure how your TT is built - but I'll through the insulated tarp idea at you because it's easy to take it down, roll it up and cart it down the road. Our MH is 37 ft. but the tarp goes just in front of the front wheels and right behind the rear wheels. I think it was used for a flat bed truck before we got it.

We have a small electric heater in the bay area on the MH and for the TC we hung an electric heating pad in there to keep the valves from freezing up.
BobsYourUncle
Nomad
Nov 07, 2013
GENECOP wrote:
http://www.ultraheat.com/http://www.ultraheat.com/

Thanks for the link, I'll check it out.

FYI, if you look close the link is written twice, so won't work. But I can just type it in.
BobsYourUncle
Nomad
Nov 07, 2013
westend wrote:
Hey Bob,
I haven't done it yet since I don't need to face the Winter in the TT but I have plans for dealing with the waste tank. The best solution I could come up with is to build a frame around the tanks, install heating tape of choice (I plan to use gutter de-icing cable), and insulate the tank frame. The drain pipes will get a wrap of conventional pipe heating cable and a wrap of insulation. I already have a switched GFCI receptacle in an all-weather box mounted on the frame.
I figured that even if I choose to park without AC available, the AC heat cables will eventually thaw the slush out of the drains. I do have an inverter with solar so may be able to keep everything from becoming a giant ****sickle.

Good luck on your trip!

Awesome idea - thanks! :) I can do that easily.

A few winters ago I had to deal with the giant poopsicle! It wasn't fun!
CloudDriver
Explorer
Nov 07, 2013
Heat tape is most effective when used with insulation. Without insulation the cold breeze just blows the warmth away.
westend
Explorer
Nov 07, 2013
Hey Bob,
I haven't done it yet since I don't need to face the Winter in the TT but I have plans for dealing with the waste tank. The best solution I could come up with is to build a frame around the tanks, install heating tape of choice (I plan to use gutter de-icing cable), and insulate the tank frame. The drain pipes will get a wrap of conventional pipe heating cable and a wrap of insulation. I already have a switched GFCI receptacle in an all-weather box mounted on the frame.
I figured that even if I choose to park without AC available, the AC heat cables will eventually thaw the slush out of the drains. I do have an inverter with solar so may be able to keep everything from becoming a giant ****sickle.

Good luck on your trip!
GENECOP
Explorer II
Nov 07, 2013
http://www.ultraheat.com/http://www.ultraheat.com/
GENECOP
Explorer II
Nov 07, 2013
Spend a couple of bucks and a few hours, here is a good online resource......you will be fine.

http://www.ultraheat.com/

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Trip to freezing area for a month - concerns

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