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 > Long Timers
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 12-20-2022, 06:43 PM   #1
Jimbo0247
Established Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: Boaz
Posts: 15
M.O.C. #28482
Dealing with cold weather

Extreme cold weather forecast for this week in N. Alabama. Any advice on keeping everything operating? I do live in the unit fulltime; this is my first experience with this type of weather.

2021 Montana 3781RL
2017 GMC 3500 dually

Thanks Jimbo
 
Jimbo0247 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2022, 07:05 PM   #2
mlh
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Salem
Posts: 7,528
M.O.C. #2283
First what is cold weather in Alabama? That is going to be different than in North Dakota or Florida or here in western Virginia.
Lynwood
__________________
www.harrellsprec.com
Lynwood Harrell
323 RL HC 2008 F250
mlh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2022, 07:16 PM   #3
Jimbo0247
Established Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: Boaz
Posts: 15
M.O.C. #28482
The forecast calls for temps below freezing for 80 straight hours. Highs in upper teens to low 20's, lows possible single digits to lower teens and wind gusts up to 20 to 30 mph.
Jimbo
Jimbo0247 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2022, 07:26 PM   #4
AZ Traveler
Site Team
 
AZ Traveler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Oro Valley
Posts: 3,898
M.O.C. #20477
Jimbo,

Run your furnace to keep the underbelly warm. Turn your tank heaters on. Fill your fresh water tank then disconnect and drain the hose and use your internal water pump. If you have a heated hose you may skip that step. If needed run your fireplace or add portable gas or electric heaters. Wear a sweater if needed. Your rig will handle those temps well.
__________________
Zack and Donna plus Millie and Ranger
2018 3160RL

"Life is too short to stay indoors, enjoy the ride!"
AZ Traveler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2022, 07:26 PM   #5
rohrmann
Montana Master
 
rohrmann's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,676
M.O.C. #12947
Make sure you have full propane tanks, you need the fresh water tank full and when the cold gets there, turn off water to the rig and disconnect the water hose. Do not have water draining from your waste tanks as the drain hoses will just freeze solid. Some years ago, we experienced temps in the teens and below for weeks, and had nothing freeze but used a 7 gallon tank of propane every two days keeping the furnace going. You will be fine if you do these steps.
__________________
Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
rohrmann is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-20-2022, 07:30 PM   #6
Jimbo0247
Established Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: Boaz
Posts: 15
M.O.C. #28482
Thanks for the information, makes me feel better about the situation.
Merry Christmas everyone. Jimbo
Jimbo0247 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-27-2022, 08:01 AM   #7
Jimbo0247
Established Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: Boaz
Posts: 15
M.O.C. #28482
Well, I did everything that was suggested. I use a heated hose, ran the furnace and used the tank heaters. I believe the 30-mph wind gust and single digit temps were the worst, the water did freeze. After a couple of days everything returned to normal although the temps were still below freezing. I left the camper Sunday morning about 9:30 am with the temps in the 20's, warming to the mid 30's. Late that afternoon a severe water leak occurred, as it turned out the water pump was pouring water. I did not use the freshwater tank or pump, but it was pouring water. Now I'm out to find a pump to replaced it. Flojet model 35026144.
Jimbo0247 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-27-2022, 05:06 PM   #8
AZ Traveler
Site Team
 
AZ Traveler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Oro Valley
Posts: 3,898
M.O.C. #20477
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimbo0247 View Post
Well, I did everything that was suggested. I use a heated hose, ran the furnace and used the tank heaters. I believe the 30-mph wind gust and single digit temps were the worst, the water did freeze. After a couple of days everything returned to normal although the temps were still below freezing. I left the camper Sunday morning about 9:30 am with the temps in the 20's, warming to the mid 30's. Late that afternoon a severe water leak occurred, as it turned out the water pump was pouring water. I did not use the freshwater tank or pump, but it was pouring water. Now I'm out to find a pump to replaced it. Flojet model 35026144.
May not have happened if you were running water out of your fresh tank vice keeping the hose hooked up.
__________________
Zack and Donna plus Millie and Ranger
2018 3160RL

"Life is too short to stay indoors, enjoy the ride!"
AZ Traveler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-27-2022, 05:34 PM   #9
DutchmenSport
Montana Master
 
DutchmenSport's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Anderson
Posts: 2,543
M.O.C. #22835
We all learn things the hard way it seems. But the important thing is, we learn from "it". You are gaining valuable knowledge and experience that you'll benefit from for a long, long time.

Suggestion for finding a replacement water pump, if time is essential.... find the closest RV dealership and check out their parts store. Almost every RV shop / parts department will have water pumps. You may even find one you like better than the one you are anticipating.

If you have "time" and are at an appropriate location, there is always Amazon. If I were in your shoes though, I'd find an RV dealership first and start there. Again, any dealership should have water pumps on hand.

Good luck!
__________________
Who you are right now is a sum total off all you use to be.
2019 Montana High Country 375FL
2014 Chevy Silverado Duramax, 6.6L Dually
DutchmenSport is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-27-2022, 05:43 PM   #10
Daryles
Montana Master
 
Daryles's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Alton
Posts: 2,654
M.O.C. #24086
Water pumps can also be found at a local farm supply store. They are used for transfer pumps, sprayer pumps etc.
You want something rated for 12vdc, maybe 7 amps or so. 55psi and 3 to 5 gallons per minute.
__________________
Daryl and Marianne,
2019 3130re 20th Anniversary Edition
2016 F350 Lariat
Daryles 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 03:28 AM.


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