I've seen occasional references in passing recommending against winter (that is, below freezing) travel in an RV.We own an Itasca Navion, purchased used a couple of years back. We're considering some winter travel. Temperatures here on California's North Coast can get below freezing (occasionally down into the teens); and we're contemplating the idea of a trip up to the mountains, where temperatures in the teens are typical, with lower temperatures not uncommon.Can we take the Navion into weather like that, and, if so, what kind of preparatory work should we do? I'm, of course, most concerned about the water and waste tanks.

It takes a lot of very cold to do any damage to an RV. I assume your Navion came with heated tanks, and a 30,000+ BTU furnace so you should have no issues there. As long as the temps don't get below the mid 20's for an extended period of time nothing should freeze.Keep a few cabinet doors open so the heat from the furnace can circulate. If you are comfortable then your plumbing should be good. Warm up the coach well before retiring and you will be fine.

As Desert Captain says, if your motorhome is designed for cold weather operation (with enclosed heated tanks and plumbing runs, rather than them all hanging down underneath in the open) you should have no trouble at all. I've camped more with the overnight temperatures have been in the 20's and had no trouble, and would not expect you to either. The furnace does use propane at a relatively quick rate, so keep an eye on that.My bigger concern is driving through winter weather, especially as they tend to salt the roads a good bit up in this part of the country. Road salt does a number on vehicle frames, and the angles etc. that the house part of the motorhome is built out of are not especially corrosion-resistant, at least on my unit. Washing it off afterwards if possible is a good idea. (I also prefer not to drive the motorhome on slippery roads, although when I've been stuck with having a drive through snow it behaved decently.)

Glad I never read those posts some decades ago. We lived in MI and loved winter camping. We often camped at Lake Mitchell in Cadillac and Xcountry skied there. From time to time would need to call a tow truck to pull us out. Spent many many weekends camping at the casino near Sault Ste Marie. They would run an extension cord out the mens bathroom window for a AC hookup in well below zero temps. Coldest I remember traveling in was 35 below. We'd spend our short weekends at the Grand Haven SP where the manager would give us the combo to the back way lock and turn on a power pedistal for us.We would carry what water we needed in milk jugs kept on the shower floor. The water system was winterized with plenty of antifreeze in the blackwater tanezek so the valves wouldn't freeze. Never used the grey water tank. There was a dump station about 10 miles from home open year round where I could dump every month or two. Slid backwards down a half mile icy steep grade near Cross Village one winter. Wouldn't want to do that part again. Would see quite a few camper pulling snowmobile in upper MI and in the UP. FWIW.

As far as I know, the tanks are hanging under the RV, exposed to the world. This RV was not sold in snow country, so the original purchaser may have felt it was unnecessary. But thanks; I'll look into that question.

Working around the water issue in your camper, the bigger threat is ice on the roads. If there is Ice on the roads, don't do it. It's just that simple. Winter, Ice, and Mountains just don't mix ... for any type of motorized transportation.

Winter time travel | Good Sam Community

Dakzuki
Explorer
Nov 04, 2017
Unload the G&T, and Mojito mixing stuff and prep for warm adult beverages. You should be good to go.
Photomike
Explorer III
Nov 04, 2017
Matt_Colie wrote:
Bill,

No Joking here.
We used to travel in winter all the time in an antique coach know to be poorly suited for bad roads. I have some things to share.

Most MH have the potable system inside the heated spaces, so they are not an issue. This often includes the potable tank, find out where it is.

Next, do your best to maintain 3 days of provisions. This is all Fuel, Food and Water. If things get bad, you may have to hold up a day or even two. The reason for three is that I have always been sort of paranoid. That may just be the biggest reason I managed to get old....

Have a CO monitor. Do not worry about the "RV" version, get one that is stand-lone and if it get beat up, frizby the thing and replace it. If you are running the gas heat, that uses both a lot of gas and a lot of DC power.

Be ready to wait while all the people that just have to be someplace else go and have the accident they need so they can go home and leave you alone. (That is why you need two days.)

Get a weather radio that works on its own batteries and carry at least one spare set. When things get bad, you will want this on all the time.

Most of all, be ready to watch the world go by.

Matt - tries to avoid this now.

Some great ideas! I carry a week of freeze dried food..... just in case!
Matt_Colie
Explorer II
Nov 03, 2017
Bill,

No Joking here.
We used to travel in winter all the time in an antique coach know to be poorly suited for bad roads. I have some things to share.

Most MH have the potable system inside the heated spaces, so they are not an issue. This often includes the potable tank, find out where it is.

Next, do your best to maintain 3 days of provisions. This is all Fuel, Food and Water. If things get bad, you may have to hold up a day or even two. The reason for three is that I have always been sort of paranoid. That may just be the biggest reason I managed to get old....

Have a CO monitor. Do not worry about the "RV" version, get one that is stand-lone and if it get beat up, frizby the thing and replace it. If you are running the gas heat, that uses both a lot of gas and a lot of DC power.

Be ready to wait while all the people that just have to be someplace else go and have the accident they need so they can go home and leave you alone. (That is why you need two days.)

Get a weather radio that works on its own batteries and carry at least one spare set. When things get bad, you will want this on all the time.

Most of all, be ready to watch the world go by.

Matt - tries to avoid this now.
pnichols
Explorer II
Nov 03, 2017
Steve,

We don't have any desire To Time Travel. HOWEVER, finding Time To Travel is a big deal with us. ;)
Community Alumni
Nov 03, 2017
We have camped in our 2009 Navion during sub-freezing temperatures as we travel four seasons. All the plumbing is inside the motor coach save the holding tanks which have 12Volt heaters. The only issues experienced were frozen dump valves. Hair dryer took care of that. If you have a diesel generator (common on Sprinters) be sure to have the oil appropriate for the season and run it everyday for a bit to ensure that it will start when needed. A small electric heater is good to have to maintain an even heat at night when AC is available and also is good for loading the generator when that is running. Just like a house in the winter, it is essential to keep the living space warm. Your Navion is probably plumbed with PEX pipe, so if a freeze up happens, PEX is somewhat forgiving and not subject to splitting open like rigid plastic or copper.

Time travel is possible not only in Winter. I have had my Navion up to 88 MPH (not advised during windy conditions) passing trucks, but that is not required for time travel. I have observed on numerous cross country trips that time advances when driving West to East and time reverses driving East to West. One time traveling at 75 MPH, I saw my cell phone time advance one hour. The Navion did not have optional Flux Capacitors, only the stock Diesel Particulate Filter and turbo charger and intercooler.
BillHoughton
Explorer II
Oct 31, 2017
DrewE wrote:
ScottG wrote:
Aw rats. I thought this thread was about time travel in the winter. :W

Time travel in winter is the same as time travel in summer. It generally goes along at a steady rate of approximately twenty-four hours each day, whether you want it to or not. :B

On the other hand, if you've got one of those really powerful V10 motors, and you accelerate long enough to approach light speed, time will appear to move more slowly to an outside observer.

Me, I've just got the five cylinder diesel in my Sprinter; I don't think I'll be able to get anywhere near light speed.

Thanks, folks, for the good advice here. Looks like it'll be feasible.
maillemaker
Explorer
Oct 31, 2017
When in the RV..using the furnace can get to be a power problem. I light one of the stove top burners...it's amazing how much heat is created.

I would be concerned about carbon monoxide poisoning.

Anyway for winter time travel all you have to do is hit 88 MPH and you'll see some serious stuff. :)

Steve
dave17352
Explorer
Oct 31, 2017
We use to use rock salt in the holding tanks and never had a problem with them freezing and that would be with temps getting down to 5 above at night when skiing.
DrewE
Explorer II
Oct 31, 2017
ScottG wrote:
Aw rats. I thought this thread was about time travel in the winter. :W

Time travel in winter is the same as time travel in summer. It generally goes along at a steady rate of approximately twenty-four hours each day, whether you want it to or not. :B
ScottG
Nomad
Oct 31, 2017
Aw rats. I thought this thread was about time travel in the winter. :W