RV's in winter

[KatieSinclair]

Hi,

We are new to RV's and are planning to rent one for 3 weeks in California in November.

Our first few nights we are planning to go to Yosemite valley, which I know has no hookups, and probably cold (close to freezing temperatures).

Are we mad to consider doing this in our first few nights in an RV? What advice can anyone give about how everything works from heaters and gas to generators - please be kind and patient as we are beginners.

Thanks in advance, Katie

[KatieSinclair]

Thanks so much everyone, some great advice! Sorry forgot to say we are renting a C class motorhome with a generator, probably from RoadBear. Looked at Cruise America but they seem to be pretty hit or miss in terms of quality... anyone had any good or bad experiences?

The new plan; a plan A, a plan B and a plan C!
Plan A (good weather) - stay in Yosemite valley
Plan B (cold weather) - stay in a park outside the valley
Plan C (terrible weather) - go to Napa valley and drink wine instead!

All about flexibility and being prepared I have learned from responses. Have noted lots of the advice re following advice before we travel, sleeping bags, wool hats and socks, house slippers and blankets to close off the cab. Thanks again everyone, this is a great forum! (Might be posting more questions as we get closer)

[time2roll]

November in Yosemite should be a great first trip. Run the generator during the last two hours before quiet time to keep the battery charged. Bring an extra blanket and go easy on the furnace and lights. Enjoy the park. Worst case you roll out to an Rv park and plug in.

[Rolin]

Hi Katie,
Cold weather camping:
1. We use a double wide sleeping bag. Its surprising how much warmer it is with two bodies in one bag and its nice to cuddle on a cold night. Also easier to make up the bed.
2. Wear a wool night cap and socks. If my head and feet are warm then I am toasty.
3. Use a blanket to cover the opening to the cab. A lot of heat escapes though the front.
4. Turn the thermostat up just enough to keep pipes from freezing...about 45 degrees.
5. Have a plan B....always good to have a plan B

Love camping in a motorhome. Makes it much easier to have a plan B. If it gets too snowy or batteries run down then just move to a warmer place or a campground with electricity.

Many rental motorhomes come with a generator but they charge for its use by the hour so you might want to limit the amount of time you have to run it.

If you have a problem there are usually some fellow RVers that would be happy to help.

Hope you have a great time.

[Rolin]

Hi Katie,
You didn't say what type of rv you were renting...assume it is a motorhome.

We use toasty sleeping bag to stay warm in Winter. Zipping two together helps you stay warmer. It was interesting; two people in a sleeping bag was a lot more comfortable that one in a sleeping bag, plus its fun and comforting to cuddle on a cold night. A sleeping cap also keeps the head warm when its cold, and wear socks. If my head and feet are warm then its pretty comfy.

We use a blanket to cover the access to the cab area. Lots of heat lost through the windows in the cab. Made keeping the house part warm much easier.

We set the thermostat quite low...just high enough to make sure that the pipes don't freeze..45 to 50 degrees.

Nice part of traveling in a motorhome...if it gets too cold or can't keep the batteries charged, you can head to warmer weather or a campground with hookups. I would not worry too much. Just stay flexible. If it looks like to much snow or unusually cold, then go to plan B. Always nice to have a plan B.

Often rental units charge by the hour for use of the generator so its nice not to have to use one too much.

Have fun.

[SteveAE]

Oops, missed the rental part. Almost everything I suggested requires spending $$$$.
Still, stay in the valley if you can. It is very unlikely to be that cold...esp. if it is in early November. Relax, have fun and safe travels.

[Jayco-noslide]

Rv's have a furnace so you can stay comfortable as long as you have propane and your battery holds out if you aren't plugged in. Most motorhomes have a generator to recharge the batteries. However, most campgrounds have generator hours so the batteries still have to make it through the night. Personally I don't think its much fun when daytime temps are below 50 or 60.

[Tripalot]

Remember this is going to be a rental unit - OP does not say what type or size.
Not all units have generators. Poster is coming from Turkey so would have to buy a lot of extra things in US e.g. blankets, heater etc. as many have suggested. I would be inclined to think that a rental unit would not be top of the line with added insulation etc. Keeping warm and having use of water for daily needs should be given lots of thought - especially novices.

Staying in a park with hookups would eliminate some potential problems.

[SteveAE]

KatieSinclair wrote:
Any particular tips to help "increase the comfort level?"

- Get some Reflectix insulation (Home Depot or Lowes), cut it to fit, and cover up all windows (esp. your big front window) on the inside. If cut right, the shades will hold it in when pulled down.
- Counter intuitive, but leave a vent open at night to reduce humidity. Less humidity = reduced condensation and increased comfort.
- If the RV has a slide, you might benefit by making some foam seals for the floor area where cold air can come in (they sell door draft stoppers at home stores in the winter than would work too)
- IF you do choose to use a portable propane heater, also leave a window cracked open. I started out not using one, but then tried the Buddy heaters. OK, but several things about them that I didn't like so stepped up to the Olympian heaters. Much better (at 20 degrees I wouldn't even bother running my furnace) and comfortable. However, there are folks here who strongly disagree with using any type of non-vented propane heater that have very valid concerns. So use caution before going this route.
- Bring extra blankets or a comforter to sleep with and to cover up in the evenings....esp. if sitting near a window.
- Bring along house slippers.
- If you run a generator (I don't and I boondock in much, much, colder weather), put it well away from your RV.
- Except for the last item, these are not likely needed, but I suggest that you bring along anyway; tire chains that fit, a shovel, a broom and a window scraper.
- If you have a separate, screened, entry door and the time and inclination, put clear plexiglass (or polycarbonate) panels in your screen door to turn it into a storm door. At those mild temps, I would likely have the main door open most of the time and just the storm door closed.
- Put some insulation under your bed....especially in the cab-over area. The more the better, but as a minimum, some more of the same Reflectix insulation you used on the windows.

Winter camping is a journey that you won't be able to take all at once. It takes time to figure out where the cold air leaks are and what, if anything, freezes up first. Don't rush it. Rather take your time and enjoy the journey.

Forget the stinking RV parks. Stay in the valley if at all possible. Your experience will be so much richer for it. But then again, I must be mad as I would be happily camp in the valley (heck, Glacier Point or Tuolumne if I could get it there) in our trailer in January (-:

[tpi]

There is a lot to it more than this brief post. A couple thoughts:

1. Yosemite in Nov. can be anything from gorgeous to snowy stormy and cold. I'd follow the weather prior to your trip, and if it is the middle of a stormy period change your plans and go somewhere lower in elevation. Plan this trip with alternatives in mind. You'll probably be able to pull it off at least half the time.

2. Make sure your RV has fully charged batteries before you enter Yosemite. Bring enough blankets the furnace can be set down in the 50s (or lower) at night. Try to park in the sun especially morning sun.

Lot more than this but my contribution 🙂

[sdianel_-acct_c]

I would wait until you understand all the workings of an RV before you venture into cold weather without hookups. If you are remote and something happens, can you get to safety? If, for example the generator fails you cannot charge the batteries. For your first cold weather experience I would select a park with hookups but try it overnight without shore power.

[rjstractor]

Like others have mentioned the challenge will be staying warm and charged, but after many nights of winter camping dry up here in the PNW its doable. With hookups it's no problem at all but you mentioned no hookups. Camping "dry" in the cold uses lots of propane for the furnace and the furnace also uses lots of battery power. That can be managed by running the generator, but many locations don't allow generator use and the noise can be annoying to you and others. With the generator running you can also use a portable electric heater for warmth, which saves propane. Figure about 1/2 gallon of gas per hour of generator use, and the generator will shut down when you have 1/4 tank of fuel left to keep you from stranding yourself. Clear as mud?

[pianotuna]

I would not make my maiden voyage to that area in November. The learning curve for cold weather RV'ing is pretty steep.

Have a look in the full time forum for the sticky thread called "winter camping".

[KatieSinclair]

Thanks for replies, especially the tips from Jim Shoe with the weather link and the idea from Guidry to video the intro.

Dick_B - we work in tourism and are coming from Turkey; November is the only month we can take a 3 month break.

Like your attitude, SteveAE; we also love to hike, in any temperature, so not too worried about being cold. Just the practicalities of keeping the RV functioning. Any particular tips to help "increase the comfort level?"

Many thanks all.
PS Found a couple of sites on the edge of the park which have hookups; might be a safer choice for us.

[SteveAE]

Hi,

Well, we must be mad then because it was blow zero (F) for the first trip in our trailer....and we had a great time.

In November, the valley is not likely to be too cold (I used to climb there...yes, in the winter) and if it is, get rid of the rig. That said, there are many things you can do to increase your comfort level and how well the rig does. Start by reading though this and other forums about winter camping (note that most threads are for camping in temps well below what you are likely to experience). Probably the only real issue you will have is keeping the batteries charged (because the furnace uses so much power). You can either use a different source of heat or figure out some other method of charging (generator is one method). Be wary of propane space heaters (some love them, some hate them) until you fully understand what you are getting and any possible risks they may pose. Also, reducing your power consumption, by changing to LED lights, will help quite a bit.
Most importantly, "have fun and enjoy yourselves"