Cold Weather Camping Problems

[Readytogo]

You all don't forget Judy's from MI! What's cold to us down south is downright balmy to her!!! Heehee!

[JudyJB]

Hey, Readytogo, you are right! I will wear shorts and a jacket during the day even down to 45 degrees! I used to have only a short handicap parking walk into my office and many chilly days I would skip my jacket and just run in.

I will worry less when night temps stay consistently above freezing so I don't have to worry about that. Plus, I do have a heavy down comforter tucked away in my underbed storage and a lighter one, if I need either. Now I just use a light coverlet with a light down throw at night.

In Michigan, when spring hits and the temps during the day get up to 45, especially if the sun is shining, it feels like a heat wave. So if you go to Florida, those of you wearing winter coats will recognize us by our summer wear in winter!!

Got to admit, though, those 5 months in warmer climates has really changed my temperature sensors!!

[Bethers]

No insulated curtain, I am afraid. I did get a fresh tank of propane today so I am set for a while. I will be leaving early tomorrow anyway.

Bethers, does that apply even though my water tanks and water pump are in my outside storage compartments? The compartments are ducted through the furnaces, front and back, and I was told I need to use them when the temps dropped belong freezing. You are right that the temps have not been that low, but I did have some ice from washing my vehicle on the outside of one of the compartment doors. I figured the stuff in my cabinets and under my sink would be fine because the inside of the coach is going to be warmer than those compartments.

Anyway, early tomorrow morning, headed SOUTH to warmth, and I will be able to shift into my shorts and t-shorts soon!!!

Yes, Judy it applies to those also. The liquid in the black tank rarely freezes - the grey can more easily. As long as the tank isn't full, it's not really a problem - as the ice expands (why you don't want it full). What can happen is that the valves freeze (and that happens on rigs with heated holding tanks - as the valve isn't part of the "heated" part. Never force the valve if it's really cold out. We had one occasion in KY 2 winters ago when temps never rose above the low 20's even during the day - and people were trying to use blow dryers, etc, to open their valves. I just opened the compartment to the sun - funny - as cold out as it was, the sun on the valve warmed it up just fine. And not dumping for another day or two, no problem. Cuz, my valve opened, but my grey tank water was frozen for a couple days. Black tank, never froze.

Oh, and I've seen the folks who wrap their hoses, etc etc - for cold temps. Then run water overnight to not let the water freeze. Be careful if you do this. At the north rim to the Grand Canyon when working there - one couple didn't have the drip dripping enough, and the water in the sewer line froze - guess what that meant? The drip backed up and into the rig - they had everything soaked by the time they realized it. I just would unhook my water - and rehook during the day as necessary.

Worst problem I ever had in a house was when an outside faucet froze and there was a line to it in the wall of the house. We had no clue - but come springtime - oh, we had a water mess. Thank God I didn't have to replace the drywall, etc. So....

What you do NOT want to have freeze are the lines INSIDE to plumping, etc. Those can explode when they thaw. Or simply develop little leaks. So, if you have heat going inside, and if it's REALLY cold, open cabinet doors, etc - protect those lines. And running the propane heat a little bit to the compartments doesn't hurt (I don't have that at all - so doesn't matter which heat I use).

[JudyJB]

Good advice, Bethers! Guess we all learn from experience.

Both black and grey tanks are pretty empty, but fresh water is full, so that is a concern. Did not intend to travel with so much fresh water, but ended up changing plans after I had filled it. Will be dumping grey tomorrow night and trying to use up some of fresh by then.

[Bethers]

I doubt very much your fresh water tank will freeze if you're keeping the riff inside above freezing. But, yes, it's good you have a little room for expansion, just in case. Your fresh water tank is probably under your bed or under your dinette, but not in an outside compartment.

[JudyJB]

Actually this RV has a truss structure instead of a flatbed floor. All of the tanks are in the middle of the vehicle in a row from front to back and are under the floor accessible from the basement. I can see them with a flashlight when I look in compartments through a shallow pass-through area.

Hard to describe the floor platform but the truss system makes the floor 4" higher than most class Cs and is one reason I bought it. It ends up giving me a sort of double floor. I saw this during a factory tour before i bought it. It is sturdy and tank placement is good. Does make step down into cab bigger.