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Camping in Below Freezing Weather
Yahoo Message Number: 97927
Thanks to Joan, Dan, Gus and Paul for your insight about driving the Lazy Daze in snow.  The temperature here in Eastern Washington State is in the teens and my dad just called me to ask about our water heater in the LD.  He wanted to know if I had drained it.  Thankfully I did two weeks ago.  A question that we both have but do not have an answer is about using the water heater when it's freezing outside.

So our question is whether we need to take any precautions with the water heater when the temperature is below freezing and we are inside the RV?  Next weekend we plan to use the LD's in Leavenworth Washington and the temperature is projected to be in the 20's.

Thanks again for all your help.

Rob, Maria and Selah
Re: Camping in Below Freezing Weather
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97928
As long as it is turned on you'll be fine.  If you leave it off and it freezes up you'd have problems.  Just a point of reference, one time I took my LD up into the mountains and left it there for a week with all the water full etc. to procure a desirable spot for hunting season.  I know it was in the 10 degree range every morning during that week. I was kind of worried about stuff freezing up.  But when I got up to it, everything was fine, no frozen water lines no issues whatsoever.  BTW I didn't have the heater on during that week either.  So these machines will take some pretty cold weather with very little problems.
Re: Camping in Below Freezing Weather
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97931
Rob,

I agree with Dan.  I have never had a problem with any water freezes.  Been in the low single digits for 2-3 days at a time.  I shut the internal heater off at night and stay under my down comforter.  Fan makes to much noise when it fires up and it wakes me. I also have cut insulation mats out of 1" rigid  foam batts I picked up from Lowe's.  Shuts out almost all light, but keep out most of the window cold as well.  My rig does not have the dual pane windows and the batts really help.  As for the water heater, if you leave it on you will have no worries.  In my old rig I used to drain the water lines each night, including the water heater.  Don't do that in my LD, and it is old as well (an '88).

Good luck.

Paul
Re: Camping in Below Freezing Weather
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97934
Rob, in the Prescott paper this morning they reported 55 accidents yesterday on I-40 in Flagstaff area due to snow.. Main culprit was speed and the trucks. Driving slow in the snow has never been a problem. Kind of like the tule fog in Fresno. Get off the road and let the trucks tailgate each other. Drive safey and watch for the other guy, john leach, Prescott. p.s. It was 25 this morning and gas is 1.51.

__
Re: Camping in Below Freezing Weather
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97935
Hello John:

p.s. It was 25 this morning and gas is 1.51.

It was 66* this morning and gas is $1.56.

Ed & Carol Warm & toasty in sunny FL.
Re: Camping in Below Freezing Weather
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97936
Quote
It was 66* this morning and gas is $1.56.

Ed & Carol Warm & toasty in sunny FL.
Sorry, no gloating for you today! It is currently 63 degrees here in Quincy, MA and gas is $1.61.

Joanne in Boston NE-44
camping in below freezing weather
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97943
One problem to be considered in states like WY, they use alot of gravel/sand on their roads during snowy conditions. You have to use your windshield washers to clear and trucks and big vehicles passing you throw this gravel/sand up on to the windshield. The washers will not clear/clean the debris in freezing conditions without scratching your windshield. We had to replace our windshield due to the scratches.
I do not recommend traveling during freezing/snowy conditions when gravel is used. We are from WI have -35 windshield washer fluid in our unit.

Art
Re: camping in below freezing weather
Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97944
Quote
I do not recommend traveling during freezing/snowy conditions when gravel is used. We are from WI have -35 windshield washer fluid in our unit.
That brings up another point.  Where do you buy windshield washer fluid in California that will get below 32°.  This is what the auto parts store carry in the bay area and that will not do much good in ski areas.  The good stuff is made with methyl alcohol and probably requires a special permit.  People were drinking this stuff for cheap drunk I am told and that created serious heath problems.  Now that we have 2 buck chuck I would not think that would be a problem any longer.  If someone knows the real reason please state.  I stock up each time I go to Nevada or can usually find it around Tahoe area.

Joe Hamm
Re: camping in below freezing weather
Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97946
"Where do you buy windshield washer fluid in California that will get below 32°? The good stuff is made with methyl alcohol and probably requires a special permit. People were drinking this stuff for cheap drunk I am told and that created serious heath problems."

Yup, methanol will make you blind or worse, as thousands learned during the Prohibition era. But any alcohol will lower the freezing point of water, and that's all you care about with windshield washer fluid. So mix in some rubbing alcohol (isopropanol) and you should be fine. You can buy that anywhere. Vodka would work too, but rubbing alcohol is a lot cheaper. ;-)

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: camping in below freezing weather
Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97948
I stock up
 
Quote
each time I go to Nevada or can usually find it around Tahoe area.
Joe Hamm
What do you stock up on, Joe. Windshield washer fluid or 2 Buck Chuck?

Ed
Re: camping in below freezing weather
Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97950
Quote
I stock up each time I go to Nevada or can usually find it around Tahoe area.

Joe Hamm

What do you stock up on, Joe. Windshield washer fluid or 2 Buck Chuck?

Ed
How you doing Ed.  I guess it gets down to price.  Some places 2BC is cheaper that the anti-freeze. I guess both will work.  This is probably not a big issue for you Floridians.
Joe
Re: camping in below freezing weather
Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97970
The coach's entry door is a cold weather item that is seldom mentioned. We find that the coldest spot in our LD is always next to the entry door.
Almost every LD that has been used a year or more is likely to have an ill-fitting door, one that allows a lot of air to leak in and out.
The normal cause of the bending is the slamming the door is subjected to when the wind catches it.
The stronger and more adventuresome can try straightening the door, using the 2X4 method, to get a closer seal. You should also make sure the inner foam seal is filling the gap. Many times, replacing the thin Factory foam with a soft, thicker foam tape can fill the gap on a bent door.
Along with a blanket fitted to cover the cab opening, you can make one to cover the coach door opening. In real cold weather, every bit helps.

In the owner's manual of our 1983 LD, the winter camping section suggested custom cutting sheets of Plexiglas to cover the windows. The covers could be attached to the interior of the window frames with double-sided tape.
For older rigs with single-pane windows, this would be a great improvement.

I'm a warm loving person who also loves wintertime camping. We have two cat heaters, a 12-volt mattress heater and all the other usual cold-weather gear. There is no reason to be cold unless you enjoy it.

Larry Staying warm
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: camping in below freezing weather
Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97971
Quote
the inner foam seal is filling the gap. Many times, replacing the thin Factory foam with a soft, thicker foam tape can fill the gap on a bent door.
Along with a blanket fitted to cover the cab opening, you can make one to cover the coach door opening. In real cold weather, every bit helps.
Nancy and I have been married long enough that we rarely have everyday use for the bathroom door. However, when used to simply close off the entryway at night (a rucked-up entryway rug holds it there), it is also pretty effective acting as an airlock to the entryway. Always notice the cold block of air on the other side when we open it in the morning. This may only work with older FLs.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
Re: camping in below freezing weather
Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97975
Thats exactly what we did two weekends ago camping in Joshua Tree...It was in the high 30's at nite and that cold air was all around the entryway. All I could think of to block it was bring the bathroom door halfway out and stuffed a dish towel in to wedge it. Brilliant minds think alike!! p.s. we have the 85 FL. Have a good day people....wet and rainy so cal....
Re: camping in below freezing weather
Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97979
We've also added some extra foam weather stripping at the top of the door, it helps a lot.
 We also replaced the window blind on the door with a chenille throw, which, when dropped, blocks a lot of the cold seep from the door.  We simply put a tension rod above the door and hung the throw from that.

Kate
 http://cholulared.blogspot.com &

http://www.cholulared.com

Want to find us? Click below, we're #3096 http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=3096
Re: camping in below freezing weather
Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97980
One more idea - I use it every weekend during the winter.  I went to Lowe's and purchased some 1/2 inch foma insulation and cut apiece to fit tightly around the door.  Had to carve out a space for the screen door slide cover to fit.  Works well.  Did the same for all windows.

Paul
Re: camping in below freezing weather
Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97982
Quote
"One more idea - I use it every weekend during the winter.  I went to Lowe's and purchased some 1/2 inch foma insulation and cut apiece to fit tightly around the door.  Had to carve out a space for the screen door slide cover to fit.  Works well.  Did the same for all windows."

Paul
Paul, where do you store all those templates when you are on the road?

Chris
Formerly: 2002 30' IB
Re: camping in below freezing weather
Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97983
Chris,

I stack them on one of the rear couches.  They fit nicely, don't shift much, and are light.  I have also stored them
 
Re: camping in below freezing weather
Reply #19 –
Yahoo Message Number: 97987
I went to Lowe's and purchased some 1/2 inch

Quote
foam insulation and cut apiece to fit tightly around the door.  Had to carve out a space for the screen door slide cover to fit.  Works well.  Did the same for all windows.
You can do the same with all the roof vents. Open all the vents. Climb on the roof with the styrofoam, a sharp knife and a bit of tape. Cut & form pieces of the foam to fit inside the plastic vent cover itself.
Either one or two layers depending on the depth of the vent & thickness of the foam you're using. Wedge it in tightly or use some tape to hold it in place. Shut the vent and you have a nice, well insulated vent cover.
Keeps heat out in summer & cold out in winter. Blocks the light from coming in but helps in temperature control.

Ed

Hanging out in shorts & a T shirt in sunny FL.