Winter Camping in RV/ Camper?

[sledskiing]

Went to home depot today and got some winterizing supplies
- aluminum foil insulating tape
- foam pip insulation
- fiberglass insulation filler
- blue foam insulation board
- Heat tape

used the aluminum foil tape and foam pipe insulation in as many areas as i had access for the hot water supply lines and used foam pipe insulation around cold water lines.

Blue foam insulation around the exterior walls under the couch where the fresh water tank and hot water tank are.

Used fiberglass insulation filler in tight areas around the tanks.

My heating is ducted and the ducts run in the cabinets where pipes are. This should help prevent freezing.

I will use the heat tape on any exterior plumbing.

When winter gets closer I will use the 3m window stuff.

I will also be cutting small vents into the cabinets and under the couch so the heat can get circulate.

I'll probably do what Bushmaster does with the grey water.

 

[seth25]

Here is my rig..... It isn't pretty on the outside, but we put new floors, paint, and seating on the inside. Should be interesting this winter.....

I will be pulling a 14' tandem axle Triton aluminum open trailer with it.

 

[Adrenaline Revolution]

Just thought I'd resurrect this old thread with the riding season coming up and people scrambling to get their rigs ready!

Good information.

I just got a camper for staying in the hills while sledding.
We're really looking forward to it but I need to do a little research about preparing it for winter.

 

[teeroy]

great thread, lots of good tips! A few of us camp every season in the staging areas using an 8' slide in camper and enclosed triton trailer. use the camper just for sleeping in and the trailer for hanging out, meals, watching tv, and everything else. as said previously, great for being the first out to the fresh pow as well as saving a chitload of cash on rooms and fuel. we use the SPOT locator for checking in to home every night where there is no cell reception, rented sat phones before but they don't work worth chit where we camp. no plumbing, fresh water in jugs, pizz and chit in the bush. use hippie killers for heat in the enclosed while we're in there, leave the door cracked so we don't get gassed out, leave heaters and fan running at night to dry the gear.

 

[Adrenaline Revolution]

Ours is an 8' S&S slide in. (S&S...Summer Sucks !!)
My wife and I ride together all the time so out of respect for her...Needs, I'll need to have the toilet available for her.
I just have to look into insulating all plumbing and waste tanks.
I'm not opposed to leaving the potable water tank empty and just carrying gallons of water to flush and wash with but I'll still need to insulate all the drains and stuff.

I also picked up a small Honda generator to keep the batteries up and for the TV or whatever.
We really can't wait to start using it in the snow!
We camped in it a few weeks back in one heII of a rainstorm at the beach. We stayed bone dry and the bed was comfy as all get out!
(We built the mattress out of varying density of foam and she sewed the mattress cover.)

We also have an enclosed 3 place trailer with a 30,000 BTU furnace in it for just "Hangin out" with friends!

ALL WE NEED IS SNOW!!!

 

[pylon]

i lived in my trailer all last winter in revy. heres what i had to do to keep it flowing all winter
1 . heat pads on the tanks, around 100$ per tank and work on either 110 or 12 volt power
2 . run good 110 volt heat tape on all the water lines . even run them inside the camper right up to the taps if you can it gets cold under youre sink .
3 . spray foam the tanks and put tube foam over youre lines you heat taped . that way if one does split its easy to repair latter on .
4 . run a genset, electric heaters and youre furnce . the genset will power up youre heat tape and keep every thing unthawed and will power youre heaters as a bounus ! ( i have a 40 ft 5th wheel and 2 heaters keep it warm down till -10c ) the only thing you should need propane for is really cold nights and youre hot water heater .
5 if you want to be a getto hippy you can cover up the windows with shrink wrap and cut out styrofoam and shove it in the cut outs as well .
6 . if youre staying some place for a while shovel off youre roof ! depending on youre trailer even a foot of wet snow can crush a camper
7 enjoy getting up in the morning and ripping up the mountain with out having to even start youre truck !

 

[Adrenaline Revolution]

Here's a question I have for the experienced snow camper!

How do you keep the condensation from dripping on you from the inside of the roof vent right over the bed?

It wasn't leaking but the condensation from breathing (I guess) was collecting on the metal frame of it and the underside of the plastic.

We weren't running the furnace because when this happened a couple weeks ago (testing it out) it was only just a cool night but not cold enough for the heater.
Will the forced air furnace keep it dry inside or will I need to cover the inside of the vent with something absorbent to soak up the drips?

 

[letitsnow]

The forced air will cause more condensation. We use ours for hunting and the more the heater runs, the more condensation you get. I think I am going to try an electric heater this year but then I have to run the generator more. I was also going to put a piece of insulation in the vent to see if that helps. The only thing we use is the toilet (for the wife) when we are out and usually only at night. I usually dump a couple gallons of rv antifreeze in it before we leave and then put a little in there everytime you flush so the flap doesn't freeze shut. Only use the toilet for #1

 

[m7bandit]

leave your roof vent cracked open a inch or two the moisture from wet clothes or breath gotta excape some how done that with my big foot camper for couple of years no problem

Here's a question I have for the experienced snow camper!

How do you keep the condensation from dripping on you from the inside of the roof vent right over the bed?

It wasn't leaking but the condensation from breathing (I guess) was collecting on the metal frame of it and the underside of the plastic.

We weren't running the furnace because when this happened a couple weeks ago (testing it out) it was only just a cool night but not cold enough for the heater.
Will the forced air furnace keep it dry inside or will I need to cover the inside of the vent with something absorbent to soak up the drips?