Do many of you camp overnight in RVs on sled trips? We are about to get a Class B RV (camper van) and it would be a big bonus to be able to use it for occassional overnight stays on long sledding days. If its even possible, what does it take to stay somewhat comfortable through below freezing nights in one of these things?
Overnight RV camping in winter
- Thread starter 97exc
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Well I manage a campground in Montana, and most rigs are not set up for winter use!!some are but, most not! a class b would probably do OK just because it is a van,might want to think of some kind of portable skirting just to keep the cold out from underneath the van that will help with keeping things from freezing maybe a heat lamp as well ??? Alot of campgrounds close for the winter but im sure you could find some? We are open for the winter so fell free to come on in plenty of room that time of year, and we are all sledneck!!:rockon::rockon:
Just to be safe you can just do to it without water in your system...use bottled to drink/wash up. Use water with some antifreeze in the septic if you want to use the facilities.
You can go a few days that way. Slides can get covered in snow and ice if you have them out. You can lay down a tarp...or just bring some extra bottles of antifreeze to free up any joints that may ice up.
I do it usually once a season in a non winterized Fifth wheel. Not till end of the season usually though...when temps are freezing...but not super deep.
You can go a few days that way. Slides can get covered in snow and ice if you have them out. You can lay down a tarp...or just bring some extra bottles of antifreeze to free up any joints that may ice up.
I do it usually once a season in a non winterized Fifth wheel. Not till end of the season usually though...when temps are freezing...but not super deep.
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T
My wife and I always camp in are toy hauler Its not made to be used in the winter. We cheaped out,but we've stayed in it at -20 no problem we don't use the water or sewer we pack water and she has a porta-potty.
P
buy it and winterize it ! super easy . heat tape ALL the plumbing lines with good heat tape . full heater pads on each tank . Depending on the unit you may need to insulate the belly of it too . All this cost me about $1200 bucks to do to my 40 foot toy hauler . Its good down to about -25 c . i stay in it all winter in revlestoke . every winter one heat tape craps out ( i have about 7 diffrent tapes ) . pretty cozy
M
My wife & I do the same as everybody else. We just pack bottled water & put some antifreeze in the septic. Works pretty good. Coldest we have had it out in was -10F, I don't ride if its colder than that.. :face-icon-small-hap
Battery operated heat blankets.
You can use the heated blanket to keep canned goods from freezing.
Use an outdoor potty and winterize the piping.
Park in such a way the sun melts the door so it doesn't freeze shut.
Get some big batteries for power
You can use the heated blanket to keep canned goods from freezing.
Use an outdoor potty and winterize the piping.
Park in such a way the sun melts the door so it doesn't freeze shut.
Get some big batteries for power
I have a 22' Arctic Fox and stay in it in any weather. I use the water even in below zero weather, but I do keep some antifreeze handy in case the heater goes out I can winterize really quick. If your rig is built for the cold, it's really no big deal at all to camp out in cold weather.
Done a lot of winter camping in 3 season campers. I modified the water system so i could isolate the sink area and just run cold water to the kitchen sink. Helps to have the furnace near that area so it stays warm, or leave the door open and run a little fan to keep the air moving. Fresh water tanks are usually inside and it takes a lot to freeze them up. I throw some sidewalk salt in the blackwater tank to keep from freezing hard and busting valves. Gray water I leave open and put a five gallon bucket under it. Gets much below 10 below and things eventually freeze. Furnace runs a lot too.
Got a Bigfoot camper this year. One of the best 4 season campers made, but don't come cheap. Two fiberglass shells joined in the middle so no leaky rubber roof to deal with. Winter is hard on roofs! Bigfoot has everything enclosed in a heated basement and are supposed to be fully functional to 10 below. My pickup camper unit has a 30K btu furnace and puts out some serious heat. Looking forward to showering after a days ride this year! lol
Got a Bigfoot camper this year. One of the best 4 season campers made, but don't come cheap. Two fiberglass shells joined in the middle so no leaky rubber roof to deal with. Winter is hard on roofs! Bigfoot has everything enclosed in a heated basement and are supposed to be fully functional to 10 below. My pickup camper unit has a 30K btu furnace and puts out some serious heat. Looking forward to showering after a days ride this year! lol
I have camped quite a bit in my Bigfoot 2500 Series Camper. Down to -10 without any problems. Did use a fair amount of Propane. The Furnace Ductwork runs through the basement section next to the water lines and keeps everything working. They are not the roomiest campers with their clamshell design and no slideouts, but they definitely work well in the winter.
Temp will work against but the wind is the greatest of evils IMHO in the winter.
Anything you can do to keep the wind from blowing UNDER the trailer is good. For me I like to park with the axles rubbin the snow.
Parked one time in Mammoth Lakes plowed parking RV lot. Could not keep the trailer warm with a steady 40 MPH wind at -10F.
The biggest headache was the down wind side of the trailer had 3 plus inches of ice after several days. Tried to get ice off and some of the trailer came with it. It is an older trailer.
Drove of the hill (below freezing after 60miles) and was pulled over by the cops cause sheets of ice were coming off and panicking tailgating vehicles
Anything you can do to keep the wind from blowing UNDER the trailer is good. For me I like to park with the axles rubbin the snow.
Parked one time in Mammoth Lakes plowed parking RV lot. Could not keep the trailer warm with a steady 40 MPH wind at -10F.
The biggest headache was the down wind side of the trailer had 3 plus inches of ice after several days. Tried to get ice off and some of the trailer came with it. It is an older trailer.
Drove of the hill (below freezing after 60miles) and was pulled over by the cops cause sheets of ice were coming off and panicking tailgating vehicles
I have a Lance truck camper with slide out. I'm curious if it is really "winterized". Lance claims that it is but I'd hate to crack a tank, especially the black one!
This will be our 3rd winter camping in our 1976 trailer. We leave it set up all winter long. We have the bottom skirted, underbelly spray foamed and all the windows styrofoam against the window with 3M window insulator kits (clear plastic). Only 3 windows dont have styrofoam so we can see outside. We also have one roof vent blocked off and one that we keep open all the time. Biggest thing is the moisture inside, especially with the wet riding gear. We use a gen set for power and the propane furnace to keep warm. We have stayed in the trailer at -32C with no problems and was quite cozy. We carry our own water and use an outhouse.
The only thing I will say about the van is try it out and find out what works and what doesnt. Its all a learning process. Have fun and be safe...install a CO monitor.
The only thing I will say about the van is try it out and find out what works and what doesnt. Its all a learning process. Have fun and be safe...install a CO monitor.
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Damn Bushy , your really steppin up from a few years ago.
2
Wife and I do the same. Just carry a 5 gal jug for coffee and drinking.Use Windshield washer fluid in toilet to keep from freezing. Also if you have a gen. An electric pad or blanket is the $hit.
Spray on foam insulation is a good idea. It would be great if you could put heat tape and foam on the pipes, tanks and undercarriage....but not sure if that would be a fire hazard or not.
S
Let's bring this back to the top. Who else has experience?
M
We have 20 years experience of using a class C then a class A motorhome in the winter for sledding. All the above suggestions are great.
In addition:
Get a Honda 2000 suitcase generator, as the furnace and cold temps will drain the coach batteries overnight. VERY quiet and will run 8 hours on a gallon of gas.
We also used a Mr Buddy (double size) propane ceramic heater in our bigger (32') RV to keep the temps up inside. They are certified for indoor use and help keep the furnace from constantly cycling on and off in cold weather.
In addition:
Get a Honda 2000 suitcase generator, as the furnace and cold temps will drain the coach batteries overnight. VERY quiet and will run 8 hours on a gallon of gas.
We also used a Mr Buddy (double size) propane ceramic heater in our bigger (32') RV to keep the temps up inside. They are certified for indoor use and help keep the furnace from constantly cycling on and off in cold weather.
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