winter camping

[Montana_4221]

I have a question for those who winter camp. Do you hook up your water supply in the campground or use your fresh water supply? I have some time off later this month and may pull my 5'er to the lake during that time. It hasn't been too cold around here but I was still curious.It seems to me that a garden hose on the ground has potential to freeze and cause problems if hooked to the rig.

[2007dura]

During the day it is usually above freezing, so we use the hose. If not above freezing, I will use hose during shower time. At night, I fill up fresh water tank and use it when needed. I have seen where some use heat tape on hose or run water all night in sink and leave tank drain open. I think easier to take hose in at night instead of tape or using that much water. We also use ceramic heaters during day to help offset propane usage, but make sure you don't freeze up plumbing if below feezing. Also leave cabinets cracked to let heat in to plumbing. We love winter camping because you usually have very few campers, your choice of sites, and I think real relaxing because not much going on in campground.

[Trailer Trash 2]

Well we were in some real cold stuff see link http://tinypic.com/ezpxfs.jpg and nothing froze in our trailer, except for the water hose, all I did was put on another hose and was ready to go, and the frozen one defrosted durring the day I drained it and was ready to use it again if the other hose froze.

TT2

[Montana_4221]

Thanks for the info. From a search I did it appears that many people in cold enviroments use insulation and heat tape. For the limited winter camping that I'm planning I hope to not get into that. I won't have sewer hookups either so I prefer to not run the water. I will follow 2002dura's lead and disconnect water at night if they are predicting cold temps. My temps around Chattanooga should be comparable to your part of the state as well. They may be a little milder as we are further south.

We have really had mild temps here for the last few years. It's a shame to let the camper sit in the driveway.

[dsprik]

Trailer Trash 2, I love that pic. It reminds me of N. MI. Except it's a little deeper and doesn't go away in a couple days. Although, the weather forecast says mid 40s and rain for Wed/Thu up here (normal temps for this time of year are 23/12, so this will be 20 degrees plus above normal weather for us). So we'll see how much snow remains after that.

TT2, were you fairly comfortable in that weather? I take it you were only there for the weekend?

[Parrothead]

If all that freezes is the water hose, a hair dryer will thaw it in just a few minutes.
Happy trails........................

[bobgay]

Trailer Trash 2, don't you know why those wheels are under the Monty? It's so you can move it somewhere that doesn't have all that white stuff. Brrrrrr.
Bob

[Montana_1362]

I inadverntently found a way to use the hose during winter camping without it freezing, our very 1st trip on a april 1st in michigan we camped overnite in ludington and I hooked up the hose but I couldnt get it it stop leaking at the hose to pressure regulator at the trailer, after many minutes and frozen hands I gave up and it drizzled down the hose onto the ground, that nite we had a blizzard, high winds, blowing and drifting snow, it was wild!! next morning my hose isnt frozen and we have water, the people we camped with had frozen hoses and a mess.

[Mudchief]

I camp in the winter and just use water in the tank. If you use a hose you need to put a heat tape on it.

[JH Sechelt]

We bought our 2006 2980RL in the 1st week of Dec in Vancouver, BC. On the 2nd week of Dec we went off to do some X-mnas shopping. We usually take our 5th Wheel and make a long weekend out of it. ( We live north of Vancouver and travel by Ferry ). It got down to 19 F the first night. I was a little worried about the hose freezing so I filled the water tank half full, and unhooked the hose. The next day I noticed water dripping in the back around the water tank area. I thoght I might have cracked the water tank. Now try finding out where water is coming from when the bottom of the trailer is all closed in. I also noticed that the water pump was cycling every minute or two. Not a good sign. I waited until we got back home and took the last bottom panel off the trailer and still could not see where the water was dripping from, but I knew it was not the the water tank or the supply line from the tank to the pump. That only left the supply line in the trailer for the city water hook up. You can take the screws out of the filler box at the back corner and pull it out a little and I could then hear the water hissing. I found where it hooked up to the system ( by the water tank ) and coupled a new piece of Pex waterline to the old one and managed to pull the new pipe thru the whole trailer and fixed the leak. After looking at the older pipe I'm not sure if it was frozen or was cracked in the factory when installed. Anyways I'll use the water from the tank when it gets too cold.

Take care
John & Dawn

[Rudi and Ellen]

What keeps the pipes from freezing at around 20 degrees, even if using the fresh water tank?

[JH Sechelt]

I'm under the impression that some heat is diverted from the furnace into the channels that the water pipes are in, at least most of the channels, and some goes to surround the holding tanks. This obviously would not work too well if you use a space heater too much and don't keep your furnace at a high enough setting. It sure would be great to have a wiring and plumbing schematic of the unit you buy. Would make it a lot easier to find problems.

John & Dawn

[2007dura]

When you are using the propane heater, it is ducted into the underbelly where the lines run. I don't know if it is needed, but when that cold, I also turn on a light in the storage compartment to add a little heat.

[sreigle]

We have a winterized hose (heat taped) we use. If the park's water pipe/spigot is not winterized I also heat tape it. I do this only if we'll be there for awhile. Otherwise we'll use our onboard water supply. Some parks shut off the water in the winter.

[Montana Sky]

Here is a link from the koa compass email on I got today on winter camping.
http://koa.com/updates/2006january/rv101.htm

[Trailer Trash 2]

That was interesting Montana Sky I will have to print that and file it with the trailer operators manual.

TT2

[Montana_4221]

Montana Sky,
Thanks for the link. I signed up for the monthly newsletter too.

[Rudi and Ellen]

I think I'll call up 'Keystone' and request a schematic of where the plumbing lines run in my unit. Thanks for the info. It makes me feel better to know that the water lines are getting heat. We plan to do some winter camping in the future.

[Rudi and Ellen]

Our 3295RK has a trap door tp the storage area. Has anyone ever felt it helpful or necessary to keep the trap door open to provide heat to the storage area, where many of the pipes are located?

[2007dura]

If you opened trap door, it is going to let alot of cold air in trailer. I just turn on the lights in storage area if I get concerned about cold.