Cold Weather Camping Question October 15, 2015, 08:17:37 pm Yahoo Message Number: 156404We plan to do some cold weather travel this winter where the nighttime temperature will probably be about 20F to 25F. The only area that I am concerned is that the outdoor shower faucet might freeze. How might we keep that from freezing? Once again, thanks in advance.Ed & Margee Fort Worth
Re: Cold Weather Camping Question Reply #1 – October 15, 2015, 11:32:39 pm Yahoo Message Number: 156405The area I have always been concerned about in my MB is the under shower and the pipe run from under the shower across to the water heater.
Some Reply Ideas...Re: [LD] Cold Weather Camping Question Reply #2 – October 16, 2015, 01:17:43 am Yahoo Message Number: 156406...on my Desert Fox toy hauler I disconnected & drained the exterior shower head & hose then stored same for warmer weather...I cut a piece of flexible foam to fit inside the outside door of the shower faucet alcove....then, went inside the rig & disconnected both hot & cold water lines (with pump off & opened a faucet to release any residual water lines pressure) and bought 2 plastic threaded plugs, threaded them tight on the two line ends...moved the lines away from the exterior wall...done!...for extra insurance regarding all water lines under pressure, leave interior cabinet doors open to allow hear to circulate within the cabinets....I also disconnected, drained & plugged the hose connection, exterior water fill port...duct taped the open hole....also tossed some RV anti-freeze in the grey & black water tanks...was overkill (my style) as our Desert Fox was a true 4 season rig as long as hooked to electricity....always wondered/concerned about freezing things when traveling all day on cold days...before traveling each morning I tried to extra warm up the interior to provide some residual heat for the day....closed interior ceiling vents....worked for me, sure their are others with better proven techniques...guess your amount of protective effort will depend on severity of weather forecast.Hope this maybe helped, Vaughn
Re: Cold Weather Camping Question Reply #3 – October 16, 2015, 09:40:09 am Yahoo Message Number: 156410[quote]...on my Desert Fox toy hauler I disconnected & drained the exterior shower head & hose then stored same for warmer weather...I cut a piece of flexible foam to fit inside the outside door of the shower faucet alcove....then, went inside the rig & disconnected both hot & cold water lines (with pump off & opened a faucet to release any residual water lines pressure) and bought 2 plastic threaded plugs, threaded them tight on the two line ends...moved the lines away from the exterior wall...done![/quote]Thank you for your guidance on preparing your LD for winter travel. I was also thinking about disconnecting the exterior shower head and hose and placing some kind of insulation inside that faucet alcove. I didn't think I could get access to the water lines to that outside shower, which could really solve that part of the freezing problem. (To be honest, I still don't have a solid understanding of where all our water lines are located, which is one of my learning To-Do items along with countless other learning To-Do items!)Last night, we talked about trying to winter camp while our MH is still basically winterized. We'd need to carry or find some water to help us with the toilet and keep the black tank somewhat filled and add some RV anti-freeze. Similarly, we could use the kitchen sink with water from an outside source and keep the gray water tank from freezing at night. Since we're only planning on 3-4 day trips, this might be a safe way to travel? At any rate, that's my half-baked plans for now.Ed & Margee Fort Worth
Re: Cold Weather Camping Question Reply #4 – October 16, 2015, 12:57:20 pm Yahoo Message Number: 156414I occasionally do short camping trips in the cold (20-30 deg) you describe, mostly on trips south but sometimes when visiting our daughter. When I was younger I tent camped mostly in the winter and have down sleeping bags for both of us. So using the LD was not that big a transition - especially if there are electric hookups.I do not fill the fresh water tank or hook up to city water. I bring large containers of bottled water that can be refiled (gallon or larger). I bring only food that a minimum amount of water to be added. This way the fresh water system stay winterized . I do not hook up to city water. We use the campground outhouse mostly but if needed put extra RV antifreeze in the toilet bowl and flush twice with extra antifreeze that is kept in the bathroom. If we use the sink for meal preparation after dinner I dump antifreeze in the sink to refill the trap. Each winter I order a couple bottles extra antifreeze. I use the oldest first when I winterize. Before going to bed I will dump the tanks if it is getting real cold but mostly I just pour a lot of antifreeze in the drains and black tank. At the end of the trip I partially fill the two waste tanks before with a few gallons of water before dumping. This is easily accomplished in the bathroom.The MidBath is not difficult to warm. I block off the cab area with a old comforter and foam sleeping pads (works well in summer too). I do not block off the overhead vents but if I were to do this kind of camping more often I would make foam covers to block them as well. Before going to bed we get the area good and warm. In the morning I just reach up and turn on the heat. I am generally up first. Boiling water for coffee also does a lot to warm the RV. By the time my wife is ready for coffee the area is comfortable with slippers or socks on.
Re: Cold Weather Camping Question Reply #5 – October 16, 2015, 01:36:00 pm Yahoo Message Number: 156416"I didn't think I could get access to the water lines to that outside shower, which could really solve that part of the freezing problem." On your midbath, the outside shower is located under the kitchen sink. You'll need long arms to reach it, but the fittings are accessible if you open the cabinet door beneath the sink and reach back toward the outside wall.As an aside, I disconnected, cut down, and capped off the pipes feeding my rig's outside shower fixture, which I have no use for. After removing the faucets and hose and sealing up the openings with Eternabond tape, I turned it into a small storage compartment, adding a 12 V outlet for convenience. (I've always thought it a pity that there are no exterior 12 V outlets on a Lazy Daze.)That outlet came in handy on a recent stint of dry camping. Because I normally run out of fresh water before filling up my black and gray tanks, I can extend my stay by filling portable water carriers in town and then emptying them into the fresh water tank's inlet. But water is heavy, so it's a clumsy operation pouring from a carrier held at shoulder level. My solution was to add five-foot lengths of hose to both sides of the spare water pump I carry, and wire on a length of cord and a 12 V plug. After plugging the pump into my newly added 12 V outlet, I can pump the contents of a five-gallon water carrier into the LD's tank in about two minutes flat, with no effort on my part.Andy Baird
Re: Cold Weather Camping Question Reply #6 – October 16, 2015, 05:34:56 pm Yahoo Message Number: 156417Many thanks for the additional guidance. Johndacremea's cold weather strategy is exactly the direction I was thinking about. So that is just very good news for our colder weather trips. Good news indeed.Secondly, I sure like Andy Baird's solution for the outside shower. If I had bought new, I wouldn't have ordered that option. But we have it and guess who really likes it? Well amigos, it ain't me! And if I suggested to "you know who" that I was going to do the "Andy Baird Outside Shower Fix," well Katie bar the door.Nevertheless, we going to visit our LD tonight with our granddaughter and I want to find the outside shower plumbing under the kitchen cabinet. The bottom line, I really need to understand our plumbing.Ed & Margee (aka "you know who") Fort Worth
Re: Cold Weather Camping Question Reply #7 – October 17, 2015, 01:23:31 am Yahoo Message Number: 156425Ed or Margee said, "Many thanks for the additional guidance. Johndacremea's cold weather strategy is exactly the direction I was thinking about. So that is just very good news for our colder weather trips. Good news indeed."Just remember I said "shorter trips". You will go through a lot of antifreeze. John
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Topic: Cold Weather Camping Question (Read 22 times)
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