are hybrid trailers cold in winter?

[lancekeys]

I don't do well in the cold, I don't mind it while I am out and about, but sleeping is another thing. When I had a pop up (old and broke down) I would get cold from the bottom side while sleeping. Has anyone else had this problem with hybrids? Is there much that you can do about it? I went from the pop up to a fifth wheel, now I want to go to something a little smaller.

[Mcdonald684]

Camped New Years week was in the 20s at night heater worked good nice and warm

[Yak]

One winter camp

[Padlin]

Very few trailers, be the travel trailers, fifth wheels, or hybrids, are made for full time use. I've not heard of anyone putting a hardside bumpout in one. To put in a loft something like a fifth wheel you need good bracing in the front where the loft meets the body, you'd have to do some big time modifications for such. On my fifth wheel, the frame is extended up and under the loft area.

[AmericaOverland]

bikendan wrote:
but if you're living in it, yes you made a mistake choosing a hybrid.
popups and hybrids aren't designed for that kind of lifestyle.

That's correct. It was a purchase made in a hurry, bought used from someone. Won't make that mistake. Meanwhile I'm doing what I can to keep it in repair.

[bikendan]

AmericaOverland wrote:
I realize a hybrid is not the best set up for me. I've had mine since March, and I live in it with the fold-out closed up at all times. The fabric won't stand up to sun exposure year-round. I thought it was a great idea, but it leaks down at the bottom near the hinge at the sides. Not a good idea for long-term use.

first, are you using PUGs or the generic solar blankets for the canvas ends? we lived in California for 8 of the years we've owned our hybrid and the fabric easily handled the sun exposure.

but if you're living in it, yes you made a mistake choosing a hybrid.
popups and hybrids aren't designed for that kind of lifestyle.

[AmericaOverland]

I realize a hybrid is not the best set up for me. I've had mine since March, and I live in it with the fold-out closed up at all times. The fabric won't stand up to sun exposure year-round. I thought it was a great idea, but it leaks down at the bottom near the hinge at the sides. Not a good idea for long-term use. I have wondered if I could have a permanent extension made in place of the fold-out platform and fabric, almost like a fifth-wheel, but shorter to provide clearance for my Jeep...

[atreis]

Keeping a roof vent opened a little is necessary - people exhale quite a lot of moisture over the course of a night.

PUGs help some too.

If it's both cold and very rainy, there's not all that much you can do except try not to disturb the tenting too much.

[PAThwacker]

X2. That lessonis taught during the tenting days.

[bikendan]

joedekock wrote:
My only complaint is that the trailer accumulated a lot of moisture by the morning. All the windows were covered and when we packed up, under the mattress was a little wet from moisture too. I think next time I will get a small dehumidifier to help with this.

sounds like you sealed up your trailer like a submarine!
you have to allow for air movement. keep a roof vent open and open a bit of the tent window.
some hybrid owners put their bunk fans on low.
if you seal up any RV, let alone hybrids, you'll get condensation if the air isn't allowed to flow, especially where you sleep.
and since the sleeping area of a hybrid, is a low ceiling tent, that moist air that you're breathing out will collect on the tent's ceiling.

air movement is the cure, along with PUGs.

now moisture under the mattress is different, in a way. i've had success with an old wool blanket underneath.
hybrid mattresses have either a fabric bottom or vinyl bottom. the fabric ones sometimes collect moisture overnite, the vinyl ones apparently don't.
again, allowing for some air underneath will solve this. same thing happens on boats, due to being on water. there are a number of expensive products for boats that deal with mattress condensation.
some hybrid owners have gone to a thicker mattress or foam topper to get the body heat farther away from the cooler bed platform.

[Tlauden]

So, how does everyone combat the moisture problem? If you pack up a HTT with moisture on the inside, I guess when you get home open it up and just let it vent a while even in the winter?

[joedekock]

We have had a hybrid for our first season this year. Just did a weekend in northern Michigan which is cold at night this time of year. We have the PUGs, and the reflectix for the tent end windows. In order to conserve money on heat I bought a $35 electric ceramic space heater. Now mind you that we didnt have the kids for this trip so we only opened up one of the three tent ends.

The outdoor temps got down to 38 degrees Fahrenheit at night. The trailer with the PUG and reflectix in the one tent end we had open was plenty warm. The ceramic heater shut off often even at night. My only complaint is that the trailer accumulated a lot of moisture by the morning. All the windows were covered and when we packed up, under the mattress was a little wet from moisture too. I think next time I will get a small dehumidifier to help with this. Also, I slept on the outer most part of the tent end and it was colder. I noticed if I put my foot in the corner of the canvas on the outer most part of the tent end it was "freezing". (But I was sleeping bare foot).

We were talking after this trip about whether or not a TT vs. a HTT is better for the colder camping. I love the space of the HTT, I love that you still feel like your camping with the tent ends, I love the lighter weight of the HTT as well. I would assume that it would be a sustained warmer temperature at night in a TT. It takes extra time for sure to setup a HTT with the tent ends and putting PUGs on them, and reflectix in the windows. So the pro's and cons are all there for a TT vs. a HTT including the heating in the cold.

[AnOBRN]

This group recommended PUGS and reflectix and what a huge difference! Keeps you warm when it's cold and cool when it's hot. We also have an electric blanket and it's a great/cheaper option than sleepings bags since I sleep with two little ones in the front end.

[bikendan]

calwb wrote:
I am new to htt can someone tell me what you mean by PUGS and Reflectix. I plan on doing some cold weather camping and hunting and would like to stay as warm as possible.

PUGs stands for PopupGizmos. just Google them for all the info about their products.
you can make your own PUGs out of similar materials. usually they are the generic 5x7 blankets. they often come with grommets.
Google "all-weather or sportsman blankets".

Reflectix is a building construction reflective/insulating material that comes in rolls. can find at HD or Lowes. goes inside the tent end windows, between the canvas and the mesh.
PUGs makes a inside-the-tent wrap-around liner, similar to Reflectix.

[Oasisbob]

We camp ten months a year and do at times in the snow. Cokdest I recall might have been last year at 11 degrees and wind. Ran the electric heater non stop and dehumidifier as well. No one was cold. Yes bunk covers. No matress extras. Our bunk ends are pretty draft proof with bungees holding sides tight so no drafts. That's our experience after `10 years of hybrid