Cold Weather Camping

[mamentt]

I have a SV264 and plan to take it to Spearfish, South Dakota at Thanksgiving this year. We will be driving west on I40 as long as we can, then head north. I know that the temperatures will be cold at night, maybe in the upper 20’s.
Questions
1- Since this model has the bottom of the trailer covered, would the holding tanks be okay?
2- Do people run the heater while the trailer is in tow?
3- How much weight would the snow on the roof add to trailer?
4- Is this trip even feasible in a TT this time of the year in SD?

[f1100turbo]

My flagstaff tt had heated tanks and it also had enclosed and insulated underbelly.
So I dunno if you'll be safe with just a covered underbelly.

[acadianbob]

I think your plans would spell trouble. We just had upper 20s yesterday here in Minnesota; while we were camping at Lake Itasca. You could very well encounter much colder temps by Thanksgiving; teens and even single digits. The roads can be treacherous; ice and snow. If you have an outside shower, it would freeze for sure. Honestly, I wouldn't do it.

[kenair]

I would not use the freshwater tank. I would bring jugs of fresh water and heat water on the stove as needed. If I was using the toilet I would was down the waste with rv antifreeze. Other than not freezing up the fresh water system you should be ok. I would not have the furnace on while towing.

We towed from MSP to Winnipeg in late January, no problems, take it easy

[mtnguy]

Even though the tanks should be OK since the heating ducts go through that area, I would be concerned about liquids freezing in the area between the tanks and dump valves.....there is nothing to keep that area heated and away from the elements.

[teamgl]

Originally Posted by mamentt

Is this trip even feasible in a TT this time of the year in SD?[/SIZE][/FONT]

Cold conditions camping is definitely doable. Here are some thoughts for you...

1) keep the camper ventilated when using the cook stove to heat water, etc. We run the vent over the stove and have the vent in the bathroom cracked. If the flame on the stove is on the vent is also on.
2) we run a supplemental CO2 detector
3) friction-type sway control can be less than useful on icy roads.
4) we use carpet runners to add a layer to the floor and keep the tootsies from getting cold
5) cold weather can really permeate the thin walls of the camper - we put thermarest pads between us and the headboard -- it creates another layer and some added warmth.


We plan on using the camper this Thanksgiving also -

[travisandblair]

What is the coldest anyone has been camping in? What temperature should be the cutoff even with heated tanks? Going to be driving our SPT280 through Canada this February (not ideal I know) and I want to be prepared but not full of false preconceived ideas about camping in the cold.

[gig2]

Does anyone knows what is roof R Value on Surveyor Select 294? Forest River specifies R(9) for side walls and floor. No mention about roof.

Thanks

[gig2]

Originally Posted by travisandblair

What is the coldest anyone has been camping in? What temperature should be the cutoff even with heated tanks? Going to be driving our SPT280 through Canada this February (not ideal I know) and I want to be prepared but not full of false preconceived ideas about camping in the cold.

I have been dry camping on -10 C no problem at all.

[nailit]

Our coldest so far has been 17 degrees. Another note, always keep your storage compartment doors closed. Friends of ours left one of the storage doors open overnight when it got down to 10 degrees and the water lines in that compartment froze. Going camping twice in January and it does get cold at night in the desert.