Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Montana Owners Club - Keystone Montana 5th Wheel Forum > GENERAL DISCUSSIONS > Brrr it's cold outside! Winter Camping
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 12-12-2019, 05:08 AM   #1
RBuffordTJ
Established Member
 
RBuffordTJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Salem
Posts: 23
M.O.C. #25467
Heated water hose

I purchased one of these blue sheathed heated water supply lines from CamCo and will be hooking it up in a few days when I return from a short trip to see my kid in TN.

Question: is it best to (or even ok) to insulate this hose with standard foam pipe insulation? I am planning to add it to the line and tape it up.

Thanks in advance.
 
RBuffordTJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-2019, 05:35 AM   #2
rnelan
Established Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Waldorf
Posts: 12
M.O.C. #25153
Hey there, our temps dipped to 27 last night and our blue heated hose was fine.. BUT.. I also have skirted the house with 1" foamboard insulation from Lowes.. While the outside temp was 27, under the skirt it was 45.. So, take what you will from this.. From the hose bib to the house the Camco hose did fine.. OH, also.. I have a heat tape plugged in and wrapped around the hose bib to prevent it from freezing also.
rnelan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-2019, 05:57 AM   #3
RBuffordTJ
Established Member
 
RBuffordTJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Salem
Posts: 23
M.O.C. #25467
Quote:
Originally Posted by rnelan View Post
Hey there, our temps dipped to 27 last night and our blue heated hose was fine.. BUT.. I also have skirted the house with 1" foamboard insulation from Lowes.. While the outside temp was 27, under the skirt it was 45.. So, take what you will from this.. From the hose bib to the house the Camco hose did fine.. OH, also.. I have a heat tape plugged in and wrapped around the hose bib to prevent it from freezing also.
Good to know, I don't like the thought of it just exposed to the sun, water, frost and such is all. I will be dealing with the hose bib too thanks for the reminder.
RBuffordTJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-2019, 09:56 AM   #4
masterdrago
Montana Master
 
masterdrago's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Willis
Posts: 896
M.O.C. #20587
Quote:
Originally Posted by RBuffordTJ View Post
I purchased one of these blue sheathed heated water supply lines from CamCo and will be hooking it up in a few days when I return from a short trip to see my kid in TN.

Question: is it best to (or even ok) to insulate this hose with standard foam pipe insulation? I am planning to add it to the line and tape it up.

Thanks in advance.
I have the same hose and it works great parked at the S&B. Clearly, I unplug it when warm weather - Like after last night, we will not see a freeze again til next Tuesday night.
__________________
2018 Montana 3791RD (SOLD)
2017 Ram 3500 DRW 6.7 Cummins Aisin, B&W RVK3600 (SOLD)
masterdrago is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-2019, 02:34 PM   #5
DQDick
Site Team
 
DQDick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
We've used that hose and also a Pirit. Don't cover or insulate either and we've been full timing for 9 years now and they're both still good. Temps have gotten down to single digits and never had an issue with them.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
DQDick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-2019, 02:51 PM   #6
RBuffordTJ
Established Member
 
RBuffordTJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Salem
Posts: 23
M.O.C. #25467
Great, thank you all for the information. This is all brand new to me.
RBuffordTJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-2019, 08:07 PM   #7
mtlakejim
Montana Master
 
mtlakejim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Bee Branch
Posts: 2,620
M.O.C. #20693
Quote:
Originally Posted by masterdrago View Post
I have the same hose and it works great parked at the S&B. Clearly, I unplug it when warm weather - Like after last night, we will not see a freeze again til next Tuesday night.
You don't have to unplug them. They have a thermostat built in that will turn them on and off.
__________________
James & Irene Wilson
Bee Branch, AR.
2017 Ram 1 ton diesel duallyCrew Cab/Long Bed
2018 Montana High Country 381TH Garage Full of Toys
mtlakejim is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-25-2019, 01:58 PM   #8
gregory1946
New Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Lemon Grove
Posts: 1
M.O.C. #13557
The hose is rated to -20F, so wrapping it with anything is a waste of money. Do wrap the bibs, though, and make sure the thermistor is open to outside air.
gregory1946 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-26-2019, 05:47 AM   #9
goodellj
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Richmond, TX
Posts: 109
M.O.C. #20452
I had one of those Camco blue heated hoses and every time I went to use it, it was about as stiff as copper pipe. I tried running hot water through it before trying to uncoil it and it had little effect. It was so stiff that I was afraid I was going to crack the hose and cause a leak! So what do you think of it and how do you like it? My conclusion was that it was meant for seasonal full-time use and needed to be set up on a warm sunny day!
__________________
John & Janet from Texas via Connecticut and Vermont
2012 Keystone Montana 3150RL 5th Wheel
2012 Ford F350 Diesel 4x4 Lariat Crewcab SRW
6.7L V-8 diesel, 6-sp automatic, 3.55 axle ratio
goodellj is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-26-2019, 07:21 PM   #10
rohrmann
Montana Master
 
rohrmann's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,676
M.O.C. #12947
Quote:
Originally Posted by goodellj View Post
I had one of those Camco blue heated hoses and every time I went to use it, it was about as stiff as copper pipe. I tried running hot water through it before trying to uncoil it and it had little effect. It was so stiff that I was afraid I was going to crack the hose and cause a leak! So what do you think of it and how do you like it? My conclusion was that it was meant for seasonal full-time use and needed to be set up on a warm sunny day!

Maybe just bring it inside where the heat is on, and maybe after a number of hours of heat it will soften. We've never had a problem with ours uncoiling it, and we've had it since the winter of 2013/2014, and it still works great. The thermostat on these hoses must stay cable tied to the surface of the hose as them are delivered and when in use, the thermostat must stay exposed to outside air. The thermostat will turn on when the temperature drops to 45 degrees and when it warms up again above 45 degrees, it will turn off. Do not cover the hose, as you will defeat the ability of the hose to operate. If you plug into a GFI outlet, be sure any exposed plugs are protected from rain, as the GFI will trip and your hose will not work.
__________________
Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
rohrmann is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-27-2019, 02:55 AM   #11
dvstone2
New Member
 
dvstone2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Hixson
Posts: 8
M.O.C. #21293
I agree with others you should not wrap a heated hose.

If you don't have a way to heat the pipe of the water spigot you are connecting to then the safest practice is to turn off the water at the spigot each night before bedding down if it is going to be lower than ~25°F. By design these are Frost free sipgots with the handle operating a long rod to open the water valve that is buried under ground to keep the valve from freezing. These type sipgots have valve has a weep hole in the bottom on the output side of the valve that allows the pipe to drain out when the valve is in the Off position. Also note worthy is that if you ever install one of the these type sipgots you have to provide away for the weep hole to be able to drain pipe under ground. Typically done by surrounding the valve with loose gravel to allow it to drain.
Do not ever install one without drainage as the weep hole will get stopped up and it will not allow the pipe to drain out and cause pipe to freeze and possibly burst. Here a link on how to install one and how they work.

Don't forget if it's going to get really cold like in the teens or colder you really need to run your furnace. You need to do so to insure you putting heat in the underbelly/basement of your your camper. You need to do this to prevent all of the water lines from freezing and bursting and to keep the black, gray, and galley water holding tanks from freezing.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	Screenshot_20191227-045418_Amazon Shopping.jpg
Views:	98
Size:	60.5 KB
ID:	5254  
Attached Images
   
dvstone2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-27-2019, 10:19 AM   #12
bigred715
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Eugene
Posts: 1,050
M.O.C. #5091
Read the reviews on Camping World site. Not a very good product according to at least 1/2 of the people.
bigred715 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-27-2019, 02:46 PM   #13
Fish
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Marion
Posts: 234
M.O.C. #22281
Quote:
Originally Posted by dvstone2 View Post
I agree with others you should not wrap a heated hose.

If you don't have a way to heat the pipe of the water spigot you are connecting to then the safest practice is to turn off the water at the spigot each night before bedding down if it is going to be lower than ~25°F. By design these are Frost free sipgots with the handle operating a long rod to open the water valve that is buried under ground to keep the valve from freezing. These type sipgots have valve has a weep hole in the bottom on the output side of the valve that allows the pipe to drain out when the valve is in the Off position. Also note worthy is that if you ever install one of the these type sipgots you have to provide away for the weep hole to be able to drain pipe under ground. Typically done by surrounding the valve with loose gravel to allow it to drain.
Do not ever install one without drainage as the weep hole will get stopped up and it will not allow the pipe to drain out and cause pipe to freeze and possibly burst. Here a link on how to install one and how they work.

Don't forget if it's going to get really cold like in the teens or colder you really need to run your furnace. You need to do so to insure you putting heat in the underbelly/basement of your your camper. You need to do this to prevent all of the water lines from freezing and bursting and to keep the black, gray, and galley water holding tanks from freezing.
Plumber buddy of mine says those aren't allowed/approved for drinking water so I doubt many campgrounds use them. I have 2, 1 outside each of my shops and I know very dirty water comes out of them when you first turn them on.
__________________
2019 Montana High Country 384BR
2018 Ram cclb 4x4 6.7 cummins/aisin dually
Fish is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-27-2019, 02:51 PM   #14
Fish
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Marion
Posts: 234
M.O.C. #22281
I'm on my 3rd pirit heated hose since 2018. I bought one, it leaked after a month. Pirit sent me a new one, but I was living in my Montana and couldn't wait for the warranty process so I bought another from amazon.

That one blew apart after 11 months, (only in use for 4 months probably). Pirit just ignores my emails about that hose through the contact me form.

So I was on the warranty replacement hose from pirit when I pulled out of the cold the other day. I hope it holds up but since I'm going to florida tomorrow I won't need it until next winter if I go back to the refinery.

If I need another one I might just go back to making my own.
__________________
2019 Montana High Country 384BR
2018 Ram cclb 4x4 6.7 cummins/aisin dually
Fish is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-27-2019, 03:38 PM   #15
mhs4771
Montana Master
 
mhs4771's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Sebring
Posts: 3,657
M.O.C. #9969
Fish, don’t know where you camp, but I would guess approx. half the places we’ve camped use the Frost Proof Hydrants, at least those where it gets below freezing during the Winter.
Avoids them having to drain their complete water system when cold weather moves in.
BUT just looked and at least in Indiana they are not approved, so maybe a State think or no one really checks that close.
__________________
Michelle & Ann
2018 Chevy 3500HD High Country DRW 4X4 Crew Cab w/Duramax/Allison, Formally 2010 Montana 2955RL, Now Loaded 2016 SOB, Mor/ryde IS, Disc Brakes & Pin Box, Comfort Ride Hitch, Sailun 17.5 Tires.
mhs4771 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-27-2019, 04:28 PM   #16
Bozwell
Established Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Thayne
Posts: 18
M.O.C. #23666
Hi... We winter camp in Park City for skiing every year for 3 months. Our Camco hose failed after 30 days. Switched to Pirit.... so far, so good but have heard they can fail as well.... Camco replaced our failed hose. We keep it in the bay as a spare. Make sure the thermostat is not inside the wet bay and exposed to outside air or it will not heat when the temps drop below freezing.

FYI: our Montana has been fantastic in temps down to -5. Love it! First year we snow camped we had a giant propane tank delivered and we didnt need it. We do skirt with foam board and the fireplace and 1 extra electric heater kept us toasty with no condensation build up inside. Other 5’ers in our park burn thru the propane.... glad we have a Montana
Bozwell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-11-2020, 09:38 AM   #17
DebNJim B
Montana Master
 
DebNJim B's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Northville, NY
Posts: 807
M.O.C. #21158
We have winter camped for 6 years now. The first year I made a hose with heat tape and pipe insulation. Worked fine but was a bear to deal with and coil up. Bought a Pirit and have used is since with no issues and occasionally down to single digits. I set up my in line water filter so it's inside the convenience center so it doesn't freeze and that also means the thermostat is below the heated area so it's measuring the outside temp. As stated running the furnace when it's below freezing is important to keep the basement and plumbing warm. I have measured mine with a remote thermometer and it's stayed at 60 plus degrees when in single digits outside. If at a public CG I shut off the spigot and use onboard water if it's going below freezing overnight. Some CG's will even shut off all water below 20. At our private site I heat taped the spigot so no longer an issue.
__________________
Jim B
2017 Lariat F-350 FX4, CC, SB, 6.7 PSD 4WD
2018 MONTY 3731FL, at our private winter site in GA

DebNJim B is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-28-2021, 05:58 AM   #18
DarranR
Established Member
 
DarranR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: Austin
Posts: 12
M.O.C. #30267
Jim

Has the Pirit house stood the test of time? I'm a new Monty owner and starting to gear up. A heated hose is on my list.

Thanks and Happy New Year!
Darran
__________________
2020 High Country 295RL
2022 Silverado 3500HD HC SRW
DarranR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-29-2021, 09:13 AM   #19
dieselguy
Montana Master
 
dieselguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Haysville
Posts: 4,261
M.O.C. #3085
I agree with reply 15 (mhs4771) I'd guess reply 13 with the plumber that says "frost proof hydrants aren't allowed/approved for drinking water" doesn't camp at most any state or Corps Parks. Most all of those we frequent in KS, MO, NEB, SD, AR, and TX have the frost proof hydrants.
dieselguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2021, 09:19 AM   #20
DebNJim B
Montana Master
 
DebNJim B's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Northville, NY
Posts: 807
M.O.C. #21158
Quote:
Originally Posted by DarranR View Post
Jim

Has the Pirit house stood the test of time? I'm a new Monty owner and starting to gear up. A heated hose is on my list.

Thanks and Happy New Year!
Darran
As I said, we only used the home-made hose for one year. Since then, it's been the Pirit hose and it's still in like new condition and has worked flawlessly. We are in our sixth winter but this year we are in SC and it hasn't been cold so have just used the white hose simply because a shorter hose was preferable.

At our private site in NW GA we have a hydrant. One year when we set up in the fall I plugged an inline filter when I turned the water on. Since then I run a garden hose and flush the pipes out good before hooking up. Seems when it sets all summer without use some rust will form at the base. Since flushing we have had no problems. I have tested the water and get the same purity as the bottled spring water from the store so I'm confident of safety.
__________________
Jim B
2017 Lariat F-350 FX4, CC, SB, 6.7 PSD 4WD
2018 MONTY 3731FL, at our private winter site in GA

DebNJim B is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Montana RV, Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:32 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.