Colder weather camping

[Njmurvin]

Being from SoCal, I'm not well versed in colder weather camping. My AF is a 4 season coach. So what does that actually mean? At what temps do you become concerned about freezing (city water, tank fresh water, holding tanks, indoor pipes)? How does the underbelly get heated (is it ducted from the furnace)? Are there different strategies for dry camping vs hooked up? For example, I like to run a small electric space heater when hooked up to electric. But that won't heat the underbelly (except the heat that might radiate through the floor). I'm just looking for some advice for when temps get into the 20s and below (particularly overnight).

[Njmurvin]

I bought the trailer used. So I don't know if it has electric heating pads on the tanks (assuming that was an option). It does have dual pane windows which was an option, but that doesn't mean the original buyer also opted for heated tanks. I don't recall having any mysterious switches. Are there are any other telltale signs (other than dropping the underbelly) to look for?

So, my main takeaway from the responses so far:

Use the furnace for heat as it will heat the underbelly. I always leave the WH on anyway.

When hooked up, the only issue would be propane. I have 2 x 40lb tanks (an extra 20lb over most standard RV tanks). Propane would be mostly dedicated to the furnace and WH. Cooking is mostly outside and off a separate, smaller tank.

When dry camping, the fridge would consume some additional propane. Here is where electric would likely be an issue. I currently have a dual 12V system with 135 watts solar. That may not be enough to run a furnace all night. However, wouldn't I only have to set it high enough to keep things from freezing (e.g. 40, 50 deg?).

I'd hate to run a generator at night, but maybe it could run off the batteries and I'd only have to run the genny to augment the solar if I don't fully recover the batteries the next day.

FWIW, I would only be camping for a week at a time. And I'm not talking real cold here. I'm thinking 40s/50s daytime and maybe into the low 20s at night.

[2oldman]

Just an fyi, I've done a bit of cold weather dry camping.. just enough to realize it's not at all fun.

[md_procouple]

We have done a fair amount of winter camping, as long as you run your heater you should be ok, if you are cautious you could place a small heater on the lowest setting, or a high watt lamp in the basement to keep the pipes going, friends of ours use a base mounted work light. It all depends on how long your camping, and what kind of facilities you have (a f/h site, or primitive). Good Luck and happy camping!!

[time2roll]

Njmurvin wrote:
2011 Arctic Fox 27-5L

In normal use I thought AF was good to at least 20 maybe even 10F.

Does it have electric tank heaters? Use them.

If you are off grid you will need to beef up your battery and still may need to run a small generator near continuous. I suggest an electric connection even if just 15 amps.

[2oldman]

Njmurvin wrote:
I like to run a small electric space heater when hooked up to electric. But that won't heat the underbelly (except the heat that might radiate through the floor).

I don't advise doing that. When it's much below freezing run the furnace and keep the WH on.

[campinghut]

Did you order the AF with the heat pads on the tanks if not you will need to run the furnace to keep the underbelly from freezing. Dry camping will be hard on the batteries if you have no way of charging them during the day. On the AF the underbelly is heated by heat ducts from the furnace. I have done it for years but you need lots of propane and either large batteries or 110 hook ups.