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Old 12-12-2010, 03:10 AM   #1
nosticks
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Florida about to Hard Freeze Monday Night

OK, so here I sit, smug in the Sunshine State, Temp at the moment is 64 Deg. That will plummet this afternoon and Monday night early Tuesday morning we will have a hard freeze for about 6 hours, temperatures in the mid to upper 20's. My unit is under roof in storage without any electric. I bring my Honda 2000 when I want to open it up and work on it. The holding tanks are empty, but I have about 10-12 gals. of fresh water on board for clean ups etc.

So, I am hesitant to winterize for an unusual event. I have lived here 30 years and cold like this is a rare occurrence. I am thinking of opening the slides and cranking the heat for a few hours, then turning the heat off and closing it up till the next morning. I can't stay plugged in to the generator overnight. Wonder if the arctic package is enough to retain some of the heat and keep from breaking any pipes.
 
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Old 12-12-2010, 03:26 AM   #2
itaves
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We are wintering here in Inverness, FL and are not too happy about the cold temps here. BUT....word from back home in Wisconsin is all about the 12"+ of snow, blowing snow, cold, etc., etc. So, we're not complaining. We'll take this "cold" Florida weather without a blink of an eye and we'll just put on an extra sweatshirt!
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Old 12-12-2010, 04:05 AM   #3
c214dick
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We will be there(Fl) on New Years Day. Right now in NE Illinois it is snowing and blowing with the temps dropping to single digits by tomorrow. Enjoy your "warm" weather.
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Old 12-12-2010, 04:18 AM   #4
CamillaMichael
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It's a little warmer here in Land O Lakes (north of Tampa), but I believe the forcast is for 34 degrees Monday night/Tuesday morning....
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Old 12-12-2010, 04:35 AM   #5
richfaa
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Here near Disney world 38 is predicted tonite and 25 Monday night... I doubt it as Weather forecasting in Florida needs work. At below freezing predictions we will disconnect the outside water. Cover our water filters with a heavy rug. Fill our fresh water tanks and use the pump. Keeping the thermostat at 70 degrees will keep the underbelly warm. It might be below freezing for a few hours No big deal. We are from Northern Ohio and 25 degrees is a warm spell.
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Old 12-12-2010, 04:56 AM   #6
sfish
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I am willing to trade my snowblower for some frozen orange juice. Anyone?
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Old 12-12-2010, 05:55 AM   #7
jpkelpe
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hope you get all of the cold weather now and it will be warm by time we get down there. we have a windchill of -22 this morning here in Omaha
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Old 12-12-2010, 06:29 AM   #8
Ozz
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by nosticks

OK, so here I sit, smug in the Sunshine State, Temp at the moment is 64 Deg. That will plummet this afternoon and Monday night early Tuesday morning we will have a hard freeze for about 6 hours, temperatures in the mid to upper 20's. My unit is under roof in storage without any electric. I bring my Honda 2000 when I want to open it up and work on it. The holding tanks are empty, but I have about 10-12 gals. of fresh water on board for clean ups etc.

So, I am hesitant to winterize for an unusual event. I have lived here 30 years and cold like this is a rare occurrence. I am thinking of opening the slides and cranking the heat for a few hours, then turning the heat off and closing it up till the next morning. I can't stay plugged in to the generator overnight. Wonder if the arctic package is enough to retain some of the heat and keep from breaking any pipes.
Dave, I would positivly winterize it, you would sleep better, and that is the only way an un-attended Montana would be protected, other than running the heat.
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Old 12-12-2010, 12:41 PM   #9
bncinwv
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Definitely agree with Ozz here, the rig will not retain heat for any amount of time. I would think the best alternative would be to set the thermostat on about 50 degrees and leave the heat on overnight. If you elect to take this route, make sure the batteries are fully charged.
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Old 12-12-2010, 01:19 PM   #10
camper4
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I would open and turn on the furnace. Especially it you want to work on it in the morning. With fresh water in the tank and water lines, you could freeze and end up with leaks if you don't either winterize or add heat.
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Old 12-12-2010, 02:58 PM   #11
Waynem
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Texas City forecast

Tonight low 36 tomorrow, Monday, high 56 low 46
Tuesday low 58, high 65
Wednesday low 61, high 72
Thursday low 55, high 73

See, I told ya'll to come to Texas.
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Old 12-13-2010, 02:26 AM   #12
hikerdoc
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I live in Michigan and wasn't able to get my rig winterized until 11/9 this year. I was worried about going that far into the season with a few nights well below freezing until I called my dealership. They said that as long as the temps are going well above freezing during the day, the few hours overnight are not worrisome for the water system for a short period of time. They even said they don't winterize their lot vehicles until sometime in mid November due to getting customers winterized first. Hopefully that will give you some peace of mind. My water system was fine.
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Old 12-13-2010, 03:21 AM   #13
nosticks
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Hikerdoc
Thanks for the info, that has been what I was thinking. But for some piece of mind, I have a compressor, so I guess I'll go over to the storage area this afternoon and blow the lines out following the winterize check sheet in one of the above posts. With a single battery and no electric other than my Honda 2000, it's not practical to heat it all night.
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Old 12-13-2010, 05:46 AM   #14
boylanag
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We will be leaving Michigan January 3 (weather permitting) and arriving in Central Florida about the 11th. So, will someone please assure us that you will have all this cold weather moved out by then? Thanks, we appreciate it!
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Old 12-13-2010, 09:04 AM   #15
Ozz
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hikerdoc,
The dealership that gave you the information probably meant well, but a blanket statement like that worries me. Unless they somehow bent the laws of physics, water freezes at 32 degrees, and does considerable damage when doing so. All you need is one area that is not insulated, or near a place where cold air siphons into the belly and you have damage.
I would not take a chance...ever. If it dips below 32 degrees, my advice is to winterize, or heat the trailer.
I am a Journeyman Pipefitter and worked with my Plumber father for 20 years fixing frozen pipes, boilers and such.
Why take a chance when it has become so easy to winterize.
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Old 12-13-2010, 11:04 AM   #16
richfaa
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Here in South Central Florida it is as bitter cold as any Northern Ohio Bitter cold. just no snow. Low 0f 25/27 tonite a brisk cold wind has been blowing all day and we will see a wind chill of 14/17 tonite. Florida natives do not understand wind chill and the damage it can do to exposed flesh.We had our Ohio winter clothing on today when out. Folks will suffer here tonite in this cold. We filled our fresh water tank about 1/3. Covered our water filters, hoses in the service bay and wrapped the outside water pedestal. We will disconnect the weater hoses tonite and go to internal till the temp goes above freezing in the AM. Our Breezy when windy package is working well as the slides are cold but we have our thick Ohio socks on, sweats and sweat shirt. It is 70 inside but we will not call a warm and toasty.
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Old 12-13-2010, 01:35 PM   #17
scductman
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With the wind chill suppose to be 11 degrees here in the am eastern sc. I think I will get up and take my GD to school can't see her standing outside at 6AM to catch the buss. besides I don't have a job how great is that!!!!.
bobby
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Old 12-13-2010, 02:54 PM   #18
Alwims
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Come to Texas, wind chill tonight, 40 degrees. Our stick house in Missouri sure is going to be cold tonight though. Supposed to be 80 here by Wednesday. Alright, I'll go stand in the corner now.
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Old 12-13-2010, 03:31 PM   #19
lasater
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Today, in northwestern Arizona, we got up to 74. As I post this the outside temp is 56 and is supposed to go down to 48 tonight. Mid 70s again tomorrow.

Eat your heart out.
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Old 12-13-2010, 03:59 PM   #20
sfish
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My parents live in Phoenix and said they had to wear shorts today and were still warm.They are coming here to stay with us for christmas I hope it warms up a little its going to be - 11 fairenheit tonight.
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