Question for the seasoned owners

[JAW]

I am leaving for a 10 day trip this coming Saturday, but the weather is playing a cruel April fools joke on me and temps look to get down to 23 degrees Thursday night. My question is do I need to go through the winterizing process all over again right before my trip???

See attached forecast, the red line is Fahrenheit.

~Josh

[Dan and Liz]

Probably not. Below freezing just for a few hours with warmer daytime temperatures shouldn’t cause any harm, and I wouldn’t. You could also turn on furnace or use an electric space heater if you’re concerned. But it’s up to you ...

[JAW]

I am leaning towards better safe than sorry; however, it is pretty well protected on most sides from any wind.

Hmm, not sure why it loaded upside down.

[JAW]

Originally Posted by Dan and Liz

Probably not. Below freezing just for a few hours with warmer daytime temperatures shouldn’t cause any harm, and I wouldn’t. You could also turn on furnace or use an electric space heater if you’re concerned. But it’s up to you ...

Thanks for the reply Dan! I was definitely going to turn on the Furnace if I decided not to winterize. Considering it will only be below freezing for 12-13 hours I will likely follow your advise and not winterize, barring anyone coming on here with a horror story.

[PatLee]

Leave your lower cabinet doors open so warm air can get to the pipes. A space heater that rotates could help as well.

[MrStreamer]

Originally Posted by JAW

I am leaving for a 10 day trip this coming Saturday, but the weather is playing a cruel April fools joke on me and temps look to get down to 23 degrees Thursday night. My question is do I need to go through the winterizing process all over again right before my trip???

See attached forecast, the red line is Fahrenheit.

~Josh

We live in southern Utah, where winter temps can range from 28 degrees overnight to 70 daytime. Last Labor Day at Cedar Breaks, 10,000 feet elevation, 23 degrees overnight.

I DRAIN all tanks, water pump and water heater and carry potable water in a carry tank and use pink anti-freeze to flush toilet with a small amount of anti-freeze remaining in the bowl, after the ball value froze to the bowl and the flush lever broke off trying to push the valve open. Major project to replace plastic linkage

Don't want the black water tank to freeze! Warm water on stove to wash up.

[Rich W]

When you say 'trip', do you mean you will be traveling over 10 days or are you going someplace and staying for 10 days? I'm not sure if it would freeze in the pipes but if it does it could be pretty expensive to repair.

When we travel, if the temp were going that low for several hours, I'd blow air through the lines or pump a gallon of RV antifreeze through the lines. I'd have a couple gallons of water for flushing the toilet, drinking, cooking, etc. and use the CG facilities where I stopped.

I have closed the valve to the water heater, opened the faucets and pumped a gallon into the lines. It's a 15 minute job and good insurance. But that's me, a belt and suspenders kind of guy.

[Atwebs]

Unless the cold is for quite a while with no higher tempertures during the day, you don't need to worry too much. The furnace is set up to warm the pipes and the tanks as it heats the trailer (not the heat pump if you have one, that's not effective). Just remember to empty and store your water hose at night, that sucker will freeze solid.

We got into some 20 degree nights last year and everything was great except the frozen water hose, at least it didn't explode. It warmed up to the mid 40s during the day for us and that kept everything from freezing solid.

Two things, the more "stuff" in your tanks, the longer it will take to freeze, so if you are carrying fresh water, be sure it is topped off. The other? Not for your fresh water, but for the gray and black tanks if you are concerned about them freezing you can always add the RV antifreeze to what is in there even while you are using the trailer. Does no harm and will keep them from freezing.

[Mikebrady62]

If it were me, I would disconnect from city water, set furnace to 50 (if electric is available, use a space heater) and open cabinet doors. Keep your hot water heater going on electric or LP.
We have been in the 20’s many times without issue.

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by Mikebrady62

If it were me, I would disconnect from city water, set furnace to 50 (if electric is available, use a space heater) and open cabinet doors. Keep your hot water heater going on electric or LP.
We have been in the 20’s many times without issue.

A space heater does little or nothing for the space below the floor (tanks, a few water lines, etc.) When cheating the winterization thing, the furnace is a better choice.

[guskmg]

The best winter freeze protection is no water in the PEX tubing or adjacent fittings. The industry is moving from brass to plastic fittings, but the freeze disclaimer holds for either. First choice would be to blow the system with air. The second choice is to pump antifreeze through out the system. The third and easiest procedure is to open all faucets, valves, spray hoses and let the system drain itself. If the system freezes the expansion will cause no damage. Two things in either case: You must disconnect both inlet and outlets of the pump and run it to pump out any residual internal water. Also, you must blow out the city water inlet or it will freeze and leak later. The back flow valve will prevent it from draining. I do the drain sequence first and if time permits, follow up with ablow out. I only use antifreeze in the "P" traps. I was caught flat footed during the last TX Polar Blast and had to use heat to unfreeze tubing before I could get air to blow through it. The City water fill is my only concern since it would not initially pass air.
guskmg

[wulfraat]

Hello from Colorado!

You are fine at those temps. Run the furnace at night to keep the tanks warm and you won’t have any problems. Winter camping is great!

[Mikebrady62]

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

A space heater does little or nothing for the space below the floor (tanks, a few water lines, etc.) When cheating the winterization thing, the furnace is a better choice.

We do use both but David, you are absolutely correct. If your space heater is doing all the work, below deck is getting nothing.

[Dennis C]

We’ve been camping for the last week and we’ve had three nights with temperatures in the low 20s. It has been near 60 degrees during the day. My strategy has been to disconnect the city water and bring my hose and filter inside for the night, and to keep the furnace running. So far, we haven’t had any issues at all.

[PatLee]

MikeBrady62's advice was almost exactly what I did when camping in Florida's panhandle (Destin) in late Dec/early January, when temps were in the 20's at night. The only difference is I used propane for heat because the heat pump just doesn't work below 40 degrees. I set the propane around 45 or 50 degrees and it kept things toasty. A key assumption though is that the low temps are temporary i.e. cold at night, warms up during day. If it had been that cold for several days 24/7, I would have winterized.

[JAW]

Thanks for all the responses!

Richw46 - I will be camping for 10 days. 5 days at one campground 5.5 hrs from my house and then 5 days at another campground a couple hours away from the first one.

Since the camper is in my driveway and my compressed air is only feet away, I went ahead and blew out the lines and emptied my water storage tank and water heater, no hose hooked up. My black tank is only at 5% and the gray at 25% so I am just going to leave those how they are and turn on the furnace tonight.

Thanks again for all the help and advice, this is a great resource and community to be apart of.

Happy travels!!

[MMCMRET]

Originally Posted by JAW

I am leaving for a 10 day trip this coming Saturday, but the weather is playing a cruel April fools joke on me and temps look to get down to 23 degrees Thursday night. My question is do I need to go through the winterizing process all over again right before my trip???

See attached forecast, the red line is Fahrenheit.

~Josh

We went camping last weekend. Took our FC our of winter lay up. 20's last night, snowed today, and below 30 again tonight. Turned the furnace on and keeping the FC at 50 until this passes. Still paranoid and check it before bed and in the morning before work. So far, no problem.

My opinion, same as others, run the furnace and you will be fine.

[mythbuster88]

We seek out the cooler temps.
The forced air heater is your best friend.
The colder it is outside the warmer it is is inside.
Turn the heat up. A hot trailer will not freeze pipes.
If electricity is available also use a small space heater. I do not understand the heat pump, loud and inefficient.
Never leave the city water hose connected and use the internal H20 tank.

[Tin Can Tena]

Wouldn’t worry too much, furnace on & leave your cupboard doors open in the galley & bathroom

[Dennis C]

The heat pump doesn’t do much below 45 degrees, and it doesn’t send warm air to the tanks. The furnace is the way to go in colder temps.