Sprinting thru the cold October 15, 2023, 12:25:56 pm We live in Minnesota & have up to this point done only fair weather camping in our 27MB. By the end of October, our LD is comfortably parked indoors until April. But that’s going to change…We are planning a trip to Florida in late January. My (very rough) plan is to study the weather around our departure window & then blast out of the garage and cannonball south when it seems like we’ll have a couple days of dry roads (I really don’t want to slip & slide or allow salty road spray to coat our RV). I hope to get far enough on day 1 that we’ll be free of the Arctic-type cold of our home. After that we’ll slow down & meander towards Florida. But the first several hours of our drive could easily be in sub-zero temperatures. Even once we stop for the night or two, odds are good it will still be below freezing overnight.So my question is: what precautions and preparation is needed to ensure I don’t end up with frozen tanks or plumbing? What else should I consider? Thanks! 1 Likes
Re: Sprinting thru the cold Reply #1 – October 15, 2023, 01:00:53 pm "... what precautions and preparation is needed to ensure I don’t end up with frozen tanks or plumbing?"You apparently already know what conditions you're facing! It will take a prolonged period of below zero temps to freeze your tanks and at that it will only be the dump valves that could cause issues. On your overnights leave the lower cupboard doors cracked open and if you are comfortable your water lines will be also. 3 Likes
Re: Sprinting thru the cold Reply #2 – October 15, 2023, 01:40:53 pm We have snow camped in our 98~MB many times. Usually we have been able to plug in but many times we have not. As Steve said it is unlikely your tanks will freeze in a day especially when you are moving but you need to protect your dump valves. First after we dump or have empty our tanks we add 1/2 gallon of freeze proof window washer fluid to each tank so that fluid is what is sitting against your dump valves. We use to use RV anti freeze but that got expensive, window washer fluid is less expensive and more available and it takes a gallon to do both valves. We have also used less when it was not going to be as cold like in the 20s. Also if you stop at a rest area to rest or make dinner or something else always set yourself setup to go with no obstructions even if you are sticking out a little. The parking could freeze or a little unexpected snow while you are there and you could be stuck. There times when car drivers could also block you in. It happened to us Once!Best of luck when you go! Have a Great Trip! Karen~Liam 98 ~ MB NinAhttp://www.lazydazeowners.com/MGalleryItem.php?id=4395 3 Likes
Re: Sprinting thru the cold Reply #3 – October 15, 2023, 02:03:19 pm Solid plan to look for a break in the weather. Going South from Sacramento in winter, I prefer US-395 as it's more scenic. Route also has a couple passes 7K-8K range and is quite high down to Bishop. I either wait for a window or go down I-5/SR99. Coming home one February on US 95 Las Vegas - Carson City NV, we left LV in 80 degree weather. Overnighted in Hawthorne NV where the tanks (with little in them) froze in the 15 deg overnight temps. Carson City next night was 26-29. Valves still frozen when I got home but thawed without damage then next day.Mad dash to the unfrozen sounds like a good plan and shouldn't have problems.Safe travels.BTW, my rig really doesn't like being in 'chains'.joel 1 Likes
Re: Sprinting thru the cold Reply #4 – October 15, 2023, 05:28:44 pm I have poor cell service, so a quick suggestion. Minus 25 vs 25 degrees F should dictate the strategy. Severely low temperatures, consider leaving the Rig winterized heading south. If the temperature is more moderate, the above guidance is spot on in our experience. 1 Likes
Re: Sprinting thru the cold Reply #5 – October 15, 2023, 09:30:01 pm Maybe consider leaving the rig winterized for the first day driving and stay in a motel. By the second day, you should be far enough south to be safe.George & Jo Ann2017 MBNew Hampshire 1 Likes
Re: Sprinting thru the cold Reply #6 – October 15, 2023, 10:59:44 pm I always leave the rig winterized until I get to my southern destination on my yearly snowbirds flights. I flush with RV antifreeze and use bottled water for drinking. Paper plates takes care of doing dishes. 2 Likes
Re: Sprinting thru the cold Reply #7 – October 16, 2023, 06:23:05 am I followed the same practice as "Linda B," except I would dewinterize along the way, depending on weather forecast from that point south. One year I dewinterized in Maryland, expecting to stay a couple days. I had to stay for a week instead; cold and snow moved in. I almost froze the tanks and almost ran out of propane at the same time! After that I never dewinterized north of Virginia or North Carolina, and always left home with a full propane tank. An "Extend-a-Stay" tee on the tank helped with the latter. I carried a small 120V "cube heater" to save on propane when I was "on the hook" in an RV park.If freezing is possible during or after the return north, then you must winterize the coach again. Antifreeze can be difficult to buy after Winter begins (and maybe not at all in Florida). Depending on the timing of the trip, I'd stockpile enough gallons at home before I left or carry them in the coach, so I'd be ready to winterize short of home, if necessary. Allow enough time to winterize and dump/flush the tanks on your run home. Remember the days are shorter that time of year. I planned for a short run the first day out. This allowed for a late start or problems along the road. Tried to do the same for the last day of the return trip, so I could be sure the coach was ready to be put away when I got home. If you have enough propane in the tank (or the tee mentioned above and a mostly-full grill cylinder) leave the furnace running for an extra night or two in your driveway, so you may unpack at a more leisurely pace.After much experimentation, I settled on six days to Florida, with stops in New York (usually a motel), New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia. That kept daily miles down to 250 or so, portal-to-portal times around six hours, including breaks on the road. Highway driving on the East Coast is tiring.If you plan to have the coach sit for months, consider adding fuel stabilizer at your last gas stop before "sitting." I did that in Florida and then on return home. I bought enough before I left home to do both ends of the trip. Run the generator afterwards to protect its fuel system, also. If you plan to run the coach around while down south then the stabilizer is not needed.Mark H. 3 Likes
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