Winter TT camping

[thrustblock]

Hey folks. I'm fairly new to the world of TT's. I'm an avid skier so want to mainly use it in the winter and am looking for advice on keeping my tanks from freezing.

My freshwater tank and water lines are inside the trailer (16' Kit Companion) and I have installed a Plat Cat heater that I leave running full time while out on the hill, so those freezing haven't been an issues.

My black and grey tanks are exposed under the trailer and i have wrapped most of those lines with some insulating tape. Where I'm running into problems are the short lines that come out of the tanks to the valves used for dumping...those have been freezing.

I've been thinking of making some sort of foam block to fasten around them when I park and get set up, but wondering if I should just be dumping antifreeze directly into the tanks every so often when I flush or do dishes.

Any tips would be most welcome!

[SteveAE]

Hi,

You have snow up there? Drizzle at Bach. this morning.

We also use our trailer mainly in the winter. And even with the enclosed and heated basement, I also have that problem......though not until temps drop into the low to mid teens for several days.
Since I usually dump at home into the septic tank, I just put a heater underneath for an hour or so prior to dumping. In cold weather (negative teens), I add an insulated box (open top) under the valve with a heater inside and let it cook.

I will have to give the hand warmer trick a try .... when the East coast folks stop hogging all the cold weather that is.

Steve

[handye9]

Ultraheat pipe and elbow heaters, could make a big difference. All depends on temperature and length of time the pipes are exposed.

I've used my TT for deer camp in North Dakota. Even with tank, elbow, and pipe heaters, along with some antifreeze in the tanks, I still had a frozen dump valve.

Second trip, I did same as the first, except, when heading back to town, I opened the cap on dump valve, inserted a couple disposable hand warmers, and put the cap back on. When I got back to town, removed the warmers and dumped the tanks with no problems.

This one will heat for up to 18 hours.

[2_Retired]

When we winter camped (our sons were snowboarders!) we simply used windshield washer fluid in the drains to keep the grey/black water lines from freezing. A gallon down the toilet and another down the sinks did the trick. Did this immediately after emptying the tanks, closed them up and added the fluid. Might work for you.

[RoyB]

I added some of the small 3-inch plastic VENTS (LOWES) on the inside walls of interconnecting cabinets inside the trailer. Just about all of my cabinets connect to each around the inside of my POPUP trailer.

On one end next to the POPUP trailer door I installed a 12VDC POSITIVE VENT AEXIAL FAN that is internal thermostat controlled that will pull positive air through all of my closed off cabinets. This pulls warm air from inside the trailer though-out the closed off cabinets...

I also have a couple of INVERTERs and my CONVERTER/CHARGER unit hat produces heat so this helps keep them cooler as well...

Seems to work for me keeping warmer air inside my closed off cabinets...

I got this idea from one of the guys on here that lives full time in his trailer.

Of course this doesnt address the underbelly tanks you need info on... Another guy on here uses HYDRONIC heat exchangers for his underbelly tanks. He uses hot water from his on board hot water tank and forces flow of hot water thru pipes around his underbelly tanks to keep them warm.

Roy Ken