Skip The Winterizing With Electrical Hookup?

[Al Denty]

Hi All.

We've just moved from Utah to New Mexico. In Utah, we winterized the Basecamp because it was in an indoor storage facility that was not climate-controlled.

Here, our covered outdoor storage gives us the option of full-time electrical hookup. With this in mind, can we skip the winterizing and just keep the tank heaters on and the inside electrical heat on at a constant low temp (above freezing, obviously)? This way we could still use the Basecamp in the winter without winterizing and de-winterizing all the time (which did twice this winter).

Looking forward to your sage advice!

Thanks!

[Dennis C]

I’m not sure how the electric heater works in the Basecamp units, but I know that in my Airstream anything below roughly 40 degrees requires the propane furnace. The electric unit is a heat pump. The furnace isn’t practical because it would require me to frequently refill the tanks. Another concern would be water freezing in the lines. Finally, a nice warm Airstream would certainly be attractive to rodents!

I winterize my Airstream, even though it is stored in a covered space with electricity.

[SVTRIDE]

What is the history of power outages and their durations at your location?
I'm not comfortable leaving an unoccupied unit powered up for extended periods.

[brick1]

You could, but probably not practical. You would need to run the propane fueled furnace, which tends to drain the propane tanks quickly. The electric powered heat pump works down to about 42F, so not much help in sub-freezing temps. You can use a small electric heater, but I would not want to rely on it. One concern is what happens during a power failure, or your neighbor trips the GFCI?
The easier solution is to winterize. It really is quick and easy once you know the process. I can winterize my Serenity 28 in less than 15 minutes. I sleep better knowing that nothing will suffer freeze
damage.

[RickBullotta]

You can skip antifreeze but I DEFINITELY wouldn't skip flushing the lines. Bacteria and other nastiness can build up in your fresh water system, and anything left the gray or black tanks will obviously cause issues.

[Daquenzer]

I wouldn't. Takes just one freeze with the electricity off due to some storm and you have a mess. Just blow out the lines and empty the tanks. Doesn't take long and you don't have to worry. I have a heated garage for my Airstream, and I still blew out the lines and emptied the tanks.

[mkcurtiss]

How cold does it get there?

[emelaich01]

I wouldn't. We had a record freeze here in TX last year which no one was prepared for and some units hooked up in similar fashion had freezing issues during a 2 - 3 day power outage. Remember, in windy, below freezing conditions, it might only take an hour or two to damage some critical areas in the event of just a temporary outage.
A hose-end adapter will allow you to blow out your lines, even with a small, 12VDC compressor in less than 15 minutes and could save you considerable aggravation replacing a broken junction, regulator or that really freeze-sensitive toilet valve. Better: $20 or so will get you a three-way valve and the necessary tubing to pump RV antifreeze throughout your system if you want to skip the compressor. Either way, you'll be covered no matter what happens.

[CRRVP]

I live in a somewhat mild (SW Washington state) and the sub-freezing with snow weather typically occurs twice a year lasting three to seven days at most. I do not winterize my trailer. I've owned and kept my Airstream outside for the last four years 24/7. I also use my trailer year around. When not in use, I leave the propane heat on at 53 degrees, turn the water heater on electric and leave the cabinet doors open at the sinks and shower. My fresh water tank is always near full to half empty and there's some liquids in my grey and black tanks. I have had no problems to date. "What, me worry? Of course I do. Again, no problems to date.
After every use, I do wash and wax my trailer, plus thoroughly check all the sealants on the roof top at these times. I know eventually I'll need to re-seal my roof top sooner than a trailer that is stored inside, but that's the cost of doing business.
Wrong or right, this has been my experience.
Your experience in New Mexico may not be the same do to the winter temperature extremes differences.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

The tank heaters by themselves are going to add another 5 or 10 degrees of "safety". Instead of freaking out at 32 degrees, you get worried between 22 and 27 degrees. If you toss in the furnace, you might add another 5 or 10 degrees. Still at some point, you have to freak out. That point is above 0 F. Unless you live in an unusual part of Utah, winter is still a concern.

Bob

[banderabob]

Well, contrary to many of the comments, that exactly what I did this winter. After returning from a trip to CA in February, and anticipating additional usage within the month. I plugged into a house circuit, dialed down the thermostat to 40, and left the furnace on. We live about an hour NW of San Antonio in the Hill Country where freezing temps are not unknown in February and March. Had other usage not been planned, I would have drained the lines and tanks.

[tjdonahoe]

Wonderful…what you gonna do about your water lines.?

[Dennis C]

I can tell you from personal experience that storage facilities sometimes lose power. I’ve had it happen twice. Once it was a simple power loss to the facility. Once it was the knucklehead parked next to me messing with the outlet and jarring my dog bone connector loose.

[Mikebrady62]

I now have an attached garage for our AS and I do not do a full winterization. I still empty all tanks and blow out the lines. I keep my thermostat at 45 (the furnace has never come on) and it's plugged into 120V. I thought about doing the same when it was in an indoor storage facility with 120v but very glad it was fully winterized as the power went out twice in a year and the GFCI tripped a few times as well. I would do a test year first with it fully winterized and monitor the conditions inside frequently with your furnace on.