Yellowstone Next Week - Freezing Temps Concern

[InTheRockies]

I’ll be in Yellowstone next week in my TT and am concerned about temps dipping below freezing at night. My holding tanks are all exposed below the underbelly. I can easily run some RV antifreeze through my supply lines via the water pump and use water containers for my fresh water needs, but am not sure about the waste tanks. I won’t be able to avoid using the gray and black tanks. I can pour antifreeze in the drain lines but it will be diluted by the gray and black waste water. Is the answer just more antifreeze? Any temporary and easy insulation I can rig up for the exposed tanks and low point drains?

Forecasted low temps look to be around 30-35. Am I worrying too much?

Thanks in advance.

[PatJ]

I was worried my first few cold nights in my "new" (2019) rig as I do not have tank heaters or anything fancy like that. I have since spent many nights below 30 and two nights where I woke up to 20f and no issues so far. So far I have pictures in 5 states with snow all around my rig. I didn't try to flush tanks at 20f, but nothing broke dropping down there for a few hours late night/early morning and we used the rig normally. My drain/flush valves are what I was most concerned about.

[wa8yxm]

Another factor people forget
32 degrees F or 0 C is the freezing point of DISTILLED water at precisely one atmosphere pressure.. Different pressure will change the freezing (and boiling) points.
Impurities will also LOWER the freezing point (And generally raise the boiling point) That water in the black and gray tanks... VERY VERY Impure.

[InTheRockies]

Thanks for all the input. I’ll take the advice here and not worry about temps in the low 30s.

[SpeakEasy]

A couple weeks ago we experienced several nights below freezing in our travel trailer in Arizona and Utah. The coldest night was 24 degrees. Had absolutely no problems. The only thing I did to prevent problems was to remove the outside shower head from its hose and bring it inside. The valves for the outside shower were still vulnerable, but there wasn't much I could do for them other than keep the bathroom cabinet door open and the bathroom door open to allow warmer air to access the areas closest to the outside shower.

Temps around 30? Nothing to worry about.

-Speak

[Bionic_Man]

I've spent many days below freezing in my trailer. Sounds like I have a bit more insulation than you have, but I wouldn't worry. The heat from the trailer will keep you from freezing. One piece of advice - have at least half a tank of water in your fresh tank. I have been there when the water spigot froze, and I didn't have enough water in my fresh tank to last the day.

[agesilaus]

According to my FIL who was a manager for the Dept Of Agriculture, rapid freezing occurs at 26 deg F. And that means in an hour or two for a water hose. But up in the thirties it is not an issue if the temps are above freezing during the day, most of the time. We had a water hose freeze a few weeks ago outside Bryce, was not watching the weather closely. No big problem, thawed out in a couple hours, no damage.

[pianotuna]

I would not worry until 27 F.

[time2roll]

InTheRockies wrote:
Forecasted low temps look to be around 30-35. Am I worrying too much?

Yes. Most any RV is fine down to 25 while in use.

[ajriding]

Water freezes at 32, but where does affluent freeze?
For damage to be done your valves will need to freeze solid, and temps will need to be lower than 30 for a long time.
The solids will not expand like water when frozen, so that is good, but they contain high % of water still.
You will need some sort of tank heater (stick-on heating pads) if you do this a lot. You will need power though.

[Grit_dog]

Looks like 42/24 with rain and snow is the lowest temp.
Not to worry. Have fun!!

[InTheRockies]

I’m staying at Mammoth and using the forecast for Gardiner. Northern part of the park is the lowest elevation. Probably worrying too much so thanks for calming the nerves.

[agesilaus]

Martyn wrote:

InTheRockies wrote:

Forecasted low temps look to be around 30-35. Am I worrying too much?

Yes. 🙂

Probably it has to get down in the 20's for a quick freeze, but at YNP where is that forecast for exactly. There is a lot of altitude variation in the park. This one shows it in the 20's at the end of the week:
Wunderground YNP and it is for West Yellowstone. That's only 6700 ft. Yellowstone Village is almost at 8000 ft.

[Martyn]

InTheRockies wrote:

Forecasted low temps look to be around 30-35. Am I worrying too much?

Yes. 🙂

[Dave_H_M]

I would kick back and let her rip