One Night of Freezing Temps...

[Kkrivo]

Hello, RVers! We are considering taking our TT out for one last adventure before we put it up for the winter. We live in Nebraska and want to go someplace not too far away. The location we are looking at is going to get down to 29 degrees one night. We are new to RVing this year and aren't really sure if that's too cold or not. We have a 2012 Forest River Patriot 29BH. It's not really set up for cold weather, but the temperatures are going to be in the upper 50s to 60s during the day.

Any tips, thoughts, or advice?

[rbpru]

We have been in 25 degree weather before we had any freeze issues, (a slow pump start). We keep the interior about 55 to 58 degree because we are out and about

Usually if the weather is below freezing for any amount of time we dry camp.

[arkie_guide]

I have spent winter in mine - in upstate New York, with no problems - just have to be prepared.Good luck.

[Lynnmor]

LAJMINNIEPLUS wrote:

buta4 wrote:

Harvard wrote:
Might be OK if there is no wind. A wind will cool to OAT faster. Personally, I do not play with fire or ice. JMO

Actually, wind chill has no effect on the speed water freezes. That's dependent on temperature alone.

Wind chill affects humans and animals only.

Wind chill cools all objects or materials until the temperature of the object lowers to the ambient temperature. Once the object reaches the ambient temperature, it can't go any lower regardless of how hard the wind blows. If a human goes out in cold weather, the wind chill will cool them until they reach the ambient temp. Of course, they would be dead by then. Wind does cool the water in the trough at a faster rate, but again, can only cool it down to the ambient temp.

What you folks are missing is the effect of evaporative cooling.

[LAJMINNIEPLUS]

buta4 wrote:

Harvard wrote:
Might be OK if there is no wind. A wind will cool to OAT faster. Personally, I do not play with fire or ice. JMO

Actually, wind chill has no effect on the speed water freezes. That's dependent on temperature alone.

Wind chill affects humans and animals only.

Wind chill cools all objects or materials until the temperature of the object lowers to the ambient temperature. Once the object reaches the ambient temperature, it can't go any lower regardless of how hard the wind blows. If a human goes out in cold weather, the wind chill will cool them until they reach the ambient temp. Of course, they would be dead by then. Wind does cool the water in the trough at a faster rate, but again, can only cool it down to the ambient temp.

[73guna]

My son and I went up to Lewis and Clark state park near Yankton Sd. last year.
25* 30mph winds.
Inside our camper was a bit chilly but no problems.
We had already winterized so no water was in the system.
Where are you guys going?

[profdant139]

We camp with night time temps in the high 20s all the time, with no precautions at all. Hardly ever run the furnace, except at shower time. Below 20 for an extended period is different -- a greater chance of freezing.

[NMDriver]

So you will be fine as long as there is no "wind" blowing across your toilet valve........:h :W

[wrenchbender]

Put rugs on the floor

[Johno02]

The reason for the wind breaks is not because it is colder, of that the wind is colder. The reason is that wind carries the heat away from the tanks faster, where if they are sheltered, there will be a small area of higher temp air around the tanks. Wind helps carry that air away, so the water gets cold faster. Just like a fan in your refrigerator helps make ice faster. Its not colder, just cools the water faster. Think about blowing across your coffee so that it doesn't burn your lips as bad.

[w8lpn]

Have fun and run the furnace as stated above. I have used several different campers throughout the years in November in WV during hunting season. Never had a problem. Always kept us warm. We hade temps a lot colder than 29, so from my expierience you should be fine

[coolmom42]

Johno02 wrote:
Disconnect and drain your outside water hose. Have onboard fresh water tank full.

Yep. Your tanks and plumbing will be fine. Do disconnect the water hose and run off your on-board tank.

It won't hurt to leave your cabinet doors open to allow heat to get to the plumbing.

With water at ambient temp of 50 F, it will take a LONG time even in the upper 20s to cool down even to 32F, and much more time to make the change to frozen.

As long as you have some reasonably mild days, you are fine.

[buta4]

Harvard wrote:
Might be OK if there is no wind. A wind will cool to OAT faster. Personally, I do not play with fire or ice. JMO

Actually, wind chill has no effect on the speed water freezes. That's dependent on temperature alone.

Wind chill affects humans and animals only.

[JIMNLIN]

Harvard wrote:
Might be OK if there is no wind. A wind will cool to OAT faster. Personally, I do not play with fire or ice. JMO

Yeah this is where cold soak and wind come to play with even just below freezing temps.
And much depend on how well the trailer is insulated.....and are the tanks underbelly and not heated......water line location.

Kinda like asking how big is a rock.....much depends.

[garyemunson]

Well, 'wind chill' is a term that describes the effect on our comfort level. A strong wind WILL cause things to cool down faster and pipes to freeze faster for the same reason it makes us feel colder. We generate internal heat (as your camper sort of does) and in still air, the boundary between your skin and the outside world will stratify and there will be a tiny zone next to your skin with warmer air that keeps you from feeling as cold. As the wind starts to blow, that stratification goes away and the air next to your skin is continually replaced by colder air that will absorb heat from your skin faster ( the drier it is, the quicker it will do that as it will evaporate moisture from your skin, too). Human activity inside your rig (and the furnace) generate heat that is constantly being lost to the outside through the poor insulation and windows. Wind will remove that "travelling heat" faster and make freezing pipes more likely to happen faster. A travel trailer WITHOUT an "Arctic package" could easily freeze up. We had one that had the plumbing underneath a thin plastic shield that afforded little insulation value unlike better rigs with all the piping placed in "conditioned space". Wasn't suitable for cold weather use. Got plenty of practice winterizing. Be careful...you don't want to have to be replacing your piping!