Is it worth it to insulate the underbelly?

[Sawtooth]

I've been reading a bunch of threads on insulation. My Wildwood has holding tank heaters although I dont know how effective they are - not cold enough here in Raleigh yet to know.
I do know that we are planning a trip next week to a colder area where the forecast is for 32 degrees at night. I'm worried about the water lines, holding tanks, and waste valves.
I dont have a big budget to do this - about $300 - any suggestions or help is greatly appreciated.

[up2speed4]

I've read that all items you mentioned need to stay warm using insulation. Has anyone tried using spray foam insulation on underside?

[aeblank]

At 32 for a low, you're fine.

[Sawtooth]

I've seen some youtube's showing guys insulating with spray foam. Looked easy...messy, but easy.

[fella10]

you can prevent your water hose from freezing by trickling one of your inside faucets during the freezing temps, ... when doing that you do need to drain your gray tank and leave it open during the entire time you are trickling a faucet, .... the times we've done this, we used the shower for that purpose, ... using the shower I could get the trickle flow just the way I wanted it and leave it, without having to keep redoing it every time after the sink faucet was used,... we laid the shower head in the floor of the shower and let it trickle the whole time the temps were below freezing, ... once we got thru two nights at 17deg, without any problem, .......

[Sawtooth]

Fella10 - you are one hearty soul. that a little cold for this NC boy. Thanks for the trickle trick. Appreciated.

[merrykalia]

We camped the week of Thanksgiving in a TN state park and we had highs in the 60's to lows in the teens. It varied all week long. Most of the time it was sunny, though.

For those nights that were cold(below 32), we would unhook the supply hose and roll it up, put it in the storage bay about 10 pm. DH would hook it back up when it got above 32 in the morning. If we needed to flush after that, we had a couple of gallons sitting beside the toilet for that purpose. (Who cares if the holding tank freezes, there is plenty of expansion room there since it wasn't completely full and a poopsicle is not bad). It always warmed above freezing and the day we left, it was in the mid-60s, so we had no problem dumping.

I did open each of the COLD side of sink faucet, bathtub faucet, and kitchen sink faucet just a bit just in case we had any freezing and that would allow for expansion. We kept our water heater on and DID NOT USE ANY after the water was unhooked.

We had no problems at all using this system.

[Iggy]

Originally Posted by aeblank

At 32 for a low, you're fine.

Like aeblank said...

Don't worry about temp at 32 degrees.
If you were going to stay in an area that stays that cold all day or lower yes you need to do things.
But for a night that only gets down to 32 degrees don't worry.

[mkosu04]

I doubt you could do anything worthwhile for under $300

The best (only?) way to do it would be to use spray foam and it is very expensive.
Any other materials would likely either blow out while driving or trap water and cause mold/rot.