Camping in sub freezing weather

[clintbrooks1767]

Hello all,

I'm new to RVing. Just bought a 5th wheel. I'm going to take it to Angel Fire NM this January and go snow skiing. I've been skiing in NM for almost 20 years and the temperature routinely can get to 20 or 30 degrees BELOW freezing.

My unit has a fully enclosed ducted/heated underbelly, heated basement, and heated storage tanks. I know I need to protect my water hose (if the resort has their city water turned on). I will turn on my tank heaters and plan to run my furnace while driving if I we encounter sub freezing temps during our drive. I will only plan on placing my sewer hose out when dumping and return to heated basement after use.

Can anyone who's been camping in sub freezing temperatures provide me with any advice? I'm trying to avoid common rookie mistakes encountered while camping in very cold weather.

Thank you in advance.

[GordonThree]

JimK-NY wrote:

GordonThree wrote:
Sheesh lots of naysayers and fraidy cats on here!

Have you camped in sub zero temperatures? The typical RV might do OK down to freezing but is just not likely to do well below zero. Even if the RV is set up to avoid frozen valves, pipes, and tanks, it will require LOTS of propane just to keep it useable. Condensation is likely to be another big issue. Water can condense on aluminum window frames and vent covers making them inoperable.

Yes, I camp year round in Michigan.

Haven't had any issues with condensation freezing anything shut. In addition to the furnace and electric heat, I run a dehumidifier. Me and my dog give off lots of moisture, so a powerful dehumidifier is important.

Typically my water system is winterized by December, so I don't worry about pipe or tank freezing.

When I was camping in Colorado and Utah in January, electric heat tape and pads, along with a hot water circulation system kept everything functional, even at -15F.

I was boondocking mostly, so the generator was running almost 24x7, and had dual 20# tanks plus a spare.

Lots of fuel was burned but such is the nature of extreme weather RV'ing.

[2oldman]

clintbrooks1767 wrote:
Thank you guys for all the responses

Is it 'below freezing' or below zero?

[JimK-NY]

Killing a 30# propane tank per day sounds about right. Even then the RV is not going to be comfortable. Be sure doors and emergency exits continue to work without being frozen shut. Open doors on any cabinets on exterior walls which are used for storing liquids. Never turn off your HW heater. The tank will freeze quickly. Check the entire RV and add insulation where possible. For example, exterior compartment doors are typically not insulated. Forget about showers and be careful with cooking to minimize any steam. Even then you will need some ventilation to minimize condensation and ice build up on interior surfaces.

[2oldman]

GordonThree wrote:
Sheesh lots of naysayers and fraidy cats on here!

Call us what you want, I'm not camping in that kind of cold.

[azrving]

I was stuck near denver in November years back with temps dropping to 7 at night. The furnace ran all the time and burned almost 30 pounds a day. I also ran an electric cube heater and another electric heater at night under the rig. I had boxed in the tank area under the rig with celotex panels from hd. I also had the silver bubble wrap on all the windows and a blanket over the door. Luckily when i headed south the roads were clear. There is no way in the world I’d pull an rv on ice or snow covered roads. I don’t know what each state uses for deicing their roads but I can’t imagine any of it thats good for the underside of an RV.

This is a run of the mill poorly insulated RV so higher quality could help

[time2roll]

And the top of the slide can accumulate ice from any precipitation that melts and freezes. I put a garden hose connector on my hot low point drain just to get some hot water up there to melt it off so I could roll out.

[JimK-NY]

GordonThree wrote:
Sheesh lots of naysayers and fraidy cats on here!

Have you camped in sub zero temperatures? The typical RV might do OK down to freezing but is just not likely to do well below zero. Even if the RV is set up to avoid frozen valves, pipes, and tanks, it will require LOTS of propane just to keep it useable. Condensation is likely to be another big issue. Water can condense on aluminum window frames and vent covers making them inoperable.

[HappyKayakers]

When it's below freezing outside, keep cabinet doors open inside under your sinks so they can also get heat.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

You might have a heated basement, but chances are pretty good that your low point drains are out in the open, along with the outlet for your black/gray tanks?

That was the case for our 5th wheel, so when we had to camp in 5-degree temps as we headed home one year, we FULLY winterized the camper, used a portapotty (urine freezes at 28 degrees) and the drinking/cooking/toothbrushing water came from a jug - anything that would have gone into the gray tank was dumped into a dishpan

[GordonThree]

Sheesh lots of naysayers and fraidy cats on here!

I would find someone local to you and work with them to outfit your trailer for very cold weather. Do NOT trust the manufacturer to have done anything to prep that trailer for what you're looking at.

My trailer has been modified and can camp during all four seasons, in Northern winter, not a chilly overnight in the South.

I wouldn't trust ducted heat. Use electric heating pads on tanks and electric heat tape on plumbing. Use the furnace too, keep it turned up. Extreme cold is not the place to cheap out and save energy.

100% agree with the previous recommendation for extra propane tank(s).

I setup my generator to run while driving to keep the electric heating systems active and avoid running the batteries down.

Don't expect to have any hook-ups at your campground. They may have a heated hose for you to fill with, I found finding open dump sites to be more problematic.

[CFerguson]

If its 20below at night, its gonna be PLENTY cold during the day as well. I agree with forget the hose and use bottled water + CG facilities. And a skirt if you have one. (for the 5er, not for you :W )

[clintbrooks1767]

Thank you guys for all the responses. Yes, it's a resort and they have full hook ups. I'm not sure if the water is turned on or not but just using my fresh water tank is a good idea. I believe this place has a propane filling station on site but I plan on calling ahead to check.

[gbopp]

jdc1 wrote:
You want advise about camping in a trailer in sub-freezing weather? Rent a room. It'll be cheaper than fixing all the stuff that'll freeze on that trailer.

That's good advice.

[2oldman]

clintbrooks1767 wrote:
I've been skiing in NM for almost 20 years and the temperature routinely can get to 20 or 30 degrees BELOW freezing..

I did some research and yes, it can approach zero degrees. But the way you worded it it may be mistaken for "below zero." That's way too cold to be in an RV.

5-10 degrees will not be pleasant. Like your a/c trying to keep you cool when it's really hot, your heater will likely be running 24/7, and you will need LOTS of propane.

[Thermoguy]

There are some good video's on youtube about low temperatures in an RV. One thing to not forget is your fridge. If it is propane, I think the refrigerant can gel or something? Can't quite remember all the details.

You did not say if you have power? Even so, using your furnace all day and all night, you will need a lot of propane. Do they have a supply at the mountain or do you have to drive somewhere to get more?

I have thought about using mine as we have a great mountain with power hookups, no water, but in the end decided it is too much work. Mine is not a 4 season, so no heated tanks, underbelly, etc. If it had those features, I would figure out what was needed to do it. We see RV's at the slopes all the time.