A-Frame camping - might get to 30 degrees at night

[Annabanana]

Hello Forum!

Although it's the middle of summer, I will be camping at high elevations next week and it's predicted that one night might get down to 30 degrees (60s/70s by day). If I have a full water tank and the hot water heater on, should I worry about anything freezing/breaking? There is no outside water connection so will be using only what's self-contained in the TR12B camper.

Thank you!

[HONDAMAN174]

As long as you run a heater/furnace a little bit to keep it around 40, the radiant heat will keep your lines moving. We did 22 in a popup and were fine.

[D-mo]

your water heater does not effect anything ...
basically the aframes are set up with two diffent lines for water to the faucets .. blue for cold .. and red for hot. you may have noticed that when opening the fridge to either ignite or turn on the as/dc the water lines run right by the lower intermals of the the fridge ..lined up across the flooring.
your biggest issue will be drawing from the tank .. which will freeze at the slightest wind below 32F or 0C.

d-mo

[Pooneil]

A light freeze at night with warmish days should be no problem for the water system, IME. If you get concerned, you can set the WH bypass valves to bypass, then pull the low point drains and open the faucets to mostly empty the plumbing system at night. Let us know how the trip goes.

[tommytraveler]

Last Fall at Yellowstone we had several nites in a row where low temperatures were running in the mid 20's. I did nothing. When the night time forecast went to 16 degrees, I panicked and drained the water heater and FW tank, and pulled the low-point drains. Everything came through just fine.

Interior temp dropped to 26 that night, but we were cozy warm in our sleeping bags. Used a Little Buddy heater in the morning to take the chill off before coffee/breakfast. (Don't care much for the noisy furnace.)

Tom


2012 Rockwood A122
2012 Nissan Pathfinder 4WD

[D-mo]

the problem is not your interior water works .. but your exterior water tank.... and its waterworks .. so to speak.
basically what happens on these cold to colder evenings is that the line freezes between the fresh water tank and water pump ... causing no water flow .. and major headaches.

low point drains will not address this issue ... nor will heat within the Aframe.

d-mo

[pgandw]

April 2014, we took our then brand new A122 dry camping in Aurora, CO for our first trip. Low temp that night was 27, high was 58 day before, and 60 day after. Ran the heater set at 55 degrees, pushed up to 70 just after sunrise to warm things up for DW. With the water tank set directly below (touching) a non-insulated wafer-board floor, I wasn't worried. And I had no freezing of the tank or pipes. Bottled water left at the picnic table did freeze.

The foam-cored upper walls and roof made for a much warmer camper (and less heater use) than our previous PUP.

We were supposed to camp 2 nights, but smelled a propane leak Saturday morning, and made a warranty trip to Denver dealer. Turned out to be a bad casting where propane hose joined to propane pipe at the outside front of the camper.

just our experiences
Fred W
2014 Rockwood A122
2008 Hyundai Entourage (minivan)
camping Colorado and adjacent states one weekend at a time

[D-mo]

this is not about freezing interior lines ... its about exterior lines ... once again from the bottom exterior cold water tank to the pump.

just from my experience .. dont bother with your water tank below 32F.

been there ... done that .. j

d=mo

[Pooneil]

You do have a point, d=mo.

[Big Vic]

I suspect that radiant heat through the floor of a 55 deg (or higher) inside temp trailer will keep the fresh water lines warm enough not to freeze. Strong winds blowing under the trailer could be a concern.

[Loraura]

Check the forecast for how many consecutive hours you expect to be below freezing before you make a decision on draining the tank or not.

An alternative is to keep bottled water inside the camper with you where you will have heat.

[rwarrin]

I've done the following in my T12RSTB:

Grand Teton National Park, October & April/May, several weeks
Temps: high teens/low 20's, snow

Rocky Mountain National Park, December, 5 days
Temps: Low of 9, consistent night time lows in mid teens

Yellowstone National Park, October & April, weeks on end
Temps: Mid teens - low 20s, snow

Not once have I had any trouble with water freezing.
I have thickened up the moulding around the door to seal it better and added reflectix on lots of bare interior areas (not visible areas) including under the bed.
I use the trailers furnace and set it to around 60 when I'm in it in the evening.

[url=http://flic.kr/p/nSZnwE]

[Pooneil]

Nice photo. It looks icy enough there for the camper to simply slip away. Chocks and all.

[Dsfast]

Nice pic look like spring camping in Alberta nice times. Just a little wet

[Tinsu]

Originally Posted by Annabanana

Hello Forum!

Although it's the middle of summer, I will be camping at high elevations next week and it's predicted that one night might get down to 30 degrees (60s/70s by day). If I have a full water tank and the hot water heater on, should I worry about anything freezing/breaking? There is no outside water connection so will be using only what's self-contained in the TR12B camper.

Thank you!

Anna, How was your trip? Any weather problems?