Winter RV camping can be absolutely magical. And if you do everything right, your RV can make a cozy home on wheels. However, there is a flip side. If you don’t do the right things, RVing in winter can be brutal, absolutely miserable. or downright dangerous. To be able to enjoy the winter magic, you need to plan well and have the right winter camping equipment. But the truth is that a lot of campers make the same winter RVing blunders — especially first timers.
While planning and equipment are important any time of year, winter really ups the ante. Things can get critical when you and your RV are facing freezing temperatures, snow, and seasonal storms. Together, these can combine to create hazardous condition.
So, in this article, let’s take a look at some all-too-common winter RVing blunders — and how to avoid them.
No. 1: Not Heading Somewhere Warmer
It makes good sense to take your RV to a warmer location in the winter. (Lots of snowbirds would argue this is the only mistake!) With that being said, there is a difference in enjoying winter camping and deciding to stay in a place where winter conditions will guarantee that get you in trouble. You know, places that are synonymous with frigid temperatures. So let your mobility work for you. RVs have wheels. You can take them almost anywhere. So why not choose a place where “winter conditions” include temperatures that consistently drop into a comfortable “Goldilocks” zone? A snowbird translation: Somewhere you can lounge by a pool or beach without being too hot or too cold.
No. 2: Not Checking the Weather Forecast — Daily
Winter weather can be very unpredictable. Atmospheric rivers, bomb cyclones, flash freezes can result in rapid changes to winter weather conditions. In winter, it’s important to check the weather forecast at least every 24 hours and within four hours of travel. Phone apps such as AccuWeather or Instant Weather (in Canada) are helpful when you have a cell signal. The very cool NOAA Radar and Weather Forecast app gives you a live view of incoming weather patterns.
It’s a good idea to camp with an NOAA Weather radio with you to receive continuous broadcasts of weather conditions across the country. The NOAA also broadcasts a special alert signal if there is a hazardous weather situation coming up. NOAA radio receivers are small and wireless, so you can take them anywhere with you.
No. 3: Being Confused About Winterization
“To winterize, or not to winterize?” is the question many RV newbies ask before their first winter with an RV. The truth is, whether you winterize or not depends on what you’ll do with your RV over winter. The big problem for RVs in winter is water freezing in the pipes if they aren’t being kept above 32 degrees.
RV winterization means getting all the water out of the pipes and replacing it with food-grade RV antifreeze for the winter. Although winterization is always done on RVs that are being stored for the winter, it’s never done on RVs that will be used throughout the winter, where the pipes can be kept from freezing. This is one of the most common — and frankly understandable — winter RVing blunders. With that being said, if you intend to use your RV for occasional camping in winter, it should be winterized. Not only that, keeping the RV winterized will save you the trouble of dewinterizing and then winterizing again.
However, it also means you won’t be able to use the plumbing in the RV, including the toilet. You’ll need to bring bottles of water for drinking, doing dishes and bathing. As a rule of thumb, count on three gallons of water per person per day. (And don’t forget to bring water for pets too.)
No. 4: Leaving an Unattended Space Heater On
Many RVers use a space heater in their RV to stave off winter’s chill. That being said, the use of space heaters in eight out of ten fire-related deaths (NFPA). That being said, RV fires are often far more devastating than home fires due to their multitude of highly flammable components. RVs tend to burn in minutes, while it can take hours for a structure fire to consume a building. Because RV fires burn so fast (and tend to have very few egress points), your risk of dying in an RV fire is far greater than it would be in a house fire.
There are a few things you can do to minimize the fire risk associated with using an electric space heater in your RV.
- Allow at least three feet of space between the space heater and combustible materials.
- Never use an electric space heater in a sleeping area designated for kids.
- Don’t run the space heater for more than a few hours at a time.
- Frequently check the RV space heater and unplug it if it feels warm. A warm plug is a sign of electrical current resistance. After a while, this current resistance will eventually damage the wires in your RV until they suddenly burst into flames.
- Never, ever leave the space heater plugged in when you are away or sleeping.
In addition, because RV fires spread so fast, it’s a good idea to have an ABC fire extinguisher in each area of the RV, always within easy reach. A big part of RV fire safety 101 is also have a plan in place in case of a fire.
No. 5: Not Having a Generator
Power outages are common in winter. When there’s no electricity coming into the RV, you could get by using your DC electrical system to power things like lights, the furnace, or the 12-volt refrigerator. However, sooner or later, your house batteries will be depleted. It’s always nice to have a backup power supply. But it’s essential to have a generator in winter when power usage is high compared to other times of the year. While a solar power setup can help meet power needs most of the year, it probably won’t be of use in the winter months. That’s because there won’t be enough direct sun hitting the panels.
No. 6: Not Clearing Snow from Your RV Roof
I’m always surprised at the number of RVers who don’t bother to clear snow from the roof of their RV. Snow is heavy. It’s wet. And it can definitely damage any RV roof. Moisture is your RV’s number one enemy, even when it’s frozen. Rooftop snow can also add hundreds of pounds to your RV, putting your RV well over its cargo carrying capacity.
Therefore, it’s a good idea to stash a telescoping ladder and a lightweight snow shovel in your RV or tow vehicle before you head out to winter camp in your RV. That way you can get the snow off your RV roof before it can damage your RV.
No. 7: Not Keeping Your Propane Warm Enough
We buy propane as a liquid, but we use it when it evaporates into a gas state. This works really well in summer, when warm temperatures are ideal for propane to evaporate into a gas. However, winter’s cooler temperatures can make it difficult for propane to evaporate.
Once the ambient temperature drops to 27 degrees Fahrenheit, propane gas sometimes condenses back into a liquid state when it reaches the regulator. The result is a partial or complete blockage inside the regulator, resulting in low pressure in the propane lines and a low orange colored flame that means incomplete gas combustion. When they burn propane at low pressure, RV appliances don’t operate efficiently and will eventually become damaged.
The solution is to keep propane cylinders slightly warm using a propane heating blanket when it’s cold out. Propane heating blankets are easy to find. Here are a few places where you can get one: PowerBlanket.com, Amazon.com, HeatAuthority.com.
No. 8: Ignoring Moisture on RV Windows
Wet, foggy RV windows are your RV’s way of letting you know you have a humidity problem in your RV. The thing is, nearly everything we do in an RV creates moisture. Breathing, cooking, washing dishes, and bathing all contribute to gallons of microscopic water in the air inside the RV. This moisture works its way into every surface of the RV except for glass or metal. When it gets into a porous material like wood particle board, this moist air condenses into water, expanding and damaging the finish and the wood itself. Not only that but this moist, humid environment provides exactly what mold needs to grow.
In winter, the atmospheric moisture inside the warm RV condenses when it hits cold window glass or outer walls of the RV. The result is foggy, wet windows and wet walls in hidden areas like cabinet interiors. Moisture on your RV windows in winter is a sign of a much bigger moisture problem in your RV. While it’s impossible to get rid of all the atmospheric moisture in your RV, there are a few steps you can take to mitigate excessive humidity.
- Don’t bring snow or water into the RV on boots or shoes.
- Don’t dry clothing in the RV.
- Open a vent and turn on overhead fans when cooking, washing dishes or showering.
- Open cabinets to allow air to circulate.
- Dry wet pets that come into the RV.
- Use an appropriately sized dehumidifier.
No. 9. Using Electricity Instead of Propane for Heat
Dry heat and cost effectiveness are the main reasons many RVers use electric heat in the winter instead of the RV’s propane furnace. However, using electric heat in an RV instead of propane has a big downside that many people might not be aware of. (And it’s got nothing to do with the heat produced.) The thing is, RVs are built with furnace ductwork sharing the same interior space as plumbing. The ductwork helps prevent water pipes from freezing when it gets really cold out. Electric heaters don’t offer this protection. (Which definitely makes this one of the sneakiest winter RVing blunders.) So, if you use them instead of propane, you could wind up with frozen pipes.
No. 10: Not Protecting Your RV with Skirting
RV skirting can make a big difference to how warm you feel inside your RV. Skirting prevents wind and frosty air from getting underneath the RV and making it cold. The result is warmer floors and lower heating and propane usage. A popular RV skirting solution is custom-fitted, insulated vinyl skirting that’s installed via snaps or twist locks. However, RV skirting can consist of simple plywood or insulation boards cut to fit your RV.
In addition, inflatable Airskirts provide a simple RV skirting alternative that’s easy to set up and pack up. Airskirts resemble giant cigar tubes and are inflated and are tucked around the perimeter of the RV to provide an extra layer of insulation.
The Cool Reward of Avoiding Winter RVing Blunders
The growing number of four-season RV models are proof that RV manufacturers are recognizing that a growing number of RVers don’t want to end the camping season when the leaves drop from the trees. That’s because winter camping can be a lot of fun. An RV can provide a cozy place to warm up, enjoy a hot beverage, and exchange stories from a day filled with winter activities. Avoiding the common winter RVing blunders that RVers make over winter will help keep winter camping as enjoyable as it should be.
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