Winter camping...

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by ShastaJammer

We are currently camping in Oregon with our TT at an empty site with full hook-up. Last night temp was in the low 20s and snow. Only issue so far is a frozen water hose from outlet to trailer. Only small amounts of water this morning until the hose thaws. I guess I should unhook the hose tonight and allow the water to drain, then hook it up in the morning. Any other ideas, thoughts, concerns?

If you have full hookups, they make heated water hoses. But until you have one, disconnect at night.

[ShastaJammer]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

If you have full hookups, they make heated water hoses. But until you have one, disconnect at night.

Great idea. I didn't know Camco made them. A must for winter camping. Thanks!

[timfromma]

Originally Posted by ShastaJammer

We are currently camping in Oregon with our TT at an empty site with full hook-up. Last night temp was in the low 20s and snow. Only issue so far is a frozen water hose from outlet to trailer. Only small amounts of water this morning until the hose thaws. I guess I should unhook the hose tonight and allow the water to drain, then hook it up in the morning. Any other ideas, thoughts, concerns?

Drive south.

[Abendage]

Originally Posted by Martsing

Oh. Well, this is a first. So, with this in mind, in RV parks where the sewage drain is literally feet from another site and their fire ring, that is an explosion hazard? I have honestly never heard this warning before.

Marty

Haven't you seen Christmas Vacation??

[gandalflgb]

Buy a heated hose, it's worth it to winter RV!

[mrtingey]

Originally Posted by ShastaJammer

We are currently camping in Oregon with our TT at an empty site with full hook-up. Last night temp was in the low 20s and snow. Only issue so far is a frozen water hose from outlet to trailer. Only small amounts of water this morning until the hose thaws. I guess I should unhook the hose tonight and allow the water to drain, then hook it up in the morning. Any other ideas, thoughts, concerns?

We have a heated hose, you can get one at Lowes, Ace or Amazon. Great!

[NMWildcat]

Heated hoses are great if you insulate both ends also. But they are fairly expensive.
We are currently having temps in the teens where we are at (full hookups). We just fill the fresh tank every few days and use the pump. Illuminates the hose freezing problem.
We run electric heaters set so that at night the propane RV heater will still turn on occasionally to keep our basement and plumbing heated.

[timfromma]

For me, camping is supposed to be fun. If I'm spending my time worrying about finding ways to keep my plumbing from freezing, I'm not having fun. My camper is winterized and covered. It won't reemerge until April at the earliest.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by timfromma

For me, camping is supposed to be fun. If I'm spending my time worrying about finding ways to keep my plumbing from freezing, I'm not having fun. My camper is winterized and covered. It won't reemerge until April at the earliest.

Everyone's definition of fun is different.
Finding ways to camp in cold climates while keeping things from freezing is part of the 'fun' for us.

[aeblank]

We took a winter trip from MI to CA last year. I prepped by putting "heat tape" on *all* plumbing. I used eternabond tape to attach it on the bottom of all 3 tanks. I zip tied it along all the plumbing, I wrapped it around and zip tied it to the waste piping/valves. I ended up using 3 tapes. A 25', 12' and 8', I think. They snake all over, but "cover" all plumbing. Some sort of insulative wrap would help, but my goal isn't "warm" it's 33*F.

My wife is a "southerner" and complains endlessly at less than 70*F. My son will wear shorts at 50*F but also be cold at bedtime at less than 70. He was 8yo and my daughter was 2yo. We hit snow a few times (a foot in Bakersfield, CA....first snow in a dozen years...) and it got down in the teens at night (grand canyon, brrr) but 40s+ daytime. Most nights we had electric, so I could plug in my heat tape. A 1400w electric heater kept up overnight at 68+. The thought of not using plumbing (potty, sinks, and shower) would make the trip a no-go. I've never stayed connected to CG water, so that stayed the same, occasionally filling the fw tank.

Had snows on the truck and chains in the back. As an aside, 10ply snows aren't cheap.

Everyone is pissed at covid this year, cause we were going to do it again... Christmas in death valley was pretty cool.

[danny4127]

Put a bucket over the hydrant keeps ground heat in along with heated hose doesn't freeze when the wind blows

[youroo]

This is just one example of "Bad Idea"! Most campgrounds have Supply Hydrants that "Must have the outlet hose DISCONNECTED to allow the Hydrant to Drain for Freeze Protection! Some Campgrounds have heated Hydrants but Not all! Farmers and Rural Plumbers know about Proper Hydrant install for freeze prevention! Youroo!!

[Denman]

I did a couple of short winter camping trips as well - and it was great fun every single time! We just used botteled water oder heated up snow from outdoors, worked well all the time. Most important to me was a warm sleeping bag and the possibility to warm up from time to time either doing winter sports (what was most of the time the reason to go camping in winter), heating a fire or go to close pub/restaurant whatever. I just wouldn't go for a longer time, just a couple of nights.