How cold can you go?

[campbikemom]

This is the time of year that we usually embark on our last camping trip. We were planning on making the trip last weekend our last of the year, but my 3 (soon to be 4) year old asked if we could go camping for his birthday after he saw another kid having a "camping birthday party." His birthday in mid-November.

I think it's a GREAT idea - save for the fact that we live in Central NY and we can have temperatures below freezing. Our current camper does not have an enclosed and heated underbelly. So, how cold can we reasonably expect to camp without disaster striking? Would high 20's/low 30's be OK or is anything close to freezing too risky?

Also, we could be crazy and camp in the trailer for a nice dry, heated placed to sleep and just not fill the water tanks. However, the camper hasn't been winterized so not sure that would even be OK.

[pianotuna]

Downtheavenue,

Since I have successfully camped at -34 f, you may want to listen to what I say.

You can not safely STORE an rv at 23 f with water in the tanks and lines. But you may often find it safe to USE it (furnace running etc.) at 23 f. Below that temperature extra measures may often be required, such as heat tape.

[Huntindog]

profdant139 wrote:
Actually, Huntingdog, our real reason for not using the furnace much is not about saving propane. It is more about electricity -- the furnace draws four amps! And it is noisy.

But you are absolutely right -- the water lines usually won't freeze in the high 20s, especially if they are all inside the trailer and if you keep your trailer warm.

The real problem is the outflow tube from the water tank, which is thin and is often not inside the trailer. It will usually freeze in the low 20s, unless you have installed a heat cable.

I said "quite a few". I guess you are not one of them.

Many people here it seems use campgrounds with electric.... They tend to want to use electric space heaters as it is "free" vs. using propane to run the heater. Of course using space heaters does very little in many TTs to keep the water lines from freezing. Gotta run the furnace for that.

BTW, My current TT from the factory was good until 7 degrees, with the furnace set at 70.
I have since modified it to go much lower than that.

I do not worry about battery power when the temps are really low, as I just run the generator nonstop. It keeps the batteries up, and the plumbing heat tape running.

Boondocking in remote locations in low temps is really like being in survival mode. It is work.

The benefit for us is that it sends most people home, leaving the woods to us. That makes for great hunting.

The nastier the weather, the more I like it.

[ppine]

As cold as is necessary.
Compared to being in a tent, being in an RV is a piece of cake.

[profdant139]

Actually, Huntingdog, our real reason for not using the furnace much is not about saving propane. It is more about electricity -- the furnace draws four amps! And it is noisy.

But you are absolutely right -- the water lines usually won't freeze in the high 20s, especially if they are all inside the trailer and if you keep your trailer warm.

The real problem is the outflow tube from the water tank, which is thin and is often not inside the trailer. It will usually freeze in the low 20s, unless you have installed a heat cable.

[Huntindog]

DownTheAvenue wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

You may start to have serious problems at about 23 F. YMMV

WOW! I thought water froze at 32 F. I guess I was mistaken!

You are misunderstanding.
Water does freeze at 32. But your TT water lines etc. will not get to that temp if you are living in it running the heater, cooking etc.
So you can go somewhat lower safely. How low depends on your unit, and your usage.

Quite a few here, try to save on propane and do not use the heater much.... They will freeze up quite a bit easier than my TT, as I keep it comfortable inside.... If I gotta use the bathroom in the middle of the night, I do not want to have to get dressed to do it.
So my TT even in stock form was good into the single digits.... But I did use a LOT of propane.

[DownTheAvenue]

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

You may start to have serious problems at about 23 F. YMMV

WOW! I thought water froze at 32 F. I guess I was mistaken!

[profdant139]

ajriding, is that the temp?? Yikes.

At least it's not minus 7.

Not yet.

[ajriding]

7

[CavemanCharlie]

OK, I will lift my wipers when needed. I see now that at times it can be beneficial.

[MattFromPA]

South-central PA here, we woke up one late October Saturday a few years back to 6" of snow. My trailer isn't optimized for cold, but temps hovered around 32 all day so I wasn't too concerned. We did go through some propane. We left Saturday afternoon only because the campground lost power and then lost water pressure. Kids had a blast of course.

Check your forecast that week. If temps go below freezing only overnight then I would go for it. We're headed out for the last trip of the year this weekend. It may dip down to freezing Saturday night. I would consider wrapping exposed water lines if temps dropped into the low 20's for an extended period.

[shum02]

Snomas wrote:
I moved from CO to AZ and don't worry about cold weather any more.

Those of us who camp in the cold don't worry about it, we embrace and look forward to it 🙂

No bugs and best of all..........no people!

[Huntindog]

Snomas wrote:
I moved from CO to AZ and don't worry about cold weather any more.

It can happen in AZ. We have seen 9 below near Sonoita in January.

[Snomas]

I moved from CO to AZ and don't worry about cold weather any more.

[profdant139]

jseyfert, I think you solved the mystery. Where it never gets above freezing, there is no "melt and re-freeze" cycle, so no need to pull the wipers away from the glass.