Did a search and found nothing on this.
Jeanie and I want to make a 4 week trip across the northern tier of states in wintertime. You know, Idaho to New England along the border. I've got a Dodge 4x4/Cummins/2500/fully self contained Lance camper.
I know it sounds crazy to anyone who lives in the coldbelt, but we've always lived in temperate So. Cal. and would like to experience real winter weather.
What kind of preparation for the camper and the truck can you recommend? I'm running 285R-16 BFG AT's, a winch on the front, no lockers or even LSD's. Would a selectable rear locker be an advantage? I don't think the camper has the extra insulation package. We've had it down to 10-12 degrees (F) overnight and nothing froze and it was very pleasant in the box. The engine has an unused plug for the block heater. Anything else? We will be staying with friends and relatives some of the time but hope to stay overnight in the camper some of the time. Is this crazy? I'd like to hear from some of you with actual experience in the cold northern winter with your rig.
regards, as always, jefe

 

YOU BETCHA!!!!! Be happy you do live in a warm climate. Brrrrrrrrrrrr.
Seriously tho....ARE YOU CRAZY??????????????????

 

Other then being sure your truck is winterized...anti-frezze...fuel anti-gel...operating block heater
Your camper should also be winterized to keep the holding tanks from freezing and any pumps or pluming could frezze....have the heater checked for operation and carry a aux heater of some kind...I also carry a small generator so if needed I can power in a electric heater or plug my truck block heater in (If your ruffing it)
Also carry a set of chains for your tire size and some kind of tow strap

These are only a few suggestion's I am others will have more

 

I have had some cold weather camping experience. Freezing the water lines, hot water heater, water pump, and tanks was always my main concern. If your water tanks are outside and unheated keep them empty. Keep the water heater on as you go down the road or it could freeze. Keep a close watch on your propane level things tend to freeze up fast an extra tank of propane just in case you run out at midnight is helpful. Bring along an electric heater so when electric power is available you will have an extra heat source. The small cube style is my favorite. Condensation on your walls and windows will be a problem try to keep the curtains fron touching the windows as the moisture will stain them. Crack open a window or a roof vent to allow some of this excess moisture to escape. NEVER NEVER USE THE STOVE FOR HEAT. This is dangerous and I am sure we are all interested to hear how your trip went! I personally dont care for the unvented gas heaters you may be tempted to use.In the exhaust from these heaters is a large ammount of moisture and you are already going to be having condensation on the walls and windows. The colder the outdoor temperature the worse the condensation will be. Check my pictures you will see it dosent get to cold to camp ya just need a bigger fire. Happy camping and hope all my long wind helped.

 

Thought i might add one more thing to my last post. Bring enough antifreeze and be sure you know how to winterize your camper. Just in case the furnace breaks and you cant get it going before things start to freeze. I'm not sure how much you know about winterizing your camper so... The rv antifreeze is pink, nontoxic, and cheaper than other types of antifreeze so be sure you use the rv antifreeze. To winterize drain hot water heater, open all drain lines. Your water lines will have a low point drain for hot and cold lines, open them. Open all faucetts so the lines can empty. after all water drains close faucetts and drains on the water system leave the dump valves open. Hopefully your hot water tank has a bypass set it up to bypass the water flow around the water heater. this will save 6 gal. of antifreeze. Connect a hose to your pump inlet and let the pump push the anti freeze thru the water lines opening one faucett at a time till pink flows out. Dont forget the toilet and the shower head. 2 gal. of antifreez is enough run a few cups of the anitfreeze down each drain so your traps dont freeze. I always then open all faucetts and drain the lines back into the jugs and also pour this down the drains. always nice to see a little pink run out the dump valves. I leave all faucetts open and the water heater drain plug out, leaves room for some expansion just in case. Have always winterized my own camper had the old one for 16 years and never froze a thing. Good to check temp back there once and a while hate to hear ya froze it up. ooops ended up to be way more than one thing.

 

Go here and post your questions the BEST place for truck camper questions....

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fu...s/forum/27.cfm


Ron W.

 

I used to camp in the winter time and found that putting a blanket up to the windows kept the inside much warmer. Seemed like the windows were not insulated very well in these campers. Propane is a good source of heat so make sure your furnace is inspected before you leave and then watch the level of your propane as you travel. I can understand your excitment for wanting to see the winter in the northern states. It will make you appreciate the weather in sunny Ca.

 

Another piece of advice: Be VERY CAREFUL on roads that are slippery. As a warm-climate inhabitant, you won't have experience on snow and ice. I would recommend staying put until the highway department has a chance to clear things up a bit. The camper will make your rig a bit more unstable than just the truck alone. You'd be surprised how quickly you can be watching things go sideways out your windshield. It can really mess up your day.

DeWain

P.S. Most of us with experience on snow and ice put the campers away during winter.

 

More on the slippery roads we have spent more than one night in rest areas due to snow, and freezing rain. One morning we saw 3 cars in the ditch after the 1st couple of miles after stopping for the night due to bad road conditions. After feeling the whole trailer and truck start to slide I thought maybe we should just stop. We have two 30 pound propane tanks and in app. 20 degree weather this will heat us for 4 days in a 33 foot camper , just to give ya some kinda idea how much propane you will need. Soon as I empty a bottle I start looking for a refill. Not fun when ya wake up cold, hear the furnace running, and feel cold air blowing out, and find your out of propane.

 

Howdy, I travel with my gooseneck living quarter mostly in the winter. I tows like a dream. Done it with cab-over campers and utility trailers too. I installed a catalytic heater in my gooseneck, does not use any electric and radiates on the objects in camper for nice heat. I would suggest always leaving your wastegate valves open and if needed pour some anti freeze into the black water to keep it from freezing. This plumbing can be a nasty break to fix on the road. I also have installed full insulated window covers that roll down and velcro around all windows, insulate the power and any exterior penetration with foam, vents are used for fresh air. I have sensores for carbon mono, smoke and propane that you need to check regularly. Carry chains for your rig cuz this is a total fix when you run into iced over roads and drag chains if you have a trailer especially with brakes (required on most snowy mountain passes). I could go on but you get the idea.
Nimrod

 

I agree with all the above my wife and I love winter camping. We live 40-50 miles from the Smokey Mountains and we head out every chance no matter the weather some like it some don't dress warm stay warm. Have a good quality mono detecter and maybe even a backup it will overtake you quik. Use good quality synthetic oil in everything on your rig.
Have fun Cookieman

 

Anytime that some sort of exposed flame is used for a heat source a CO detector should used. I use a battery powered unit that alarms and also reads CO in PPMs, it was $35 or so. Every neighbor that uses gas for heating and cooking has had some sort of problem, ranging from contractors breaking a main gas line that required evacuating neighboring houses, CO in house from a poorly vented gas furnace, low gas line pressure shutting down water heaters and furnaces, etc., so be careful. Still, I do use an indoor 'blue flame ventless' propane heater as an emergency backup, a wood fireplace once in awhile and use propane for camping stoves and lanterns.

 

how about a winter front to keep that cummins warm,you could use a piece of card board in front of radiator.you will have to experiment with size so you don't run hot.so keep an eye on temp gauge.

 

I have been working in heating and air conditioning. Service work I spent many years doing, safety was always my main concern. With any gas furnace you have 2 chances to be safe from carbon monoxide. 1) all the exhaust has left the home. 2) the flame is burning properly so alot of carbon monoxide is not pruduced. When you use an unvented heater you are taking away one of your chances to be safe. I sure hope your flame is burning properly. I could tell many stories but to keep this short please don't use unvented heaters.

 

Thanks all for your thoughtful and probing answers. I went to rv.com per Ron's recommendation, and as advertised, it's a treasure trove of information on winter rv-ing. It sounds like no one is worried about traction devices in ice and snow. Just 4WD (and chains) are enough? I have a CO alarm and a smoke alarm. I removed the battery from the smoke alarm as it went off every time you turned the stove burner on, windows open or not. The heater in the Lance is vented to the outside and seems very efficient. In the 20's (F) it comes on every 10-15 minutes for a couple minutes, thermostat set at 50 deg. I will be taking all of your advice to heart.
regards, as always, jefe