Winter camping

[Mike0392]

We own a 2019 Classic 33. Gets cold here in Colorado at night and am asking for comments for other 4 season campers

We have heated water hose and all that

Questions; did you skirt your trailer?
Is the Alde enough heat in the belly to keep things toasty?

Need some advice from folks who been there, done that

[BigSxyWhtGuy]

We have minimal sub freezing camping experience. Only been in sub freezing temps for a few days. A lot of people call these trailers 3 season trailers but it’s not impossible to be in deep snow. In fact, one of airstream ambassadors does it in Canada full time.

We disconnected our water and filled the fresh tank when we hit freezing temps. We have a classic 30 and like ours, yours should also have tank heaters. We turned ours on and did our best to keep the Alde running non stop. It can burn through propane but it kept us nice and warm. I believe it was in the 20s outside and inside the trailer was in the 60s.

I’m sure there are more people with much more insight than me. I have seen people put temporary skirting up with a standard light build around the water tanks but again, don’t think they had a classic with alde and tank heaters.

Are you full timing or just heading out in cold temps? Another option would be to winterize the rig and only use it for 3 seasons?

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Wind is as much an issue as temperature. There are a number of "bits" (low point drains, back flow fittings, gray and black dumps ....) that hang out in the "fresh air". Get enough of a breeze from the wrong direction and these will freeze. Do they break when they freeze? Not always, but sometimes they do. You may be fine at 5 degrees tonight and two weeks from now be in trouble at 25 degrees.

Bob

[BigSxyWhtGuy]

Originally Posted by Mike0392

We own a 2019 Classic 33. Gets cold here in Colorado at night and am asking for comments for other 4 season campers



We have heated water hose and all that



Questions; did you skirt your trailer?

Is the Alde enough heat in the belly to keep things toasty?



Need some advice from folks who been there, done that

Don’t forget you’ll need a solid dehumidifier as well. We ended up buying a big 30qt unit and it works perfect in the classic 30. Stores under the table when not in use. Rolls out and plugs in near the couch when we go to sleep. Should run it as long as your heater runs IMO.

[Aircats]

I have stayed in my 2018 Classic 33 at temperatures as low as 5 below zero without skirting. My experience is you are good to about 15 degree minimum temps without doing much more than setting the inside temperature higher, running tank heaters, and disconnecting fresh water and sewer hoses.

I have invested in a 1500 watt portable electric heater as an emergency backup, foam insulating plugs for the Fantastic Fan vents, and I carry a spare Alde boiler circuit board, Alde control panel and Alde emergency start plug.

Make sure the outdoor shower is drained, and I recommend packing the shower compartment with foam or fiberglass insulation.

On really cold nights the first thing to freeze will be the water lines that cross under the floor inside the heated tank compartment. I set up my portable electric heater to blow warm air through the access panel under the file drawer; just to the left of the kitchen sink. The water lines to/from the boiler cross under the floor at this access location.

I will run the Alde on propane and both electric heaters on the cold nights. The two Alde electric heaters won’t keep up, so make sure your propane tanks are full.