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What to pack for ice storms?

mlts22
Explorer
Explorer
Of course, winter is still a ways off. However, for Texas, the time after October becomes prime camping season because one doesn't have to have a generator and A/C running for most of the day.

Blizzards are a non-issue in my neck of the woods, however the one thing that can strand someone in an area and cause serious problems for days are ice storms. Weather gets below freezing, rain hits, and in a few hours, not even four wheel drive vehicles with snow chains are going to help much with black ice.

What I'm trying to figure out is what to pack for an ice storm, just to have on hand if one hits while I'm boondocking. Currently, I already pack a few days of food/water, as well as plenty of gasoline for my generator. I even take a 12Ah portable battery so my electronic devices can be recharged at will if need be.

Other items I'm looking at:

1: A Big Buddy heater with a long fuel hose (so it can be piped through the electric cord mousehole and to a 20# propane bottle.) I normally would never use one of these, as the propane furnace is better/safer in virtually every way (except they use far more propane), but if there is an electrical failure or a battery dies, I would still have heat.

2: A few bottles of cheap vodka or RV antifreeze, whatever is cheaper. This would be used to flush the toilet with.

3: Two cases (24 total) of Coleman 16 ounce propane bottles. These would be used with the above mentioned propane heater or a portable stove.

4: An electric heater that would run from the generator if I ran out of propane entirely. I would likely have it run directly from an extension cord so there isn't any chance of overheating the rig's electrical wiring.

5: A propane stove and table to put it on.

Anyone have any suggestions for what else to bring, or have dealt with ice storms while camping?
20 REPLIES 20

rolling_rhoda
Explorer
Explorer
An axe and a small chain saw might be handy too for dangling broken limbs or cutting a path through a blocked roadway.

wa8yxm
Explorer III
Explorer III
What to pack.. swim trunks, Sun block, Master Card, Visa and a map with directions to southern Florida on it sounds good to me.....

Seriously, Pack as you would for a camping trip. Just pack warmer cloths.

Have been through many ice storms.. In 25 years of living in Detroit I lost 1 day of work due to weather.... and a lost bolt on the drive shaft.

Had I not lost the bolt... i'd have gotten to work. But then I was an Emergency Dispatcher.
Home was where I park it. but alas the.
2005 Damon Intruder 377 Alas declared a total loss
after a semi "nicked" it. Still have the radios
Kenwood TS-2000, ICOM ID-5100, ID-51A+2, ID-880 REF030C most times

christopherglen
Explorer
Explorer
I would also pack a propane lantern. It will generate heat and light without using battery power. And battery / led flashlights.
I wouldn't bother with a tent, just park the TV upwind.
2007 Chevrolet 3500 CC/LB Duramax/Dually 4X4 Mine r4tech, Reese Signature Series 18k +slider, duratrac, Titan 62 gallon, diamond eye, Cheetah 64
2011 Keystone Fusion 405 TrailAir & Triglide, Centerpoint, gen-turi, 3 PVX-840T, XANTREX FREEDOM SW3012, G614

loggenrock
Explorer
Explorer
camperpaul wrote:
Chains are worse than useless; they give a false sense of security.


Huh???

You need better chains, or more info! I spend a LOT of time on ice around here all winter, both in my own vehicles and professionally responding to emergencies. I keep chains in all my vehicles, and we have "automatic" On-Spot chains on the apparatus. If you hit ice, these will keep you going. Not at 65 mph...! Keep 'em tight, and SLOW DOWN!

Check out www.tirechains.com - they have an excellent selection of various styles, etc.

ST
Two and a hound in a 2015 Coachmen Prism "B+"...pushed by '09 Suby Forester
First 50 done, working on the second pass! Nunavut - we'll see...!
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camperpaul
Explorer
Explorer
Michael in MN wrote:
mlts22 wrote:
Weather gets below freezing, rain hits, and in a few hours, not even four wheel drive vehicles with snow chains are going to help much with black ice.

Tire chains are exactly what I'd want on black ice.

Chains are worse than useless; they give a false sense of security.

The only substitute for skill is studs and most states have outlawed them.
Paul
Extra Class Ham Radio operator - K9ERG (since 1956)
Retired Electronics Engineer and Antenna Designer
Was a campground host at IBSP (2006-2010) - now retired.
Single - Full-timer
2005 Four Winds 29Q
2011 2500HD 6.0L GMC Denali (Gasser)

Michael_in_MN
Explorer
Explorer
mlts22 wrote:
Weather gets below freezing, rain hits, and in a few hours, not even four wheel drive vehicles with snow chains are going to help much with black ice.


Tire chains are exactly what I'd want on black ice.
-----------------------------
LivinLite Camplite 16BHB
2015 Silverado 1500

mlts22
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks for the info. The 16 ounce Coleman containers are easy to just slide into a storage compartment for use later on and forget about. I can use these with a propane stove without issue. The Buddy heater is something to have for emergencies. I've used one when tenting in 15 degree weather, and the best thing is to have it run from a large propane bottle. Else, one wakes up every 2-4 hours freezing buns off and having to change out the small cans.

As for an extension cord, I agree about the typical cord -- the usual cords sold are not rated to carry anywhere near 15 amps. However, I just use two Camco adapters and one of my 30A, 10/3 extension cables. It isn't that the TT's wiring is obviously bad, but I just don't trust it to carry such a high wattage. From what people state here, RV wiring isn't exactly top tier stuff, so where house wiring can handle the full wattage indefinitely, it might be pushing it with RV wiring (which isn't needing to conform to as strict a wiring code.)

The cash idea is a very good suggestion. I never even thought about that, especially these days where one can run transactions using Square, PayPal, Google Wallet, or another without needing to bother with a merchant account.

De-icer is also good. With my current rig, that will give me more weight on the pickup's rear axles.

The suggestion about skirting is a good one. The wind where I boondock can easily go over 55mph, sometimes into the 60-70 mph for gusts. It isn't as good as a complete RV skirting solution, but I can always place a storage tent directly upwind, and make sure it is well secured (I might try the Toughstakes I've seen offered, just to give it a thorough product review, but I've had good luck with the corkscrew-shaped pet tie downs so far.) By placing heavier items inside, it should stay put and create a decent windbreak.

Ice storms are rare (last big one I remember was circa 1997), but it is a major hazard if/when it does happen.

peaches_cream
Explorer
Explorer
Be sure to pack plenty of "ICE".

weathershak
Explorer
Explorer
You get about 5 1/2 hrs burn time on a buddy 9000 btu heater, set on low, using a 1 lb bottle.
Full timing it since July 2012

mockturtle
Explorer II
Explorer II
My Olympian Wave 6 catalytic heater uses propane VERY efficiently. I have a quick release valve to the propane tank line. And best of all, it uses no battery and is completely silent.
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Happy_Prospecto
Explorer
Explorer
I guess that is why I have heard that "Texas is a good place to be from".
Kevin
Retired, Fulltime RV'er, 1999.5 F350 4X4 CC Diesel Flatbed
2007 Alpenlite Defender Toyhauler, 2019 Polaris Ranger
Bob, the Yorkie Terrier helping me prospect til the money runs out

Gruffy
Explorer
Explorer
" An electric heater that would run from the generator if I ran out of propane entirely. I would likely have it run directly from an extension cord so there isn't any chance of overheating the rig's electrical wiring"

If your wiring is in such poor condition your afraid to plug in a heater you have bigger problems then ice storms. Your likely to create nothing but grief by running extension cords and propane lines. Your camper should be wired with 14 AWG wire .... your extension cord 16 or 18 AWG ..... much lighter wire not rated to carry 15amps.

2012Coleman
Explorer II
Explorer II
Bring the girl - use less propane.
Experience without good judgment is worthless; good judgment without experience is still good judgment!

2018 RAM 3500 Big Horn CTD
2018 Grand Design Reflection 303RLS

dahkota
Explorer
Explorer
I would want the same things I have at home - de-icer, sand, and salt.

We camp during the winter around here - no big deal. We keep our furnace low (65-55) but keep it running for our heated underbelly. The heat radiating from the tt will melt the ice on it - they really aren't insulated that well. We keep our water tank full - more water takes a lot longer to freeze.

We did figure out that the worst enemy is wind - with or without snow or ice. We were on top of a mountain in 25 mph winds during a snow storm. The wind sucked away any heat making it colder than it really was, forcing the furnace to work harder. A tarp blocking the wind from coming under the tt would have been very useful for conserving heat and protecting our water tanks.
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States camped: all but Hawaii
more than 1700 days on the road