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While there are plenty of tips on winter living to be found across the internet, your RV pros here at RV2GO wanted to make a short list of the most important things to prevent costly repairs. This list will not be comprehensive and your camper may have different needs, but the general concepts will still apply. For more personalized recommendations, please Contact Us!
Be Proactive!
Living in an RV during the winter can be a lot of work and it's hard to know exactly what you need to do. Arming yourself with the knowledge and products you need to live trouble free in your RV before you run into issues will save you a lot of headache (and money)! The fact that you're reading this now means you're off to a good start but don't stop here. Find articles, watch videos, and ask questions on RV life forums. Anything you can learn now can save you big down the road.
Keep It Warm!
This is by far this most important tip you can heed. If you are living in your camper over the winter, you won't use traditional winterization methods like filling your plumbing with anti-freeze. You will have to keep your plumbing warm enough so that it does not freeze. Freeze damage happens quickly and can require a lot of money for repairs, not to mention make living in your camper miserable. Stopping your camper from freezing before it happens should be your #1 priority. Here are some things that are important for cold locations like the mountains of Colorado!
Skirt Your RV
Unless you have a specialized 4 season camper, (and even then) you should be skirting your rig each time you set up the camp in below freezing temperatures. Skirting can take many forms, from ultra portable air filled skirting to more permanent wood framed setups but it all does the same thing: stops air movement under your camper. Still air is a good insulator but moving air strips heat quickly. You may be warm and toasty inside your camper while your underbelly (and all the enclosed plumbing) is freezing solid. Skirting is incredibly important and the more insulation it provides, the easier it will be to keep everything warm.
Don't forget to leave access to your waste tank dump handles and low point drains as well as any other general access under the camper that you need!
Use Your Furnace
If you are staying at a campground that has electricity included in the rent, you may be tempted to use electric heat sources and keep your propane fired furnace off. This can cause damage that may far exceed the cost of propane and here is why:
Most modern RVs have ductwork that supplies warm air to the underbelly and areas where there are tanks and plumbing lines. If you are not using your furnace, you are not heating these areas. Electric heaters and fireplaces are great, but almost never heat under your camper and in cargo areas. Your propane furnace is much more powerful than a space heater and it is often ducted to areas so that they don't freeze.
In cold weather, running your furnace so often can empty small propane tanks very quickly. Because of this, it is a good idea to get larger tanks, either ones that can be installed on your camper in place of the smaller ones (if you have the room) or a large external tank that is filled by a local propane company. Even then it is good to have some spare tanks on hand and know how to swap them. Don't run out of propane!
Monitor Your Temps
Even with all the preparation in the world, it can be hard to know that your RV is staying a safe temperature. A sudden cold snap can freeze the plumbing in an RV that has been staying nice and warm up to that point. Your thermostat only tells you the temperatures in the living area.
Because of this, it is important to monitor the temperatures in other areas of your RV. Whatever type of thermometer you use, its important to check them regularly, especially until you get a feel for how your camper handles cold weather. Because of this, we recommend investing in some wireless temperature sensors so they are easy to check. Many of them have history too so you can see how cold it gets at night!
Armed with this knowledge, you can handle issues before they turn into icy problems. Place these sensors in the coldest parts of your RV and near plumbing on the exterior wall. Here are some ideas: Under sinks, inside cargo compartments, near your water pump, in your underbelly or under your skirting if you don't have underbelly lining. Put them any place that may get cold!
Don't Forget Outside!
Remember that the plumbing inside your camper is just one part. Here are some things to remember outside:
Invest in a good quality heated hose to keep your water supply from freezing.
Be thoughtful about how your run your sewage hose. Low points can collect sewage and if it freezes it can stop you from emptying your tanks.
Keep your roof clear of large amounts of snow and ice. These can collect on low points in your roof and cause leaks, or get into the trim and damage the exterior of the camper.
Summary
Living in an RV in the winter can be a lot of work and it takes some money to do it right. This investment will save you big time in the long run, however. This article only contains the basics so make sure to keep learning and speak with our team at RV2GO if you have any questions!
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