While you may spend most of your time traveling to warm climates in your RV or motorhome, there are times you’ll be winter RVing. Perhaps you’re visiting family for the Christmas holidays, or you’ve always wanted to hike in the mountains. Whatever your reason for traveling into sub-freezing temperatures in your RV, you’ll need a few essential items to protect you and your RV from the weather and make your motor coach or travel trailer comfortable.
Also Read:- Hiking Tips for Beginners
Top 8 Tips for Winter RV Camping
Here are the best eight tips for RVing in winter to help you stay safe, warm, and comfortable.
1. Heated Hose
When temperatures are below freezing, a standard hose will freeze with the water in the line. The solution is either to disconnect the hose and rely on the water in your tank (provided the tank doesn’t freeze) or invest in a heated hose. You may also want to cover the water spigot with insulation and a cover (it can be as simple as a bucket) to protect the faucet and your hose and connector from the wind.
2. Lithium Battery Heater
Recreational vehicles aren’t designed to operate in sub-zero temperatures. Any time the temps drop below freezing, you run the risk of pipes freezing. With the standard batteries put in most RVs, the batteries don’t work when it dips below freezing, and things can quickly freeze up. Installing a lithium battery heater designed to keep the underneath of your vehicle above freezing without wasting energy saves you money while protecting your RV.
3. Windshield Cover
You’ve no doubt used a reflective cover for your windshield during the summer months to reflect the sunlight out and keep your RV from getting too hot. A windshield cover or sun shield is just as crucial for the opposite reason in the winter. Lots of cold seeps in through and around the windshield, making the cabin much colder. When the sun is out, let it warm the interior of your motorhome, then cover it at night when the sun is down to keep the heat in and the cold out.
4. Heat Tape/Insulation
Wrap heat tape around the exposed water pipes and install insulation around water tanks to prevent freezing. You don’t want your pipes to burst or freeze up. Proper insulation can prevent expensive damage and reduce the amount of energy needed to heat your water when needed.
5. Electric Space Heaters and Blankets
One or two small ceramic space heaters use much less electricity than running your RV furnace all night. Because your RV is a relatively small, enclosed space, ceramic heaters can be very efficient. Ceramic heaters are safe because they automatically turn off if tipped over. If you aren’t a fan of space heaters, invest in an electric blanket to keep you toasty while sleeping. You’ll be able to set your thermostat several degrees lower overnight, then turn it up in the morning.
6. Winterization
Make sure to winterize your RV when traveling to a place with a freezing temperature to keep it safe from the cold. You can do it yourself or with assistance from a local RV company. Jennifer Young, co-founder of RV rental site Outdoorsy, has also confirmed that “If you’re traveling in a cold weather condition, there are chances that your rented vehicle will be winterized before you take it out on the road.”
Winterizing the RV involves evacuating water tanks, draining the water heater and water lines, and improving the insulation to fabricate a warm and comforting space. You can also shield the base of the RV to protect it from cold winds and avoid damage to pipes.
But you don’t need to winterize your RV if the temperature of your destination place doesn’t plunge to frost.
7. Tire check
Your motorhome tires must be in ideal condition and adequately inflated for a hazard-free trip. Tire pressure must be checked before you start the journey and be cautious because every 10° F drop in temperature causes the loss of 2 PSI in tire pressure.
You may also require a set of snow chains to travel in cold weather. But many RV rental companies such as Cruise America have banned the use of these chains on RVs due to damaging effects.
8. Check the campground schedule
As you plan for RV camping in cold weather, you need to validate that your desired camping sites are open before you get there.
Many campgrounds are closed due to winter, particularly family-owned campgrounds that remain open from April to October.
Other campgrounds may be only partly open. According to Damian Tysdal of the Safe Travels podcast, “Many campgrounds and RV parks close in winter but welcome campers daily.”
In such conditions, these campsites provide services to travelers for a limited time.
Conclusion:
Properly preparing your RV for winter travel is essential for ensuring a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable trip, even when the temperatures turn chill. By investing in the right equipment such as a heated hose, lithium battery heater, and windshield cover, you can protect your RV from the harsh elements and avoid costly repairs. Covering your water pipes and tanks, using electric space heaters and blankets, and ensuring your tires are in excellent condition will further enhance your winter RVing experience. Don’t forget to winterize your RV if necessary, and always check the campground schedules before you set out. Don’t forget these tips, you can confidently embark on your winter RV adventures, knowing you are well-prepared for whatever the cold weather brings.
