I need some advice on cold weather camping. Dont know much about it as it doesnt get to cold here. I will be going to the Davis mountains (in west Texas) later this month for an 8 day trip. Then in to Arizona to visit the inlaws.
Do they make a water hose with heat trace? Will grey and black h2o tanks stay warm enough from the heat of the travel trailer?
I can use some advice from any of you cold weather campers .

I think it will probably be in the mid to lower 20's. Very cold to a hot weather kind of guy!

 

I've done some cold weather camping with my 34 ft 5th wheel. I froze up a couple times but it got down to about 12F. I made up a water supply hose and wraped it with heat tape. It worked pretty good. Got down to around 10F and I had no problem. The holding tanks are usually ok on the newer ones in moderately cold conditions. I always dumped my tanks before I drove down the hwy if it was below 20F. I don't want to risk it any farther. Remember that when you drive down the road the furnace is off and things get pretty cold in the compartments and can freeze things. Happy camping!!!

 

I've done a lot of cold weather camping but never worried about running water in the tent. IF you concern is fresh water for cooking and drinking, use a water cooler, keeps it from freezing too.

 

a strip of heat tape with pipe insulation around it should keep the ice off of your fresh water line when wrapped around it. check prices out at lowes or similar place... something like that shouldnt be very expensive

 

If your worried about your holding tanks freezing buy some RV antifreeze and pour it in. Dump the tanks when full, close them and then add more antifreeze. Get the RV antifreeze it's non toxic. Don't put the antifreeze in your fresh water tank. This may sound like a no brainer but I know someone who did that, it was not good.
Another thing about cold weather is the condensation you get inside. We have a dehumidifier we run in the winter otherwise the windows sweat and run down the walls. Humidity will ruin an RV.
Happy Camping!

 

Thanks every body!

 

What does it do?

My RV manual says to pump it into to lines to keep them from freezing.

 

When you’re storing your RV for winter yes you can and should put it in your lines. I’ll bet your manual says to flush it out before you use it too. When you are using it, like Kelly15 will be I don’t think you want to drink water that has antifreeze in it even they say it’s not toxic. It won't kill you but it will make you sick or at least it did the idiot that put it in his fresh water while he was camping.

 

Now I understand...........it's not the antifreeze in the lines that's the problem, it's the ninkompoop that drinks it.

 

So, What you are saying is to NOT drink the antifreeze?
Cant believe someone drank that stuff. Probably at the very least will cause a belly ache.

 

Haulin Dixie,,, You dont have running water in your tent. I thought they all had those french things that spray water up your butt! Whats it called a Bowday?

 

I spent the last two winters in my 30' Dutchman in central Virginia. I was set up at Small Country campground for 18 months. I just put a heat strip on my hose and wrapped it with insulation. If it gets in the low 20's and stays there its is a good idea to leave a faucet dripping if possible. The only time I had trouble with my waste water holding tanks, it was about 4 degrees and the drain valve froze. Nothing busted but I had to thaw it out to drain the tank. I also had my trailer underskirted and kept a 100 watt bulb under it. One of those clamp on lights next to your water tanks will help.
Alot depends on if you are dry camping or have full hook-ups.
Happy Camping!!

 

I think the guy was drinking more than antifreeze! Like vanilla extract, Listerine, you get the idea. You see alot of dumb stuff going on when you're a full time RV'er. I guess he thought "well it's not toxic and I don't want my fresh water tank to freeze." Who knows what goes through some people's minds. I wasn’t saying that you were that dumb, just being cautious. Like the manufactures do when they put warnings labels on stuff. My iron had a warning that said, “Do not iron clothes on body.” Like somebody really did that? You just never know.

 

My fifth-wheel is equipped with 12vdc heaters on the fresh and holding tanks. They are just a small strip attached to the tanks at their outlets. Keeps things warm enough not to freeze. Hot tape attached to your fresh water supply hose should keep it flowing.

 

to aviod condensation on your windowscrack a couple of roof vents . this drys the rig quit well as long as the heat is on.
Dry camping works for my family during ski season in northern maine.