Cold Weather Camping

[piscesman]

We survived -9F in our motorhome in Colorado this month...but that was with heated tanks, furnace going full blast, and a heat tape in the water/wastewater hatch...and I poured a gallon of antifreeze into both holding tanks. Also left all interior cabinet doors open under sinks and left the bathroom door open...and don't forget that there is water "behind" the city water inlet and the potable water fill...just use a narrow screwdriver to push in the checkvalve...you will get about a cup of water from both! Relieved all pressure in water lines and opened low-point drains. Also left the HWH going to protect it. So it can be done without draining everything...but it's not recommended for the faint of heart!

[teamgl]

Originally Posted by travisandblair

What is the coldest anyone has been camping in?

We had a chilly night ice fishing a few years ago.... we didn't camp in a Forest River camper, but you can get the idea.

[Tx Anthony]

We camp 7 days in are Surveyor 280 with it getting down to 22 at night and didnt have any trouble. It was nice and warm and we had the best time.

[travisandblair]

Just got back from pulling our surveyor from Alaska to Alabama in January. We didn't stay in it for half of the trip because the temps were an average of -10 F. When we wanted to stop for lunch or just rest, we would pull over and turn the heat on about an hour before we actually wanted to stop. By the time we got in, it was warm enough for us. We didn't even bother dewinterizing until through Iowa. Nothing broke, and I would do the trip again.

[trudinator]

Got some very interesting info from a guy at our dealership who does a lot of winter camping. He really can't get away during the camping season, since he's always working, so he does his camping in winter - in Wisconsin. He said if you're going to fill up your freshwater tank - fill it FULL. Takes longer for water to freeze when there is that much volume. The heating pads on the tanks are barely above "adequate." They're small, and they work on 12-volt only. If you want to use your toilet, instead of using water, use the windshield washer fluid that is treated with antifreeze. You could also use the pink RV antifreeze, but that could get "slushy." The windshield washer fluid will not.

[f1100turbo]

Good to know. Also heat tape around. Sewer outlets is a must

[comfun1]

-4 degrees in a cabover in the early seventies with only heat being my girlfriend. We were in our early twenties and were so cold we hardly slept at all that night. Ten years ago I spent a very comfortable night in my fifth wheel when it was 17 degrees outside. Today I'm to old to be cold.