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12-02-2021, 11:09 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Florida
Posts: 82
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low temperature - need for tank heaters
Rockwood 2606WS has floor ducted heating, which I imagine (guess) does something (?) to keep the sealed underbelly tanks from freezing.
My question is what degree of cold weather will require me to have the tank heater option installed for $1200?
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2018 Rockwood 2606WS
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12-02-2021, 11:13 AM
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#2
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Trailer Park Supervisor
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Northern NJ
Posts: 8,417
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If you camp when it is getting very cold (20 deg F or lower), and/or when daytime temps don't rise above freezing. I'm in NJ and woudn't pay 1200 bucks for that.
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2019 Rockwood Geo Pro G19FD w/off road package
2015 Ford F150 XLT Super Cab 4x4 V8
Yes, I drink the water!
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12-02-2021, 11:30 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Southern NM
Posts: 9,505
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We camp in sub 20° degree weather frequently. But it does get above freezing in the day., So freezing tanks has never been a concern for me.
In fact, I have never heard of anyone who was actually using their RV that had a frozen tank. Frozen valves, yes, but not the tank to where it would cause a problem.
I have always wondered if the tank heaters actually provide any utility, or are just another marketing ploy with little real value.
__________________
Scott and Liz - Southern NM
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL - w/level up (best option ever)
2007 Chevy 2500HD Duramax
Reese Fifth Airborne Sidewinder
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12-02-2021, 11:39 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Denver, NC
Posts: 2,596
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When I ordered my Rockwood Ultra Lite back in 2016 the option for the heated holding tanks was $217.50
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2015 Ram 2500 CTD,CC,SB,4x4
2016 Rockwood 2703 Emerald Edition
Husky CenterLine TS Hitch
TST 507 TPMS
Progressive Industries EMS-PT30X
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12-02-2021, 12:31 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2021
Posts: 103
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If you are comfortable with electrical / DIY you can install tank heaters yourself fairly cheaply.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZJN2JW7
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2015 Salem CSMT27RKSS
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12-02-2021, 01:51 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Florida
Posts: 82
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As far as DIY, how do you get the belly off?
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2018 Rockwood 2606WS
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12-02-2021, 02:06 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Southern NM
Posts: 9,505
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Depends on what type of belly covering you have and how it is attached. You won't really know until you get under there and examine it.
Most have a coroplast covering that is held on by either steel nails or self tapping metal screws with possibly an occasional wood screw into a wooden support in the middle . Some coverings are woven plastic fabric.
I have removed my coroplast covering several times for different reasons. I now have it cut into 3 pieces with taped seams so I can remove just the piece I need for access.
Once you get going on it, it really isn't that hard. Be prepared for shock when you see how everything is routed under there
__________________
Scott and Liz - Southern NM
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL - w/level up (best option ever)
2007 Chevy 2500HD Duramax
Reese Fifth Airborne Sidewinder
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12-02-2021, 06:00 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 17,263
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NMWildcat
We camp in sub 20° degree weather frequently. But it does get above freezing in the day., So freezing tanks has never been a concern for me.
In fact, I have never heard of anyone who was actually using their RV that had a frozen tank. Frozen valves, yes, but not the tank to where it would cause a problem.
I have always wondered if the tank heaters actually provide any utility, or are just another marketing ploy with little real value.
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They probably do provide some utility if you find yourself camping in temps that don't rise above freezing during the day and drop to single digits (or less) during the night.
Not many people camp in weather like that. Perhaps while traveling but I'd guess they are headed for a lot warmer temps.
I spent 6 months in a trailer while waiting for a house to be built in Colorado. Winter months that dropped below 0 at times. I prepped the trailer by adding holding tank heaters. FW tank was above the floor, under a couch so heating pad not required.
The tank heaters allowed me to dump my black tank as needed even though temps never rose above the 20's some weeks. Heater on Gray tank prevented glaciation so water drained freely.
For camping off grid I'd want to make sure I had a good generator and plenty of fuel in weather like that. During my winter stay I was on full hookups so at least I had plenty of power and didn't care how much the tank heaters drew. On 12 volts a tank heater (1 tank) will draw around 6-7 amp so multiply that by the number of heated tanks. Often installed are "Elbow Heaters" and they only draw >1 amp ea (7W avg) but there can be several of them depending on plumbing.
For those camping or traveling and find themselves in low overnight temps I wouldn't stay awake nights worrying about things in the RV freezing if daytime temps are above freezing. Just run the heater at night and make sure you have plenty of fuel and power to do so. If you do have tank heaters and turn them on make sure you have plenty of battery or they could end up shutting down the furnace when batteries go too low.
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"A wise man can change his mind. A fool never will." (Japanese Proverb)
"You only grow old when you run out of new things to do"
2018 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BDS
2023 f-150 SCREW XLT 3.5 Ecoboost (The result of a $68,000 oil change )
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12-02-2021, 06:33 PM
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#9
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Trailer Park Supervisor
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Northern NJ
Posts: 8,417
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Quote:
make sure you have plenty of battery or they could end up shutting down the furnace when batteries go too low.
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And that would be very very bad!
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2019 Rockwood Geo Pro G19FD w/off road package
2015 Ford F150 XLT Super Cab 4x4 V8
Yes, I drink the water!
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12-02-2021, 07:28 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Kalamazoo
Posts: 2,139
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Your location says flordia. If you stay down there you wont ever need it. See you next october. Michigan gone ASAP
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12-02-2021, 08:02 PM
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#11
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Scoundrel
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Montrose, Colorado
Posts: 2,786
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We traveled from Florida to Colorado a year ago. When we arrived in Gunnison the temp was in the upper teens. Turned on my tank heaters (after market) and I was glad to have them. But honestly, I haven't used them since.
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2024 Geo Pro 15TB, 400W Solar, 2 Golf Cart batteries
2015 F-150 5.0L V8 XLT Crew Cab, 4x4, Tow Package, 36 gal tank, 3.55 locker, 1891 payload, Integrated Brake Controller, Roadmaster Active Suspension
Wooden Spoon Survivor
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12-03-2021, 07:06 AM
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#12
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Chief tinkerer
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Texan, transplanted to Midwest Georgia
Posts: 816
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We went with the tank heaters. As stated above, there is also a concern for freezing in the line at your water pump if it is in a compartment you get at from the outside. There are heat ducts to them if you run the furnace, except after three single digit days in Colorado we ran out of propane. We picked up 750w heaters for each of the two bays (water pump, dump valves) They didn't have t-stats so we found thermo controlled plugs on Amazon and use them. These two are on a separate cord that we plug into the pole, since our RV is 30amp. We then use a larger electric heater inside the coach. Also put wireless thermometers in those bays so we could see what was going on.
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Gary
2017 SunSeeker 3010DS
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12-03-2021, 11:53 AM
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#13
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Trailer Park Supervisor
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Northern NJ
Posts: 8,417
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TitanMike
They probably do provide some utility if you find yourself camping in temps that don't rise above freezing during the day and drop to single digits (or less) during the night.
Not many people camp in weather like that. Perhaps while traveling but I'd guess they are headed for a lot warmer temps.
I spent 6 months in a trailer while waiting for a house to be built in Colorado. Winter months that dropped below 0 at times. I prepped the trailer by adding holding tank heaters. FW tank was above the floor, under a couch so heating pad not required.
The tank heaters allowed me to dump my black tank as needed even though temps never rose above the 20's some weeks. Heater on Gray tank prevented glaciation so water drained freely.
For camping off grid I'd want to make sure I had a good generator and plenty of fuel in weather like that. During my winter stay I was on full hookups so at least I had plenty of power and didn't care how much the tank heaters drew. On 12 volts a tank heater (1 tank) will draw around 6-7 amp so multiply that by the number of heated tanks. Often installed are "Elbow Heaters" and they only draw >1 amp ea (7W avg) but there can be several of them depending on plumbing.
For those camping or traveling and find themselves in low overnight temps I wouldn't stay awake nights worrying about things in the RV freezing if daytime temps are above freezing. Just run the heater at night and make sure you have plenty of fuel and power to do so. If you do have tank heaters and turn them on make sure you have plenty of battery or they could end up shutting down the furnace when batteries go too low.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gidyupgo
We went with the tank heaters. As stated above, there is also a concern for freezing in the line at your water pump if it is in a compartment you get at from the outside. There are heat ducts to them if you run the furnace, except after three single digit days in Colorado we ran out of propane. We picked up 750w heaters for each of the two bays (water pump, dump valves) They didn't have t-stats so we found thermo controlled plugs on Amazon and use them. These two are on a separate cord that we plug into the pole, since our RV is 30amp. We then use a larger electric heater inside the coach. Also put wireless thermometers in those bays so we could see what was going on.
Attachment 266357
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That's all I had to address. Added a heat line to that hose under trailer (mine is exposed thankfully) and wrapped it with insulation tape. Put a little tiny heater in the wet bay that has a thermostat(exterior compartment). Done. If I ever have to worry about waste tanks freezing solid, I'm not camping. At least not in the camper with wet plumbing.
__________________
2019 Rockwood Geo Pro G19FD w/off road package
2015 Ford F150 XLT Super Cab 4x4 V8
Yes, I drink the water!
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12-03-2021, 02:43 PM
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#14
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Alberta
Posts: 15
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Wintering in RV
We have wintered in our 36 foot Chaparral Coachmen in Alberta. Last winter we had had -40 degrees Celsius and never froze up. We wrapped the trailer, insulated and used a Electric hose heater on water and drain. Otherwise nothing special and we survived. The basement on the Chaparral is heated and I believe there may be tank heaters but the basement is usually warmer than the living area.
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