| |
|
|
|
|
|
It’s a wonderfully sunny day on your latest RV trip. Better yet, there are no crowds, no lines and no sounds of a neighbor’s Frisbee pinging off the side of the motorhome. In fact, the setting is amazingly quiet and still.
Whereas most times you feel as if you’re camping with the masses, today it’s just you. Tomorrow will be the same, except for the creatures scurrying in the woods wondering just what you’re doing there.
When people talk about truly getting away from it all, this is probably the type of setting they likely envisioned. Except, of course, that it’s January, it’s below freezing and there’s a fresh dusting of snow on the ground. Such are the wondrous joys of winter RVing.
Yes, most people travel by RV in order to escape cold climates, but I’m asking you to give winter camping a chance. Blasphemy, you say? Wondering how a blustery campground could ever be better than your usual snowbird trip to Southern beaches and Western shores? Perplexed at how a weekend or extended stay in a frosty Midwestern clime could possibly compete with warm days spent poolside sipping your favorite beverage? I say, give it a try and find out.
Pampered or Primal?
The fact is, many RVers were true campers once. Come on, you’re not that far removed from a sleeping bag and a Coleman stove, are you? At the very least, most of us enjoyed the outdoors enough to want to build most of our vacations around it.
A recreation vehicle seemed like a nice fit, particularly when it came time for going where the going was good. But in our hearts, most still embrace that pioneering spirit, the satisfying struggle of keeping our campfires lit, the elements at bay and our proverbial powder dry.
For those who retain these primal urges to test one’s recreational mettle, winter camping in an RV is the ultimate treat. Not only that, but it yields some of the most elusively beautiful snow-
covered environments most of us never get to see. Come on, aren’t you even a little bit curious as to what it’s all about?
The Advantages of Sub-Zero
For those who still need selling on the idea, camping in, ahem, cooler climes avails itself to lots of fun activities, with snowshoeing, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and heartening challenges being but a few.
Those campgrounds offering hookups during the winter will most likely be blissfully empty, quiet (and usually dirt cheap) and surrounded by a teeming, wooded haven most of us forget to explore during the more rambunctious summer months.
Have you ever taken a walk in the woods on a quiet winter morning? That’s good stuff, people. Summer is for swimming pools, cold-weather RVing is for layering and exploring a different kind of natural – and ever-so unpredictable – winter wonderland.
Readying the Rig
However, the family RV may not be as ready for your snowy escapade as you are. We wouldn’t recommend attempting low-temperature camping in rigs void of quality insulation, functional furnaces or those lacking sizable enough tanks to last through a couple of cold days.
One simply can’t have too much LP-gas or “R” insulation rating when it’s 20 degrees and falling outside. This is also the time when you’ll appreciate the enclosed and heated holding tanks since things can go south pretty quick when the freshwater freezes. (Many RV manufacturers offer “cold-weather” packages for their models, complete with extra insulation and heated tanks).
And since you’re more than likely to be either living off the grid (no hookups) – or at least want to have a back-up plan in case you do – an onboard generator is a really useful add-on.
Consider these onboard systems the minimum to entertain any sort of long-term cold-weather stay. From here, it becomes a matter of your rig:
A) Generating enough heat
B) Maintaining a consistent (warm) temperature
C) Protecting the onboard systems – and you – from the elements.
We recommend a complete run-through of all systems prior to departure. You don’t want to learn of your furnace’s troubles camped in Parts Unknown.
Staying Warm
Assuming your RV qualifies, this kind of trip requires more than just an ample supply of wool socks and earmuffs.
At the heart, the steady but serious challenge is staying warm while you’re enjoying your winter wanderings. So use a little common sense and you’ll be fine.
Insulate to Conserve Heat
Even the most Btu-rich furnace appreciates any steps taken to insulate the rig. While there’s not much you can do much about the inherent insulation (or lack thereof) your manufacturer opted for, there are further ways to keep the warm in and the cold out.
Weather-stripping the doors and windows is a good idea. Where cold little drafts in your main residence are annoying, they are much more serious in a 300-square-foot coach.
It makes sense to seal the windows in plastic or use one of the popular protective films to help trap the heat. Cover or block the insides of roof vents with plastic as well. Be sure to drop a few floor rugs over uncarpeted flooring as yet another thermal layer.
And once you arrive, find a sunny spot to help warm the rig by daylight. Re-dedicate some storage space for a supplemental space heater or two.
Obviously, it’s a good idea to bring lots of layers: boots and hats, blankets, skis, snowshoes, snow shovel (for a possible dig out), De-Icer (in case of frozen locks) and a little road salt or kitty litter, too, in case you start spinning your wheels at some backwoods campsite.
Protecting You and Your RV
For you, the challenges of winter camping centers around you staying comfortable. For your vehicle, failure to maintain adequate temperature can be problematic if you don’t prepare. Pipes can freeze and crack costing you in terms of structural damage and dollars.
Don’t assume a campsite will be offering freshwater hookups at this time of year. However, if it does, you’ll want to protect that water connection by wrapping it in heat tape to keep things flowing. Go through similar motions with the sewer connection if you’re going that route.
Leaving a faucet or two slightly open (moving water is tougher to freeze) is a must (you can catch the water in a cup), and keeping interior cabinets open so they can share the RV’s warm air (and get warmth to the plumbing encased in the RV walls).
Otherwise, avoid the whole thing by emptying the freshwater tank and pipes and forgoing the freshwater scene altogether. You can always use bottled water for cooking and drinking and use the campground facilities for cleaning.
A good rule of thumb still is to keep all tanks as full as possible, making them less prone to freezing and winter’s effects. Adding antifreeze to waste water tanks and plumbing lines should keep them from freezing.
Other Challenges
While we never encourage overpacking, you’ll find that cold weather can tax resources at an alarming rate.
This time of year, less is definitely not more. Not only will your LP-gas consumption increase, but can expect big workdays from the generator and batteries, as output and capacities decrease in cold temperatures.
So don’t leave home without a full compliment of tanks (fuel, LP-gas and freshwater), and keep refrigerators and pantries full. Think of warm “feel good” meals, lots of soups and stews that stick to your ribs. That campground store probably won’t be open, so plan ahead.
Up on the Roof
A slow steady snowfall is part of the season’s charm, so long as it doesn’t block any exhaust pipes or vents. Failure to prevent this blockage could result in a dangerous situation onboard.
Ventilation is needed to make sure you have enough oxygen inside your RV. Blocked vents won’t let the bad air out, and you need fresh air to breathe.
We recommend a complete walk-around – including spot-checking the roof – after every snowfall or windy period. Be careful when accessing the ladder and scanning the scene up there.
Winter camping affords a lot of pluses, but it can be an unforgiving season. So plan ahead and you’ll have nothing but fond memories.
Pay Attention to Warnings
Finally, winter is an unpredictable season, so keep tabs on the weather. How cold is too cold for such a trip? Your RV will tell you by its inability to maintain a warm temperature, as will the sight of your own breath when inside. If this is the case, it’s time to head home and build that snowman in the front yard.
|
|
