Last Minute trip to Yosemite

When we went out camping for thanksgiving 3 nights the temp was 24 degrees and we were fine. We weren't at Yosemite.

We got down to 0 degrees at Yosemite and even got snowed in. Left due to a house battery failure, one day earlier than planned. Only open road was by way of Merced.

I think you will be ok. I would fill my onboard water tank and not use the city water connection at night. Put that hose where it won't freeze and use water from your tank until temp is above freezing. Enjoy.

You mite take a drop light with a 100 watt bulb and put it in the bay with the water connections, plug it into the power post.

Only a few times have we overnighted in freezing temps. Always successfully, and yes, always very cold! A work light/ drop light in the bays is advised, previous post said 100 watt but they are hard to find in California and a 60 watt bulb gives off a quite a bit of heat. Since we are in a drought the idea of letting water run through the lines is anything but PC. Disconnect your hose from the RV at night, letting the water drain from the hose. Keeps the hose from freezing up. Make sure you have enough propane, the electric RV heater usually defaults to propane when it gets too cold. Assuming you have full hookups take an electric heater along for the ride. Be prepared for chain requirements on the road.

The few times we camped in temperatures that low all we did was remove the city water line and turned on the holding tank heaters.

-Michael

Are your tanks exposed to outside air or are they inside compartments?

Doug

Hi,

My buddy was in Yosemite many years ago in February. When his tanks froze, he drove to Fresno where it was much warmer, and the tanks thawed overnight, and he was able to drain the next day.

Because you will have electric, I would recommend taking a electric heater and not use the Mr Buddy heater ever (something about a high pressure propane tank with a relief valve that will spray out propane next to a hot flame scares the heck out of me).

If you do find the water pump or tank is frozen, then put your electric heater near it for a while.

Is your pump inside? Perhaps under a dinette seat? Or in a storage compartment? If you can put the heater near the pump, it will both warm that area, and keep the tank warmer, so you can take a longer and warmer shower too!

I have dry camped in 19F with no problems, using my Olympic Catalytic heater and some use of the furnace. I have also lived in my RV at 20F overnight in Portland OR for a couple of months in a campground with power, and ran 3 electric heaters to keep everything warm and working.

Good luck,

Fred.

Thanks for all the words of advice. Much appreciated. This will be our first really cold weather trip with freezing temps at night. For us SoCal folks 25f is VERY COLD. :) The good news is the daily hi will be close to 50f so that should heat things up during that day.

I have my tire chains ready to use just in case. Looks like we may get a little snow while there but mostly at night while sleeping according to the forecast for now any way. We'll see what happens.

My black and grey tanks are exposed to the air. We have a 24ft class C. Very basic no frills RV. The fresh water tank is inside and not as exposed. We rarely hook up to water connections anyway so we will fill our water tank and use that.

Does putting a little anti-freeze in the black and grey tanks help since they are exposed? I have honestly read so much varying info on this topic that I am not sure anymore.

25 should be fine while in-use running the furnace. Even down to 20 most RVs will survive just fine. Just use the camp showers and dump near home if needed.