Winter Storage of RV

[jeffs8269]

I recently purchased a new fifth wheel and will be storing it a covered storage building that is not climate controlled. I paid a little extra for a 30 amp hookup with the thought of keeping it warm enough so that I do not have to winterize my coach (I live in Oklahoma). What should I run (furnace I assume) and what temperature should I set the thermostat in order to avoid freezing?

Thanks for the input.

[JTrac]

I live just a little southeast from you. As most say, winterize. It is just not worth the chance of freezing and breaking some of your lines. As we both know, it can be 70 one day and zero the next around here in the winter. Drain your water tanks, including the water heater, shut off the bypass valve to it and use your water pump to get the pink stuff in. Pretty simple, your manual should have instructions. You don't say but if you have an ice maker or washer be sure to do those.

I keep mine in an unheated garage and keep it plugged in all the time. My converter has a 4 stage charge system which keeps the batteries in a proper charge state all winter. If you have a good charging system leave in plugged to the 30 amp. Just be sure you check the batteries water level on occasion.

[zb39]

My 5th wheel is inside, but no heat in bldg. I def winterize it. I wish I lived where I didn't have to. It can go to zero inside the bldg. I have seen the pink stuff get slushy in the toilet bowl. Maybe some day I can go south for the winter.

[Tom_Barb]

We don't winterize, simply pull in all hoses drain the tanks, and place two small beehive heaters in the basement.

[rhagfo]

Old Duck wrote:
X4 in winterising. I store ours at a storage facility that is a 3 sided building with many other rv's and pay extra for power. We are not allowed to run electric heaters, but can run dehumidifiers and keep the fridge going if desired. I would not want to reply on the furnace being 5 miles away even though I check on ours every week to 10 days mainly to dump water from the dehumidifiers.

Keep in mind that those of us in the PNW may winterize several times a season, as the we tend to go out year round.

[SoundGuy]

jeffs8269 wrote:
I recently purchased a new fifth wheel and will be storing it a covered storage building that is not climate controlled. I paid a little extra for a 30 amp hookup with the thought of keeping it warm enough so that I do not have to winterize my coach.

I'd have to agree - winterize. That said, if you're so determined to maintain the rig's interior temp above 32F just use an electric radiant heater since you're already paying "extra" for 30 amp service. If the terms of your storage agreement forbid this it may also forbid running your propane system ... worth checking before you make any further decisions on this.

[glazier]

I have a Block building with insulated roof (40 x 52) 12' walls. I store my gooseneck trailer with some equipment, my dad stores his travel trailer in this building as well. Inside never gets below freezing in this building with no heat. My pole barn fifth wheel storage building (30 x 80 with 16' walls) has an insulated roof with translucent panels every 6'. This building is not insulated except where no skylites are installed. This building will get to the same temp as the outside, I can't remember that old block building feeling that much warmer when we ran our shop out of it though, seemed cold then. I would put the anti freeze in your camper to be safe either way.

[RollandB]

X4 in winterising. I store ours at a storage facility that is a 3 sided building with many other rv's and pay extra for power. We are not allowed to run electric heaters, but can run dehumidifiers and keep the fridge going if desired. I would not want to reply on the furnace being 5 miles away even though I check on ours every week to 10 days mainly to dump water from the dehumidifiers.

[gbopp]

rhagfo wrote:

Dick_B wrote:
X2 on the winterize. $10 for pink stuff and 30 minutes time are small price insurance against the furnace failing AND much cheaper than propane.

X3!!

X4. Winterize, it's easy, and cheaper.

[rhagfo]

Dick_B wrote:
X2 on the winterize. $10 for pink stuff and 30 minutes time are small price insurance against the furnace failing AND much cheaper than propane.

X3!!

[Dick_B]

X2 on the winterize. $10 for pink stuff and 30 minutes time are small price insurance against the furnace failing AND much cheaper than propane.

[SolidAxleDurang]

jeffs8269 wrote:
I recently purchased a new fifth wheel and will be storing it a covered storage building that is not climate controlled. I paid a little extra for a 30 amp hookup with the thought of keeping it warm enough so that I do not have to winterize my coach (I live in Oklahoma). What should I run (furnace I assume) and what temperature should I set the thermostat in order to avoid freezing?

Thanks for the input.

What kind of building is this? Is it concrete slab? Is it a metal "pole barn" with simple sheet-metal walls? Or is it insulated?

Reason I ask.... I have a 40'x50' red-iron/metal building with 4" rolled insulation on concrete slab. There's enough heat coming up from the earth through the slab - that gets trapped by the insulation... The coldest I've ever seen inside this building is 38 degrees - and that was when it had been below freezing for several days - low morning temps in single digits - daily highs in the mid 20s.

As a result I just park RV inside the building and do not winterize at all. No need to run any heat either.

[korbe]

If it were me, I would winterize and not worry about the temps. Running the furnace or using any other heat source doesn't make too much sense to me - if the storage is for more than a few weeks.