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Old 09-06-2021, 09:42 AM   #1
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Winter Driving

What is the best way to travel with fresh water 1/2 full when driving in winter weather? expand on question: I may need to use water when driving and may need to stay one night in winter weather.
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Old 09-06-2021, 09:53 AM   #2
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It’s a tough question to answer. Will the temperature be above freezing during the day and/or while you’re towing? If the answer is “yes” then you probably won’t have any trouble. If the temperature never gets above freezing during the day, then it becomes a bigger challenge.
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Old 09-06-2021, 10:49 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chappy72 View Post
What is the best way to travel with fresh water 1/2 full when driving in winter weather? expand on question: I may need to use water when driving and may need to stay one night in winter weather.
We carry bottled water for drinking/cooking when traveling in the winter. We carry some gallon jugs of tap water to flush the toilet with and put a little RV antifreeze down there. I've never needed a lot but I have a 5 gallon plastic tank I carry empty.
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Old 09-06-2021, 10:57 AM   #4
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Hi

Regardless of the weather, towing with a full (or nearly full) tank can be better than a half full one. Water sloshing around in a half full tank does not help trailer stability.

As noted above temperature does matter a lot in the winter. Watch the weather forecast carefully. If it's in the teens during the day and will drop 20 degrees at night, water in the trailer is not very practical.

One alternative is to carry bottled water (possibly in a covered tub). It can be used for all the functions the normal fresh water supply is used for ( ... maybe not taking a shower ...).

Once the water makes it into the gray or black tanks, in the winter, toss in a bit of RV antifreeze. What you do next is a bit unclear. Finding a dump site that's open in mid winter can be difficult in many areas.

If you *do* charge up the fresh water tank, you will need to re-winterize the trailer when you get back. That alone would push me over to the bottled water approach.

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Old 09-07-2021, 09:00 AM   #5
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It's not difficult. Pre-pandemic we traveled from Kentucky to Florida in December or January, stayed until mid-February or late March, winterized on the road in mid-Georgia. Private RV parks are open so you can dump your tanks and pump RV antifreeze through the lines. During travel the tanks aren't very full because you use the restrooms at gas stations and restaurants or rest areas.

Empty your hot water tank before returning. As I said in my previous post, carry bottled water for the toilet as you travel. We save some gallon jugs and fill them up as necessary.
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Old 09-07-2021, 09:13 AM   #6
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Preparing for winterizing on the road is a good call. I had to do that earlier this year when towing from New Mexico back into Colorado in April. We hit a late season cold front that I wasn't expecting, so I re-winterized in Raton, NM before towing.
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Old 09-07-2021, 01:02 PM   #7
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Winter Driving

Thanks for all the replies.
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Old 09-08-2021, 07:42 AM   #8
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Hi

Fast / panic approach to winterizing on the road:

Open all the faucets and open all the under vehicle fresh water drains. Dump the black and gray tanks. Rumble on down the road and let the shake rattle and roll drain things.

No, it's not perfect. The hot water tank is still vulnerable. For a "couple hours dash" to warmer weather, it's been known to work.

Bob
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Old 12-06-2022, 08:42 AM   #9
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Owners manual says to run the furnace when towing in freezing temperatures. Just turn the furnace off before pulling into a fuel station. Anyone try this?

Also, winter driving traction. Yes, yes, I know don’t tow in the snow yada yada, but if I had to…

Oregon requires drag chains on towed vehicles. Airstream says not to chain their trailer, “they don’t help.” I don’t know, this logic sounds more like if a tire chain comes off and wrecks the trailer Airstream can deny all culpability. So, what about making a compromise of Autosocks? They are a legal equivalent to chains for OR and they have no risk to damaging the Airstream, and also others have used them with good success on SOBs and snowmobile trailers. Has anyone used them on their Twinkie?
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