TT use in MD in Nov and Dec

[RavensFan24]

We have the 2015 Keystone Bullet Premier with the Thermal Package, which includes: Ducted Heated and Enclosed Underbelly, 2" Pipe off of Furnace to Underbelly, 30K BTU Furnace and Residential Heat Ducts, Radiant Heat and it has R-11 Insulation in the roof and floor and R-7 in the sidewalls. I am going to MD for a little over a month in Nov and Dec and was considering taking the TT with me, so I don't overstay my welcome anywhere and have my own space for myself, my GF and he 3 dogs. We've never spent any time up there in cold weather in the RV. My question is assuming I keep it heated around the clock and have something like this for a water source: Freeze Ban Heated Hose, do you think I'll have any issues with anything freezing?

Being a FL resident for most of our camping life, I rarely run into the winterizing or freezing issues and am curious if it's worth the risk or if I should just stay with family.

[colliehauler]

I would agree with getting a dehumidifier, with two people and dogs this would add greatly to the comfort level.

[SprinklerMan]

A friend of mine lived in his camper next to my garage for 2 years after a divorce . In Pasadena Md . Old camper , all he did was fill his water tanks once a week ,and used a portable tank to dump into my septic. Made a skirt to keep wind out from under the trailer , small electric heater under the trailer . He is still alive , we got some good snow .

[Lantley]

Dropping below freezing overnight is not that big a deal as long as temps rise above freezing during the day. In central MD you'll be pretty safe for the entire month of November

[tomman58]

Finding any campground open beyond Nov. 1st is a real challenge in MD.

[Doug33]

We plan on camping in MD in the first week of November. Beyond that would be risky. Here in NJ we're going down below freezing tonight, but that's pretty rare. Starting in mid-November, freezing nights are pretty common.

[Lantley]

hawkeye-08 wrote:
I would think you can do this, make sure you are prepared to winterize and keep an eye on the weather forecast. Worst case, you winterize and move in with relatives. I just received my cable chains for my tow vehicle yesterday, planning on dry fitting them this weekend and also seeing if the ones I have for trailer fit. I will have chains for truck and trailer when we go out in this fall/winter so I can travel if needed when weather is not perfect.

Our weather is not that severe in Nov./Dec. There will be no need to winterize. Chains are never required in the Balto. Metro area either.
The worse that could happen is a major snowstorm which is possible but not likely that time of year.
The fact that the OP plans to occupy/heat the unit is a big factor as well.
As long as I have my heat on my RV will not freeze in typical Nov. Dec. weather

[hawkeye-08]

I would think you can do this, make sure you are prepared to winterize and keep an eye on the weather forecast. Worst case, you winterize and move in with relatives. I just received my cable chains for my tow vehicle yesterday, planning on dry fitting them this weekend and also seeing if the ones I have for trailer fit. I will have chains for truck and trailer when we go out in this fall/winter so I can travel if needed when weather is not perfect.

[dahkota]

We spent last November and December just south of Baltimore and will spend this November and December in the same area. Before that (Before Fulltiming) we lived there and never winterized until January; we camped November and December without problems.

In that area it typically (usually but not always) doesn't go below freezing for more than a couple of hours at night. Make sure you are parked where early morning sun hits the tt and you will save a bunch on propane heating.

[RavensFan24]

Thanks for all the info guys. Now it's time to see what the lady wants to do.

[Heavy_Metal_Doc]

Lantley wrote:
I live in the area you plan to visit. Bring the trailer. you'll be fine. Yes it can and will go below 32º overnight but it generally does not stay below 32ºfor the entire 24 hour period. Temps during the day will warm up above freezing.
For the last 10 years I have camped through Thanksgiving without issue. If I were occupying my rig I could easily make it through December.
Consider filling you fresh tank with water and using it for your water source vs. using a hose which could freeze overnight. You may consider pouring a little anti freeze in your empty waste tanks to keep dump valves from freezing
If your friends have a plumbing cleanout in their yard that is accessible you could get a Barker portable waste tote and dump you tanks via the tote.
Using the tote would allow you full use of your bathroom 24/7.
Bottom line don't hesitate to bring it. As long as you have no hard deadlines and can wait out a snowstorm if it happens you'll be fine.
While certainly possible major snow is not likely in Nov./Dec. You know I just jinxed you and we'll have a blizzard!

I'll second that -- I'm on the edge of the mountains / western MD and I use my TT for a guest house when the kids come visit from NY all year round with the exception of Mid-Jan through the end of Feb when it can actually stay down in the teens for days at a time.
We are getting a little frosty now and I will winterize soon since it is not being used at all, but I would not worry about it if I where staying in / keeping heat on.

[Lantley]

I live in the area you plan to visit. Bring the trailer. you'll be fine. Yes it can and will go below 32º overnight but it generally does not stay below 32ºfor the entire 24 hour period. Temps during the day will warm up above freezing.
For the last 10 years I have camped through Thanksgiving without issue. If I were occupying my rig I could easily make it through December.
Consider filling you fresh tank with water and using it for your water source vs. using a hose which could freeze overnight. You may consider pouring a little anti freeze in your empty waste tanks to keep dump valves from freezing
If your friends have a plumbing cleanout in their yard that is accessible you could get a Barker portable waste tote and dump you tanks via the tote.
Using the tote would allow you full use of your bathroom 24/7.
Bottom line don't hesitate to bring it. As long as you have no hard deadlines and can wait out a snowstorm if it happens you'll be fine.
While certainly possible major snow is not likely in Nov./Dec. You know I just jinxed you and we'll have a blizzard!

[bulldogfan]

I live in MD and its already getting pretty cool in the morning. low to mid 40s all this week. Not looking forward to the next couple of months since they are calling for a cold winter up here.

[fitznj]

You'll be fine; I have a TT without the "winter" features that you have and I camp in NJ, MD, VA (Assateague) during Nov/Dec (and occasionally in Jan) with no(?) problems.

I don't need to keep the furnace on - in fact I switch it off when we go to bed. It is usually close to 40deg when I wake up but nothing is frozen. The only time I had a problem, was during a really cold spell when the fresh water tank froze up during the night but once I got the heater/furnace on, it soon thawed out.

You won't get bitterly cold/multi-days during Nov/Dec in MD. It will get below freezing during the night but warm up (relatively) once the sun comes up.

Jan/Feb is when you get the prolonged bitterly cold days.

go for it - winter camping is great

gerry

[RavensFan24]

Yes, I'd park in a relatives driveway. They have a nice flat spot with a 30amp hookup and water. No sewer though, so I'd have to use their bathroom or pack up shop and take it to a nearby campground to dump every once in a while. We spent 3 weeks up there in the summer in the same spot and only used the bathroom for late night trips and used the house the rest of the time and it worked out.

I learned my lesson on propane when we first started RVing. We were in Oregon in October and met up with a friend. We went out for the night and invited her back to the RV to check it out and hang out for a bit. I kicked the heat on and it seemed to be blowing, but the RV never got any warmer, so I go out and switch to the other tank...only to find out that one was already empty. Needless to say, she didn't hang out long. We had to use the dog as a heater that night by having her lay in between us in bed. After that incident, I make sure I ALWAYS have propane.

I'm driving either way, it's just a matter of deciding if having the trailer with me is worth the effort. I'm all too familiar with MD winters, but the thought of it potentially snowing a lot and not being able to get the trailer out of MD when we need to is not something I want to deal with. I remember when we left MD for FL in February of 08, I needed 2 pipe wrenches spun in opposite directions just to get my hitch lock unfrozen, so I could hitch up the trailer.....it was 14 degrees that day. I don't expect it to get that cold in Nov/DEC...but ya never know!