A Women's RV Forum run by Women RVer's!

After reading Amy's post on another thread, I thought I would ask this. How do you verify that a RV is actually a 4 season rig? I know ours isn't, but shouldn't it say somewhere on the ones that are?

Vicky, while I have been looking at lots of rigs over the last few months, I have seen some that have a metal plaque by doors that say 4-season. I know the one I want isn't. I am not sure this is the only way to tell if it is.

I think certain brands or makes are all season or 4 seasons ...think Teton is one of them at least that is the reason
I've that they are so expensive..
sheila

Vicki, our Open Range is rated 4-season....I believe most Open Range RVs have that rating....hence, one of the reasons we picked the brand for full-timing...and as Dawn pointed out, ours does have the 4-season medal plaque by the door...

Something to be aware of - being 4-season doesn't always mean better. When working at Amazon the last 2 years - people with heated holding tanks were all telling me to be careful (mine aren't). But mine are in a storage area - as are the controls. One couple across from me with the 4 season rig - their tanks didn't freeze, but they couldn't pull out to dump - that did. Amazing what manufacturers do and don't think of.

One of the good things (and a reason I would prefer 4 season next time - IF the rig I eventually choose has it) is for the better insulation. But so far, not having it hasn't been too big of an issue for me and wouldn't be a deal breaker in my next rig.

Yep, I have tank heaters, put anti-freeze in the tanks, but when it comes time to dump, my valves are frozen. I've been thinking about getting a bulb and putting it out there with some type of protection, but that hasn't happened yet. I can definitely make plans, but putting them into effect seems to be beyond me.

There is a heat tape you can wrap around anything that might freeze and is more efficient than just a light bulb, but of course, that like your bulb, requires you to have electrical hookup. Battery won't help.

Mine has the polar package, but I don't think it is a 4 weater RV. My tanks are heated but I don't have insulated windows, etc. I don't plan on being anywhere where I would need a 4 weather RV.

I have had my black tank freeze a couple of years ago while living in southern UT. What pain in the butt! Took a week for it to thaw when the weather warmed up just enough to go over 32f. But the valve did freeze more than once. Thank goodness for hairdryers!!! I'm thinking that ya'll might remember me grumping big time about being outside on Thanksgiving Day thawing out my sewer hose and dump valve!! A long heat tape became my best friend working to keep my fresh water hose thawed out so that at least we had water.

Have made up my mind that a heat tape will go on my dump valve and fresh water hose next time I find myself in a situation where there is the chance that they will freeze again!!

What makes a rig four seasons? What does the tag/plaque by the door mean? Anyone I've asked if a MH is four season say that the water area is heated, but that's about it.

Cheryl, it should have extra insulation, as well as all the holding tanks heated, etc. But I do not know that there is a standard they have to meet - so would make sure on each rig/manufacturer with the claim to find out exactly what they did extra.

I have never seen a definition of exactly what any manufacturers mean by "4 season." The big thing is that I don't think there are any government or industry standards to use that term.

Do know, however, that even if your unit is protected against the weather, you will have a very hard time finding a place to stay in cold weather. I drove back to Michigan and Ohio last November, and even though the really cold weather had not started, I could not find an RV park with full hookups because they shut the water down to individual sites in early November. In addition, there are problems with dump sites being available. None at the individual sites were open, and only one in each park was available. Hard to get a water fill up also. And that was before the ground was even frozen!

I do know some people park trailers or motorhomes, and build skirts and put bales of hay or other insulation around them on private land, but I think you still would have to worry about getting water and dumping tanks.

My water tanks have heat ducts coming from my front and rear furnaces, but the compartments are not insulated, so that would not really prevent freezing at much below an occasionally chilly night--maybe briefly down just below freezing for a few hours.

There also seems to be different levels of protection. Heartland has Weather Guard which is suppose to be good from zero degrees to 100 degrees. I have an enclosed underbelly and as long as my heat is on it ducts air through he underbelly to keep tanks from freezing. The valves are also inside the belly to keep them from freezing. There is a Yeti package which adds tank heater pads and dual pane windows I believe but I have enough for what I need to do. If it gets too cold I turn off the hose and use the fresh water tank.

It's really a matter of what you need it to do and what you are willing to spend.

Yeah, I'll be in cold weather in NV for Amazon. I won't bother wrapping my hose - will just use my tank and keep it filled. Even wrapping the hose, it's a pain.

My rv is not winter savvy - but back when mine was built, most often the valves were enclosed - so my valves weren't freezing when some with 4-season rigs were finding theirs frozen, even though the tanks weren't. Go figure. But I was careful when it was cold, did not dump. Wait for sunny days where the valves are nice and warmed up - even if the air temps are cold. Basic desert things - as while it can be beautiful during the day in the desert - you also have some cold nights - sometimes more than you expect.