"Dry" Camping - Cold Weather

[MTBob]

For the first time we are "dry" camping - that is we did not load our camper with fresh water for this trip. We have been traveling from Montana to southern Utah and will return to Montana in about 2 weeks and will likely see night time temps down in the teens when we go through Jackson, Yellowstone and back into Montana.
The camper was previously winterized in Montana since we had subzero temps there before we left, all water lines are blown clear, hot water tank is empty.
So, what we've done is carry 4, 1 gallon water containers for potable water use, using them and filling as we go. We are using both the grey and black tanks for appropriate uses. When we get back to cold country I'll add a liberal amount of Pink Antifreeze in both tanks and keep the sink traps filled with it too.
Hopefully, when we get home the temps will be sufficiently high (above 20 degrees, or so) to allow me to dump the grey and black tanks. If not I suppose I'll add a bit of warm water to the tanks to get a dump.
I think I'll also leave the dump valves open ... at least the grey tank to make sure the dump valves don't freeze during the winter.

Any thoughts on how you folks "Dry" camp?

[d3500ram]

I am always dry camping and when doing so in the winter it is similar to how the OP does it, the only exception being that I can use the cassette toilet- just use RVAF or WW fluid in lieu of water.

I will often use the domestic water in winter. I have added valves to isolate the city water inlet and outdoor shower valves so that no fresh water gets to those components on the exterior wall. I am able to pull the outdoor shower hose to the inside keeping it in the warm. Depending on the temp, I will just leave the heater on the lowest setting and it is able to keep things from freezing allowing me to use the shower in winter camping and hunting conditions.


on edit: speeling corekshun.

[MTBob]

bighatnohorse wrote:
Camping is supposed to be fun. Not a test of endurance.

Hey, that's a great user name, love it!
You're right... DW thinks it should be fun, I think of it as a challenge. Therein lies the opportunity to meet in the middle.
For those of us who live in winters that reach -30F, life can be a bit of an endurance test. As we get older, perhaps we'll annually migrate to warmer climates.

Bob

[bighatnohorse]

Camping is supposed to be fun. Not a test of endurance.

[hedge]

I do exactly this in the winter, leaving the camper winterized and using a container for fresh water. I've had no issues at all other than finding a dump station. I just flush with a/f or windshield washer fluid, have to use campground facilities for showers.

The coldest we've stayed in our camper has been -25C, that's a bit cold for it but it's pretty good down to -20C.

[MTBob]

GordonThree - you are a tough dude, and obviously a talented RV'er to upgrade your camper to handle -15. That's when things start getting a bit chilly up north.
As far as "Dry" camping - well I suppose it's semantics. Since I never camp with hookups anyway - call it boondocking - to me not having 40 gallons of water on board is a bit "drier" than normal. Call it "Semi-Dry" camping.
I don't leave the black tank dump valve open, ugh, that would be a bit nasty. I use about the same amount of flush water from my water jug as is used during "normal' flushing.
For the temps that I'll see - in the 20's - using a mixture of pink antifreeze will work OK, not perfect, but OK.
And, since we live in Montana, we take showers every other full moon. We discovered some time ago that there are other ways of washing instead of showering.
Bob

[2oldman]

Pink Af is not supposed to be diluted. I never camp the way you are describing. It's not pleasant. What are you doing for showers?

[toedtoes]

Dry camping is camping without hookups. What you are doing is not "dry camping".

Leaving the blank tank valve open will only let the water out, any solids will remain and will stick. Not pretty.

[GordonThree]

December 2015 I spent a month driving from Michigan to Utah, hit nine National Parks there and then onto Death Valley.

Coldest temps I experienced were in the plain states... Lowest was -15F.

I didn't winterize, instead doing battle with old man winter.

All exposed sewer plumbing is wrapped with aluminum, then heat tape, more aluminium and finally reflectix. Fresh line from the pump also heat taped. 240 watts of heat pads on exposed holding tanks. Finally hot water recirculation system keeps the rest of the water system limber.

In the truck bed a little blue generator worked tirelessly, only taking breaks for fuel or when temps were above 40.

First few years I did true dry camping in the trailer, not even using the waste tanks... No more of that!