Escaping the Cold December 22, 2013, 08:08:14 pm Yahoo Message Number: 144263For those LD'ers who can't tolerate freezing temps, where do you go? And when do you make a point of being there? I've heard horror stories of frozen pipes in places like Sun City AZ,. Looking at Savannah GA, I see forecasts of 31 degrees for a low on Christmas Day. Are these southern locales that never go below 40 unbearably congested during the winter months?Todd Stuck In Minnesota but planning ahead. '99 RB and '02 Honda CRV
Re: Escaping the Cold Reply #1 – December 22, 2013, 08:25:54 pm Yahoo Message Number: 144264Todd,The ones reporting frozen pipes and/or tanks are in places that are in serious deep freeze and do not get above freezing for days on end. Which would be your case if you were living in your rig in MN right now. But I have found if the nights are below freezing - 20's to 30's - I don't sleep with any heat. If it dips into the teens, I will use my catalytic heater. The difference between me and those that have frozen tanks, pipes and valves - the day time highs are above freezing for me, its not for them. I really pay attention to the weather when the temps start dropping. And move on. Sub-freezing temps have been experience as far south as Summerdale, AL.in all parts of the USA.I've taken several steps to keep me and my 2 cats comfy when its cold - so far so good. If I knew I would be in the serious cold - for example, if I would work at Fernley, NV - there are extra steps to take if parked for several weeks that I do not bother with now.Melinda 2011 MB http://wovenjourney.blogspot.com
Re: Escaping the Cold Reply #2 – December 22, 2013, 09:15:43 pm Yahoo Message Number: 144266I am boondocking in the southeastern CA desert about 15 miles west of Yuma, AZ. It's in the 70s during the day and in the 40s at night. For this Washingtonian it's pretty much summer weather. Lots of RVers from my neck of the woods come down to Yuma to overwinter. There seem to be plenty of RV parks and resorts. Not my cup of tea, but to each his own. If you are up to boondocking, there is lots of BLM land were you can camp free of charge. Cheers, Ilse
Re: Escaping the Cold Reply #3 – December 23, 2013, 01:13:25 am Yahoo Message Number: 144269After I got my 05 24' front dinnet I did some work to make it useable in the winter months. I tested it here at the house in Denver. 3 nights. Pluged into the house for electric I got by with the electric heater on low (750 watt) down to about 0* the first night. But when it went down lower to -15 I had to turn the electric heater on high (1500 watt). Night 2 and 3. And I slep with just a heavy quilt. The MH stayed at 50* to 55*.
Re: Escaping the Cold Reply #4 – December 23, 2013, 11:34:22 am Yahoo Message Number: 144280I'm guessing you did not have water in your holding tanks, but were only concerned about you personally staying "unfrozen"?In any case, keeping it at 50-55F with only 1500 watts in -15F temperatures is exceptionally good, I think.Eric Greenwell wrote, On 12/22/2013 11:13 PM:
Re: Escaping the Cold Reply #5 – December 23, 2013, 02:00:25 pm Yahoo Message Number: 144282That was a 3 day test to see how warm only the electric heater would keep the MH and was done at home. and was at night. For on the road I will use the MH furnace to keep heat. With the furnace the water tank will not freeze. I roughed the cold air return so that it comes back past the storage tank. On the 24' they have the cold air return about 6" from the hot air duck and the cold air is pulling the warm air right back into the furnace. I made at least 7 changes to the MH to help keep the heat in. I feel that I should be able to get through -20 and keep the temp inside a minimum of 60 with just the propane furnace.
Re: Escaping the Cold Reply #6 – December 23, 2013, 02:23:02 pm Yahoo Message Number: 144283Todd: This Pittsburgh family heads to the Orlando Florida area. We will head out near the end of February.Bob
Re: Escaping the Cold Reply #7 – December 23, 2013, 03:47:10 pm Yahoo Message Number: 144284When I winterize I buy extra RV antifreeze. In the Washington DC area we do not get the prolonged cold that others do so I use the blow out winterizing described in the owners manual adding antifreeze to pump, drain pipes, grey and black tanks. I leave the fresh water tank empty and take water jugs and bottled water for fresh water. dump tanks based on weather forecast. On (what is for us) very cold days/nights to flush the toilet I use the extra antifreeze and dump tanks based on weather forecast. I should say that for us to "cold" would be tempters in the 20 deg range, but following the above (mostly gained from this website) the RV should be good for colder. I've just gotten soft. Also most of the time in the winter I go without my wife, though she has been on a couple trips. At night I block off the van from the house with an extra sleeping bag or sleeping pads. I have a down bag that opens to a quilt that is rated to 15 deg and a mummy bag from my back packing days that is rated to 0 deg. Unless there are hookups I turn off the heater at night, but I do sleep near the thermostat. The nice thing about winter tempts dipping to mid or upper 20s is that there are no bugs. Days are mostly comfortable and there are fewer other people around.
Re: Escaping the Cold Reply #8 – December 23, 2013, 07:07:50 pm Yahoo Message Number: 144289Todd: Here is an idea. Looks like they have some good deals. We live in Florida and head to the mountains or cooler areas in the summer.Bob in FLCarefree RV ResortsOn Sunday, December 22, 2013 9:08 PM, Todd J Fogelberg wrote:
Re: Escaping the Cold Reply #9 – December 24, 2013, 12:16:10 pm Yahoo Message Number: 144299I think the Orlando Area/Kissimmee area look "safe". I see lows in the 40s this week which is tolerable. Anything colder than that would be unacceptable to me on an RV trip. The only thing worse than the bone chilling cold of a Minnesota winter is the awful heat and humidity that come in mid-summer.Todd
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