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LiLNomad · 02-19-2018, 10:48 AM

Hi,
Possibly joining friends on a boondocking trip in Moab Utah in March. Will be first time in Utah. In checking the average weather forecast the daily high is 58-60 and the lows 30-32. I have a buddy heater & 5lb propane tank that I use while boondocking for additional focused warmth when needed, or just to knock the chill off in the am. Wondering if I need to take steps to prevent water lines from damage/freezing.
Thanks
LilNomad

billrector · 02-19-2018, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiLNomad

Hi,
Possibly joining friends on a boondocking trip in Moab Utah in March. Will be first time in Utah. In checking the average weather forecast the daily high is 58-60 and the lows 30-32. I have a buddy heater & 5lb propane tank that I use while boondocking for additional focused warmth when needed, or just to knock the chill off in the am. Wondering if I need to take steps to prevent water lines from damage/freezing.
Thanks
LilNomad

No...not at those temperatures.

LiLNomad · 02-19-2018, 12:27 PM

Thank You

spenfolder · 02-19-2018, 01:40 PM

You should be fine. I've been down to Moab several times in March without any problems. Even got snow one time, but the temperature hovered around 30 degrees, and only for a day. I don't think you will have any problems unless the temperature dips down into the twenties. And that's uncommon.

Stan
Salt Lake City

Len n Jeanne · 02-19-2018, 01:46 PM

Just run your furnace at night to direct heat to the pipes and uncouple your water hose. (Which otherwise can be frozen solid overnight. Ask how we know.)

The town of Moab sits in a valley of comparatively warmer weather, but outlying campsites are higher in elevation.

LiLNomad · 02-19-2018, 03:14 PM

Wont be using the water hose since I will be boondocking. I usually only use the furnace for a bit in the am/eve since I have the buddy heater and can focus the heat exactly where im located in the trailer. Thanks for the tips..that gives me 1 less thing to worry about. Now I can focus on mapping out the route..
LilNomad

jnm30327 · 02-20-2018, 09:14 AM

FWIW. We drove into an ice storm in Houston, TX from the east last month. We were trying to get to Galveston Island, but the freeways and bridges were closing due to ice. We refugeed into an RV park for the night. The low was 19 degrees. We disconnected the water hose and let the furnace run all night. No damage to the water system.

Pat Pierce · 02-20-2018, 09:58 AM

Like others have posted, should be no problem. The heat inside should keep water/waste lines ok. Might consider leaving the bath door open so your heat gets in there too.

We spent 4 great days in Moab in early October, 2017. So much to see and do. We had a fabulous time driving the RZR off-road machines following a guide for 4 hours. Highly recommended for a fun time exploring areas not seen from normal roads. And we took Hummer tours into the adjacent 4x4 playground of Hells Revenge to see the capability of such machines. Impressive.

No matter your route through UT, there is beauty just about anywhere. Have a great time!

Lumatic · 02-20-2018, 11:18 AM

Moab can be very crowded end of March beginning of April for spring break and the Jeep rodeo.

I will be staying at Duke's Slickrock in Hanksville as a basecamp last week in March and doing day trips from there. If you get down that way say hey,

Airhead59 · 02-20-2018, 12:10 PM

The distribution of heated air from your AS furnace is designed to help prevent your water tanks and lines from freezing. If temps drop much below freezing at night (into the 20s), you will want to use your AS heater for this purpose. If you use your supplementary propane heater to just keep you warm, the AS thermostat will not trigger the furnace, and your water tanks and lines are likely to freeze.

switz · 02-21-2018, 08:08 AM

The other pipes subject to freezing are the exposed valves and fittings for the gray and black tank drains. Got into Lakeside, AZ after dark (7,000 foot elevation) towing our 2015 23D International Serenity,at the end of April 2017 and the temps were to drop into the low 20s.

Went to Walmart and acquired a cheap sleeping bag, the lowest wattage incandescent light bulb and a trouble light with cord. Put bag around the pipes with light inside and plugged into the new 120Vac outlet I had installed on the rear of our 23D to the left of the rear access hatch and nothing froze.

The next day I acquired the typical electric heat tape and insulation wrap and installed that and had no freezing issues.

westcoastas · 02-22-2018, 01:13 AM

Like people say about Airstreams...if you ain't freezin', your pipes ain't freezin'. We were dry camping outside Dead Horse State Park back in late November with lows in the low 20s and were fine using our furnace; we went through a 7-gallon tank in about five days.

You can refill your propane tank at Farm & City Feed and RV Supply, 850 South Main Street; they also have a sewer dump. You can fill up on fresh drinking water at Gearheads Outdoor Store in the middle of town, 850 South Main Street - a super cool store stocked with a ton of gear and supplies. Their parking lot is sorta small and curb parking may be taken up, so I'd try to go in with just your TV.

Have fun...Moab is awesome!

Bigcgar · 04-01-2018, 08:42 PM

We’re heading to Moab this week and looking at doing some Boondocking until the 10th. Any recommendations from this group on BLM sites. Prefer remote sites as opposed to full service locations as long as roads are passable. Plans to visit some of the parks along with some chillin. As usual my plans are fluid and I’m sure we can find somewhere to stay, but alway appreciate experienced advise too. Thanks.

westcoastas · 04-01-2018, 10:26 PM

Allan & Vicki, if you look at Google Map you will see BLM road 144 off Hwy 191. It's about 4.5 miles south of Hwy 70 and heads east. At about 1.3 mi off Hwy 191, you'll turn right onto BLM 145. It will meet a fork; take the right fork and drive into Salt Valley. I found this road looking at a BLM map and I think it was about 17 miles before you reach the back door of Arches NP. I would suggest scouting the road out with your TV, if possible, but when we drove it this past November with just our Tundra, BLM 145 was a nice dirt rod with minor washboard and I thought a few turnouts to boondock - absolutely nobody else out there. We hope to try it out some day soon.

Good luck!

Bigcgar · 04-01-2018, 10:48 PM

Westcoastas thanks for your input. I like the photos and will check it out on google maps.

Len n Jeanne · 04-02-2018, 02:19 PM

There are a lot of boondocking sites along the Colorado River between Moab and the Dewey Bridge along HY 191, but a big rig might be a problem. If you take the highway to Dead Horse Point, there is a large primitive BLM campground called Horse Thief: pit toilets, bring your own water, but you do get a picnic table and fire pit. Before you get there, there is a road that turns off to the Lone Mesa group campsite. It you continue past it along a dirt road, you will see little roads going off to the left, with a fair number of dispersed campsites.

If you can stop in at the Information Center or BLM office in Moab, they should have some good ideas for you, as well. Be sure to let them know you are towing a 25' trailer, as some of the roads can be quite rough with hairpin turns.

Keep in mind that during the high season (now) you may have company even at the dispersed sites. I'd bring a shovel, heavy work gloves, and extra trash bags. The beauty of the scenery doesn't prevent the occasional slob campers, who shot up their beer bottles at their campsite. Plus, where areas are grazed, you may want to pick up the odd cow pie.

nomadleslie · 04-02-2018, 02:38 PM

Chiming in here because y’all have some really good info on this thread and we’ll be in that area in June. I want to be able to quickly find this thread later.

DBinSD · 04-02-2018, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by switz

The next day I acquired the typical electric heat tape and insulation wrap and installed that and had no freezing issues.

Did you do this as a permanent solution? If so, any issue with falling off ? Do you have any pics to share?

Thanks,
Dan

LiLNomad · 04-02-2018, 04:33 PM

We boondocked at the Old Airport Road (old Moab Airport)...but also check out Kens Lake near there for dry camping options..
LilNomad
ps was coooollllddddd!

Bigcgar · 04-03-2018, 10:03 PM

Thanks everyone for your ideas on Moab Boondocking, we really appreciate it. Unfortunately plans have changed today due to family health issues and we have to cancel this trip. Life changes and we learn to be adapt. We will get to Moab at some point soon and your recommendations will be useful then. Thanks all!