Forum Discussion

exdesertdweller's avatar
exdesertdweller
Explorer
Nov 30, 2015

FROZE UP

I overstayed my time in Oregon and now I'm in big trouble. A snow storm blew in a couple of weeks ago stranding us in our 34ft 5th wheel, and we were not equipped for sub-zero weather. Our gray water tank froze up first then we blew a hose somewhere around our hot water tank. So now we have no running water, our sinks are stopped up, and I'm pretty sure our black water tank is on it's way to freezing or already is frozen. The weather has calmed down a bit but not enough for a thaw out. Temps in the day are 10-25 degrees with cloudy or partly sunny skies. Our pipes are on the opposite side of the trailer that gets sun so staying cold.
ANY HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRICIATED. Please no jokes or sour comments. We couldn't leave before the storm because some drunk in a class A hit us head on while we were stopped waiting for traffic to clear. Truck was in the shop getting fixed for 3 weeks. We are in a small town so things move slowly. We're not stupid we were just trapped here.
Signed Hopeful but frozen.
  • rr2254545's avatar
    rr2254545
    Explorer
    Nov 30, 2015
    Head west we spent a enjoyable winter on the coast - you can get thawed out and repaired there

    No freezing temps in Lincoln City for the next 5 days
  • Emptypockets's avatar
    Emptypockets
    Explorer
    Nov 30, 2015
    Sorry to hear of your situation - with that many different frozen items the only way would get the whole rig inside a heated building. When they get your TV fixed head to warmer temps. Again sorry for what you are going thru.
  • WyoTraveler's avatar
    WyoTraveler
    Explorer
    Nov 30, 2015
    When that happened to me and I couldn't get into warm country I had to find an RV shop that could put my TT inside where it could thaw. It ended up being, thawing, dumping, & minor repairs. They also winterized and got me on my way.
  • coolmom42's avatar
    coolmom42
    Explorer II
    Nov 30, 2015
    Are you able to leave town now?

    If so, head south immediately. Drain everything that you can, now. When you get to warmer temps, stop and thaw out everything.

    You should be working with an adjuster from the at-fault driver's insurance company on your truck damage. Get in touch with that adjuster and tell him/her the situation. You need 1) immediate housing with adequate heat and water, and they need to pay for it 2) compensation for the damage to your RV due to the freezing. Document all the problems, damage, etc with time-stamped photos.

    If the other driver's insurance company won't help you out, contact your own, ASAP.
  • FLY_4_FUN's avatar
    FLY_4_FUN
    Explorer
    Nov 30, 2015
    For sure indoor heated storage for a day is about all you can do now, but perhaps a few gallons of rv antifreeze poured into sinks, toilet etc may limit any further damage to the up top plumbing and grey/black tanks. I might even dump antifreeze into the fresh tank to limit the risk of it freezing solid if you have water in it now and it wont drain.
  • ken_burke's avatar
    ken_burke
    Explorer
    Nov 30, 2015
    rr2254545 wrote:
    Head west we spent a enjoyable winter on the coast - you can get thawed out and repaired there

    No freezing temps in Lincoln City for the next 5 days

    Good idea. Can you hire a truck to pull your 5th wheel to somewhere where it is warmer (like a diesel repair shop or to a warmer campground)?
    It will be expensive, but maybe covered by the 5th wheel insurance or truck insurance.
  • bexparza's avatar
    bexparza
    Explorer
    Nov 30, 2015
    I'd contact both insurance companies and request help getting put up where it's warm and dry, about getting truck repaired, and damage to fifth wheel repaired and fifth wheel thawed out.
  • RVcrazy's avatar
    RVcrazy
    Explorer
    Dec 01, 2015
    Where are you stuck in Oregon? Definitely, get the insurance companies on board ASAP.
  • John_Joey's avatar
    John_Joey
    Explorer
    Dec 01, 2015
    Spent my whole life in cold country. From what I read, your best option is to park inside and thaw out. Best to go shake the insurance company tree and see what falls down.
  • Bob_Shaw's avatar
    Bob_Shaw
    Explorer
    Dec 01, 2015
    Or, assuming you have heat in the trailer, you could get some hay bales to put around the perimeter of your trailer and put some electric heaters under there to warm things up. But, beware, you may have more broken pipes than you think. Also, your water pump is probably ruined.

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