| There are lots of things to do and to see in the | | | | reduce the chance of freezing, resulting in damage to |
| wintertime; beautiful winter scenery, snow skiing, | | | | the holding tanks. Take bottled water along for |
| hunting, riding snowmobiles and much more. It's no | | | | drinking and other needs like cooking, washing up and |
| wonder so many people enjoy using their RV's year | | | | brushing your teeth when the RV is winterized. We |
| round. When winter approaches each year I get | | | | have a five gallon jug that we always take on trips, |
| numerous e-mails requesting information about using | | | | filled with tap water from our house, for our pet's |
| RV's in cold temperatures. One reason I haven't | | | | drinking water and our other needs. This comes in |
| written on this subject in the past is because it would | | | | handy when the RV is winterized. |
| require more than just a short article to thoroughly | | | | When we arrive at our destination I try to select a |
| cover this topic. Another reason for not writing about | | | | site that will be exposed to the sun throughout the |
| this in the past is that there are no guarantees that | | | | day, but also where there is some type of wind |
| your RV can or will be 100 percent protected from | | | | break available. Position the RV on the site so the |
| the harsh winter elements by following written advice | | | | front or rear will be facing the brunt of any wind, not |
| on the subject. | | | | the side of the RV. If there is an electrical hook-up I |
| What I can do is offer you some suggestions and | | | | de-winterize the water system so we can use |
| ideas that will help to protect your RV if you plan to | | | | everything. All of the water lines in our motorhome |
| use it during the cold winter months. I just can't | | | | are above floor level, in a heated space, so we don't |
| guarantee that it will be 100 percent protected. | | | | need to be too concerned about the water system |
| These suggestions and ideas are for short term | | | | freezing as long as the RV has heat. We leave the |
| winter camping in your RV. If you plan to take | | | | water heater turned on whenever the water heater |
| extended RV trips in cold weather there are many | | | | tank is full so there is no chance of it freezing. Some |
| other precautions and measures that need to be | | | | water heaters operate off of LP gas and electricity. |
| considered, like using insulated skirting around the | | | | Keep in mind if it's in the electric mode it will use 9 to |
| bottom of the RV for example. | | | | 13 amps. |
| Note: What we will be concentrating on is how to | | | | It's important that you know where all of the |
| protect your RV during cold weather camping. It is | | | | plumbing on your RV is located. Some RVs have heat |
| extremely important that you also understand how | | | | ducts going to the basement storage areas where |
| to protect yourself and other campers in cold | | | | the water system is exposed to outside |
| temperatures. | | | | temperatures, but many RVs do not. If portions of |
| One of the first considerations for cold weather | | | | the RV water system are below floor level, in areas |
| RVing is if you will be traveling in temperatures below | | | | that are not heated, it is possible for it to freeze and |
| freezing. If this is the case, and there is water in the | | | | damage the water lines. If you are hooked up to an |
| RV water system, your plumbing lines or water | | | | external water supply one option is to leave a faucet |
| heater tank could freeze, resulting in costly repair bills, | | | | in the RV dripping, to keep the water moving, and |
| not to mention ruining your winter wonderland RV | | | | decrease the possibility of water lines freezing. |
| trip. To avoid this from happening I travel with the | | | | Another option is to use heat tape to protect the |
| water system winterized. It is actually much easier to | | | | exposed water lines. Heat tape can be purchased at |
| winterize an RV than most people think it is, and it's | | | | most hardware or building supply stores. Make sure it |
| not very expensive either. I have winterized and | | | | is suitable for the types of water lines in your RV, |
| de-winterized our RV as many as four times in one | | | | and if you plan to use it on a water hose. |
| winter. Note: Our "Winterizing & Storing Your | | | | If it is extremely cold outside and the possibility |
| RV" DVD will teach you how to winterize your RV, | | | | exists that the outside water supply could freeze, or |
| by yourself, and save money, especially if you enjoy | | | | if the campground water supply is shut off for the |
| using your RV during the winter months. | | | | winter, I fill our fresh water holding tank and use it |
| The good news is it is still possible to use the | | | | for all of our water requirements. Again, keep in mind |
| bathroom facilities when you are traveling with the | | | | where your fresh water tank is located; ours is |
| RV winterized. We take one gallon jugs filled with | | | | above floor level in a heated area. If the |
| water to use in the toilet, and if your holding tanks | | | | campgrounds shower facilities are still open it's a good |
| are not heated you can put some RV antifreeze in | | | | idea to use them to avoid the gray water holding |
| the holding tanks to prevent the contents from | | | | tank from filling so quickly. In this situation it might be |
| freezing. Add the RV antifreeze through the toilet for | | | | in your best interest to keep the RV winterized and |
| the black water holding tank and down the shower | | | | just use the campgrounds facilities. |
| or tub drain for the gray water tank. The antifreeze | | | | Tip: If you haven't purchased your RV yet and you |
| will also protect the shower or tub P-trap which is | | | | know you will be using an RV in cold weather make |
| usually located below floor level. The amount of | | | | sure to include an artic package option when you buy |
| antifreeze required for the holding tanks will be based | | | | it. Some packages include higher R-factor insulation, |
| on the size of the tanks, and it will be necessary to | | | | enclosed underbelly, heated holding tanks, dual pane |
| add more RV antifreeze as waste water is added to | | | | windows and more. |
| the tanks to prevent the antifreeze from being | | | | Happy Camping, |
| diluted. | | | | Mark |
| Don't allow the holding tanks to fill completely, before | | | | Copyright 2006 by Mark J. |
| emptying them, during cold weather camping. This will | | | | |