Winter Camping in Jayflight 32BHDS w/ Thermal Package

Have winter camped in two Northwoods. Previous Nash and present Arctic Fox. Both have dump valves inside the heated compartments for the tanks. Been very comfortable at 0 and slightly below. It helps a lot if it gets above freezing during the day. I use the water system but do open cabinet doors at night. I stuff the outside shower compartment full of insulation. Have factory made storm windows on both which really helps a lot. Have never used skirting but imagine it would make a significant difference. Skirting does not seem very practical unless you are staying in one place for the entire time you are using the TT.

I have never camped with day time temps that cold but plenty of over night temps down into the low 20's. We use one of the small upright slim heaters running off electricity. It actually heats the camper better than the furnace. I could run both and I think it would be fine. As mentioned earlier, I would certainly dump some anti freeze in the tanks.

You said freezing, or slightly below freezing. It depends on how long the temps will be that cold. Heck, I'm from MN. I don't even dig my carrots out of the garden if it's only going to be slightly below freezing.

Now, if you are going to a northern state on a 20 degree night that is a BIG difference. That is NOT slightly below freezing. You will have to make a lot of changes then.

Can you be more specific on what sorts of temps you are looking at and how long they will be that low????

Does the Jayco "thermal" package include double pane windows or storm windows?

I upgraded our extended season package as there was some things I just did not trust and I could not find anyone or where it was stated, how cold can you go? Some things I did do.

- Added flex foil to the tank coroplast cover to help on the insulation. Both black and gray tank valves are inside the cover. Our tank comportment also has 1" foam board insulation on all sides.

- Added an ambient air temp sensor inside the tank compartment to measure the temp in that compartment, before I went wet in the cold.

- Insulated the shower trap pipe hanging right next to the Darco membrane

- Unhooked the outside shower and insulated the compartment.

- Insulated the shore power cord door.

- Clear wrapped the windows (a big deal)

- Dehumidifier and vent both

We have been down to 10 to 19F and the tank compartment only went to 46F. When the furnace runs, it was 85F down there...

Cold weather camping can be fun. And no bugs... and low crowds. Nothing like having and entire state park CG to yourself...

John

JBarca wrote:
Does the Jayco "thermal" package include double pane windows or storm windows?

I upgraded our extended season package as there was some things I just did not trust and I could not find anyone or where it was stated, how cold can you go? Some things I did do.

- Added flex foil to the tank coroplast cover to help on the insulation. Both black and gray tank valves are inside the cover. Our tank comportment also has 1" foam board insulation on all sides.

- Added an ambient air temp sensor inside the tank compartment to measure the temp in that compartment, before I went wet in the cold.

- Insulated the shower trap pipe hanging right next to the Darco membrane

- Unhooked the outside shower and insulated the compartment.

- Insulated the shore power cord door.

- Clear wrapped the windows (a big deal)

- Dehumidifier and vent both

We have been down to 10 to 19F and the tank compartment only went to 46F. When the furnace runs, it was 85F down there...

Cold weather camping can be fun. And no bugs... and low crowds. Nothing like having and entire state park CG to yourself...

John

Thanks for the recommendations John. It doesn't have double pane windows, at least that it says. We do have frameless windows however, not sure if that makes much of a difference.

Caveman Charlie wrote:

Now, if you are going to a northern state on a 20 degree night that is a BIG difference. That is NOT slightly below freezing. You will have to make a lot of changes then.

Can you be more specific on what sorts of temps you are looking at and how long they will be that low????

I haven't exactly zeroed in on a specific "no colder than" temp. I know I'll have to adjust the colder we go but based on what everyone is saying, and all the great recommendations I feel pretty good about doing some winter camping. I'll ease my way into it.

My TT is nothing special no winter pkg and so forth. I have had nights around 0 up on the elk hunt and have been fine. I just did like others have said left the cabinet door open as well as the bathroom. I left the bathroom closed the first night and it froze the water inlet in the toilet bowl, but that was it. It had thawed by the time we got back from the morning hunt.

We camped out for three days last February at the State Park for a Valentines dinner and a couple of snow shoe hikes.

It was in the low 30’s to high 20’s at night and we use an electric space heater to keep the TT warm. Warm of course is relative but when we got up it was between 45 and 55 degrees depending on the outside temp.

Once we were out of bed, the propane furnace brought the TT temp into the 60's in a few minutes.

We were a few campsites from the heated wash house so we did not need the water for the bathroom facilities. A five gallon water jug served us for cooking and coffee.

The high temps were in the 30’s but it was very sunny and the trailer stayed in the mid to upper 50’s during the day with only the electric heater. Since we were out of doors most of the time, a 55 degree trailer was just fine.

After dinner and before bed time we ran the propane furnace, as the TT cooled down rapidly once the sun went down. At bed time it was the electric heater only; and a down comforter of course.

I will point out two things; we are canoe campers so waking to cool temperatures is not unusual, and this was a shakedown trip for the TT, to make sure everything but the water was working. We left for a month down south a week later.

My sons are on a ski team on Mt. Hood Oregon. We camp every weekend Dec-March. I leave my TT up on the mountain and winterize it every Sunday before I head home. Takes me 30 minutes now ;)

Oh...and I do NOT have the cold-weather package on my TT. I use 2 small electric porcelain heaters to help with the propane heater.

The biggest thing (probably mentioned above) is you will NEED a dehumidifier. First weekend we tried it without one and we woke up and EVERYTHING was soaking wet. I pour out 2-3 gallons of collected water every weekend...that is water that would cause rot and mold without the dehumidifier.

Have fun!!