Winter Camping - Tips and Mistakes to Avoid
Here we are, 6 months after beginning our RV adventure and we're snowed in. We knew this would be something we had to deal with in Oregon, where we go from 60 degrees to 20 in the same week. It has certainly been a learning experience. With all this extra time indoors, I wanted to share some things we learned along the way. We definitely made some winter camping mistakes, but we learned from these and have managed to stay comfortable and safe in the freezing temperatures.
I should note, we are not in 20 below temperatures, nor are we likely to ever be brave enough to camp in those conditions. The temperature has been in the 30s during the day and dropped down to the 20s and teens in the evenings. That's cold enough for us!
I've linked to a few of the products we use. If you want to know more about these items and where to buy them, take a look at our post, RV Gear: Absolute Essentials for Full-Timing.
Keep the Heat In
Our electric heaters keep us warm, so we don't have to use expensive propane. We've got an infrared heater in the main living area, a forced air heater in the bathroom (which also reduces moisture), and another forced air heater in the bedroom. It is still a good idea to run the furnace every month, just like everything else to make sure it is still operational. Other than once a month for general upkeep, we haven't used it at all.
If you can afford it, invest in RV skirting. We could not. Though we plan on making our own. According to a few of our neighbors and others in the RV community, skirting is supposed to make a huge difference in the temperature of the RV. One day we will start that project...
We were losing a lot of heat through our front windshield, so I added thermal curtains to cover this massive cold inducer. These have made a huge difference! We're lucky enough to have dual pane windows throughout the rest of our rig, but if you don't thermal curtains could help.
Our super bright LED rope lights
Keep the Critters Out!
Rodents...they want to be warm too. We've had two... or three mice already, and yes, even with the cats (they are worthless as hunters). Of course we hate killing the little critters, but once they're in they will start to destroy everything. Through trial and error, we think we have figured out how to prevent them from entering.
First of all, the previous owners of our rig were amazing! They had already sealed most openings with spray foam insulation. However, these little guys managed to get in through our hookup bay outside. They just followed the pipes right into our warm, cozy bathroom. To prevent this, one of our neighbors suggested we stuff some steel wool around the openings (check out the picture of our hookup bay below). Mice can't chew through it and it's super cheap. We also have the opening under the dash duct taped. It's not a pretty solution but Hector (our cat) was trying to climb in there to catch a mouse one day. You do what you gotta do.
We also have bright LED lights around the base of the RV. This is supposed to repel mice. These are thick and durable rope lights. They come with a waterproof cap for the plug, so you can leave them on the ground regardless of weather. These also make Rhiannon look like she is of another world!
Protect the Pipes
Our Hookup Bay in the Winter
As you may be aware of from our older posts, our pipes froze a few months ago. This can cause a lot of issues. Just like in a sticks and bricks home, pipes can burst in an RV. Though our pipes were okay, it did manage to break our toilet's dometic valve (you can read all about it here). We didn't want to take anymore chances of our pipes freezing again, so we invested in a few heaters and a heated hose.
Keep your water dripping when temperatures go below freezing. This will help reduce the chance of frozen pipes, but it won't prevent it from happening. In fact, it did happen to us, so we still recommend a heated hose along with this habit. Keeping your cabinets open at night will allow the heat to reach pipes too. We actually have a forced air heater pointed directly at our open cabinet in the bathroom. This is to help keep the tanks and pipes warm, though also helps keep the bathroom nice and toasty.
Loren, dumping the tanks in the snow
Dump the Tanks
Since the temperatures aren't going below the teens, our tanks should be okay. There are a few precautions we've taken though. Empty on a warmer day and don't keep them too full. As you know liquid expands when frozen, so if the tanks are full (of poop!) they can crack. No one wants that!
If you have heated tanks, you're good! Ours are heated through the furnace that we don't use. We have found that keeping the RV warm enough inside and dumping regularly in these temperatures has worked well enough for us. I have read about people putting RV antifreeze (the pink stuff) in the tanks. I tried that once, but the chemicals can react with whatever you use in your tank. It was fine when I did it, but I probably won't again.
Reduce Condensation
When the temperatures drop, condensation will accumulate on windows, walls, and other surfaces in your RV. We've had problems with condensation, especially on our front windshield. Keeping your RV warm can reduce this. A dehumidifier is a must! We went overboard and got a big 50 pint/day beast (which definitely keeps the mold away), but you can probably get by with a smaller one, depending on the size of your rig. We also keep a small heater on the dash facing the windshield, which is pictured way above.
Retract the Awning
As much as I love our power awning, I've had to pull it in for the winter. It's nice to have out when it rains, but we kept having trouble retracting it. I did some research and they aren't really meant to be used in the rain. If they get wet, they should be dried before retracting. This prevents mildew and keeps the weight down, which is better for the motor.
In our last site, we had wind gusts that sounded like it was going to rip it right off the RV, which can happen. We've also come home to surprise hail storms that weigh it down and make it impossible to bring back in. For a while, I left it about a foot or two out, but I've finally given up. It'll stay tucked away until the summer.
Is it Worth the Work?
All in all, I'd have to say yes! We don't do any winter sports or anything, but it's beautiful and we just love the changing seasons. Camping in colder, rainier weather also means the parks are less crowded, which we love!
Do you like winter camping, or have any tips to add? Leave a comment below!