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09-28-2017, 06:58 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 53
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Winter camping...
Anyone have any pointers for camping in early winter. There is a campground near me, otter lake that has no water hook up but sewer is available. I have a 2706WS we just picked up. How do people handle using the fresh water tanks in the freezing temps. I know the tanks have heat pads and i guess you just keep your heat on to keep the water lines from freezing. Do you just winterize at the campground before pulling out? Do people just not use the fresh water tank? Would like to pull off a winter trip but dont wanna break anything in the process. Thanks all[emoji473]
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09-28-2017, 07:06 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 832
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We winter camped at Assateague National Seashore last March and the temps got into the mid teens. Our outlet black and grey valves froze but the fw tank was fine. We have a generator and ran the heat. We ran the tank heaters when the generator was running. We have the 2703WS and the enclosed underbelly seemed to do the trick.
All in all it was a great trip.
Marty
__________________
2016 Rockwood 2703WS Sapphire
2016 F250 SD 6.2L
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09-28-2017, 07:07 AM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 53
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Thanks for the response Marty
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09-28-2017, 07:08 AM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 53
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How did you deal with the frozen valves, where they your dump valves for the tanks?
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09-28-2017, 07:22 AM
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#5
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Insert witty title here
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: About 30 miles west of Beantown.
Posts: 4,023
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If I winter camp, I do not dewinterize the plumbing. Ill dump 1 gallon of antifreeze each down into the black and grey tanks and use bottled water inside the camper. If it's REALLY cold, I wont even use the waste tanks, I'll use the campground facilities.
__________________
2021 Transcend Xplor 247BH
Husky WDH with Sway Control
2021 Chevy Silverado 2500HD LT 6.6L V8 Duramax
Forever in my memory. Forever in my heart.
Laurie J. Wood 3/22/67 - 8/23/19
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09-28-2017, 07:48 AM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 10,505
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Quote:
Originally Posted by timfromma
If I winter camp, I do not dewinterize the plumbing. Ill dump 1 gallon of antifreeze each down into the black and grey tanks and use bottled water inside the camper. If it's REALLY cold, I wont even use the waste tanks, I'll use the campground facilities.
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What he said!
Lou- we need more information- how cold do you expect it to get?
How many days are you planning to stay?
How many people- adults and/or kids.
Our kids are grown and gone so no kiddies to worry about.
We have 2 different size blue jugs for drinking water. Some folks just bring
a case of bottled water but we have a charcoal filter on our kitchen sink
at home and we fill a blue 3 or 5 gallon tote for free and bring that.
The places we typically visit in cold weather have either a heated rest room or decent vault toilets that are reasonably maintained.
We can pee in the RV potty and rinse with a splash of water from a
milk jug that's sitting nearby- usually it sits in the shower.
If frozen dump valves are a worry put some antifreeze down the drains
as mentioned but in extreme cases I have been known to drain the little
that's in the tank into a bucket and then poured that down the potty at
the toilet. This is rare but I've done it.
Something else to consider- get some flannel sheets! They are wonderful
to crawl into when it's crispy outside. Use a down comforter or an opened
down sleeping bag on the bed. An RV furnace is a battery hog and a LP
gas hog. Turn down the heat at night and snuggle with your flannel!
In the morning we love to have coffee perked with an old fashioned stove
top percolator. Then we fire up the oven to cook biscuits or sweet rolls and
that helps take the chill off the inside of the trailer. We might let the furnace run just a bit while we're having breakfast.
Talking about this is making me want to go do it!!
Enjoy your new rig!
Happy Trails!
__________________
Peace!
Dan & Rita D
2017 Nissan Titan 5.6L King cab 4wd
2016 Evergreen Everlite 242RBS
29' empty nest model. Blue Ox WD hitch
(1 queen bed, large main cabin and huge bathroom)
Camping days 2010-53, 2011-47, 2012-41, 2013-41, 2014-31, 2015-40, 2016-44, 2017-63, 2018-75, 2019-32, 2020-41, 2021-49, 2022-43, 2023-66
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09-28-2017, 07:51 AM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 53
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Thanks Kydan, just 2 adults 2 kids, the poconos in pa i would say are in the 30 during the day and maybe 20s at night, i wouldnt go much past december where is was to far below freezing. Thanks for the tips
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09-28-2017, 07:58 AM
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#8
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 10,505
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Quote:
Originally Posted by louroberto
Thanks Kydan, just 2 adults 2 kids, the poconos in pa i would say are in the 30 during the day and maybe 20s at night, i wouldnt go much past december where is was to far below freezing. Thanks for the tips
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A lot depends on the facilities or lack of at your camp ground.
Paper plates and carefully planned meals can cut way down on dish
washing and the water that's needed for that as well as water that needs
to be disposed of.
We have been known to heat water in the coffee pot during breakfast or
supper and use that in a plastic dish pan do to the few dishes. I -might-
even pour that dishwater down the potty at the CG. I never go camping without
my bucket!
IF the CG has electric - get an electric heater!! Save the LP.
Some rigs have electric fireplaces. When I saw one of those the first
time I thought "that is soooo stupid- having a fireplace in an RV".
Boy was I wrong. We now have one and use it all the time to heat
the inside. Love it!! IF you don't have one a basic 700-1400 watt
heater will do the job. Just be careful where you sit it and don't leave
it on when you're not there.
You'll figure it out! Enjoy!!
__________________
Peace!
Dan & Rita D
2017 Nissan Titan 5.6L King cab 4wd
2016 Evergreen Everlite 242RBS
29' empty nest model. Blue Ox WD hitch
(1 queen bed, large main cabin and huge bathroom)
Camping days 2010-53, 2011-47, 2012-41, 2013-41, 2014-31, 2015-40, 2016-44, 2017-63, 2018-75, 2019-32, 2020-41, 2021-49, 2022-43, 2023-66
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09-28-2017, 08:00 AM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 53
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Thanks again
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10-01-2017, 01:41 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 832
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Quote:
Originally Posted by louroberto
How did you deal with the frozen valves, where they your dump valves for the tanks?
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I drove home with full tanks until they thawed later in the day. In hind site I could have used a small portable propane torch to thaw them out. Maybe next time!
Marty
__________________
2016 Rockwood 2703WS Sapphire
2016 F250 SD 6.2L
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10-01-2017, 05:34 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 10,907
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Martsing
I drove home with full tanks until they thawed later in the day. In hind site I could have used a small portable propane torch to thaw them out. Maybe next time!
Marty
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Man, I'd be VERY careful using a propane torch around "plastic" valves and tanks!
__________________
1988 Coleman Sequoia - popup (1987-2009) - outlasted 3 Dodge Grand Caravans!
2012 Roo19 - hybrid (2012-2015)
2016 Mini Lite 2503S - tt (2015 - ???)
2011 Traverse LT, 3.6L, FWD
2009 Silverado 1500 Ext Cab, 5.3L, 4x4, 3.73
2016 Silverado 2500HD Dbl Cab, 6.0L 4x4, 4.10
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10-01-2017, 05:37 PM
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#12
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Insert witty title here
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: About 30 miles west of Beantown.
Posts: 4,023
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Next time either pour antifreeze down there or use the campground facilities. I agree with rockfordroo that a blowtorch is a bad idea.
__________________
2021 Transcend Xplor 247BH
Husky WDH with Sway Control
2021 Chevy Silverado 2500HD LT 6.6L V8 Duramax
Forever in my memory. Forever in my heart.
Laurie J. Wood 3/22/67 - 8/23/19
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10-01-2017, 05:50 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 832
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rockfordroo
Man, I'd be VERY careful using a propane torch around "plastic" valves and tanks!
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Great idea. Come on........
Marty
__________________
2016 Rockwood 2703WS Sapphire
2016 F250 SD 6.2L
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10-02-2017, 08:18 PM
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#14
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Tom D.
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: PA
Posts: 14
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Please reconsider using a torch around your black tank valve. Lots of methane there creates a serious explosion hazard.
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10-04-2017, 01:29 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 832
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 4108
Please reconsider using a torch around your black tank valve. Lots of methane there creates a serious explosion hazard.
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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
__________________
2016 Rockwood 2703WS Sapphire
2016 F250 SD 6.2L
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10-04-2017, 05:39 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: SoCal
Posts: 463
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This is all great info. We just purchased a 2780WS because we are leaving sunny Southern California in June and relocating to Spokane Wa and will be living in our fifth wheel for most likely 6-9 months which means we’ll be in it through the winter. It’ll be our first winter in snow and first winter in a rv in the snow.
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10-04-2017, 09:27 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: KS
Posts: 2,369
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Quote:
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
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I see another warning sticker appearing on my next trailer now...
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10-04-2017, 09:39 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 5,712
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Martsing
I drove home with full tanks until they thawed later in the day. In hind site I could have used a small portable propane torch to thaw them out. Maybe next time!
Marty
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I'd go with a hair dryer or a dual setting heat gun...not propane torch...too easy to overheat and damage the valve.
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11-04-2017, 08:25 AM
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#19
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 34
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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?
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11-04-2017, 08:46 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 439
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All I have to say is im soooo jealous I wanna go camping !!!!
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TT: 2015 Wildwood 21rbs
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