Winterize for driving?

[bdalejack51]

We'll be driving from Michigan to Arizona in January. As we're living in our 2304 now, we won't be winterizing it until we head south. But, will we need to, that's the question? When we stop at night, the trailer will be heated; the only time it will be exposed to the cold is in transit. We have heated tanks, so the risk would be to the pump. Any thoughts?

[LadyWindrider]

I don't think I would worry about it. If I remember right, pex pipe can take 10 degrees F for 24 hours without damage, with water in it. Noe for your traps, if it is very cold, when you stop for lunch, go in and turn on the furnace to 50 or so. Shut it off after lunch and good to go. AS for the tank heaters, good to have them at night, but I wouldn't run them while traveling. Moving liquid seldom freezes until it is very cold. The pump will take a while to freeze, and if you heat the trailer mid day, it will be fine.

Now all this is opinion. I have nor real experience doing this. Think about this, you put water in ice trays, and put the trays in a 20 degree or less freezer. It takes at least 4 hours for them to freeze. If you have spent the night, and all is well, with sun shining on your camper going down the road, I don't think you will have any problems.

Good luck and hope you have a safe journey.

[flyrotor]

You can also run your furnace on low during transit, it may use a bit of propane, but will keep everything inside from freezing.

I drove for years delivering nursery products all 4 seasons, our cargo trailers had suburban propane heaters, never had an issue. We kept the inside of the trailers above 60 degrees. Two propane tanks would last about a week even in subfreezing weather.

If you travel through tunnels, you may have to shut it off, and you should probably shut it off while re-fueling.

[Steve Lange]

We have towed with our furnace on the way to Florida during Feb. from Kentucky. When we had our class A we traveled in the winter and used the furnace to keep the RV warm. They both have the same furnace so I see no difference. It would be interesring to hear other opions.

[Taranwanderer]

If you're worried about your traps and gray/black tanks, you could always pour some RV antifreeze in the traps in the AM when you get moving and some down in the tanks to start with. That, coupled with all the sloshing around, would likely keep things from freezing up.

[spurge1947]

The boss and I are headed down to Las Vegas from Southern Alberta at the beginning of February. Woke up this morning and the temp was -28C (-19F). I believe if its still that cold in a couple of weeks, I will certainly be using the furnace in transit.... Hopefully we will meet Spring in Northern Idaho..