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Topic: Why We Winterize in Texas (Read 411 times) previous topic - next topic
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Re: Why We Winterize in Texas
Reply #1
Ed, I have some friends that recently moved to Northwest Arkansas (Centerton) from California. The forecast calls for a low of -2 on Monday.  Polar vortex, I guess!
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264

Re: Why We Winterize in Texas
Reply #2
Some serious chilly 🥶 weather!  We’re hunkered down with our Rig prepared for this prolonged chill.

I'm about 3 hours south of you and getting ready for another round of snow.

These are pics from the January 10th snowshow. I feel your chill. Brrrrrr!
My wheels:
2003 MB
2012 Jeep Liberty

Re: Why We Winterize in Texas
Reply #3
I'm about 3 hours south of you.

Deb.  What part of the Lone Star State?   We’re headed to Rockport in late March or early April for a week.  The beach and that area are just lovely that time of the year. 

Sadly many of the Texas State Parks are already full every weekend far into the future making trip planning difficult.   However, there’s plenty of sites in most Texas SPs  Sunday to Thursday.   So it’s private parks on Friday and Saturday.   And of course we need reservations about everywhere.  Our planned private Park in Rockport is 100% occupied right now and had just 2 sites left in our timeframe in April.  Bottom line - spontaneous camping is risky in these parts. 

And so it goes.

Re: Why We Winterize in Texas
Reply #4
Deb.  What part of the Lone Star State? 

I have been in Bastrop County (next door to Austin), since last April, caregiving for my soon to be 95 yr old mother and 88 yr old step-father. I go to Bastrop State Park every week on a day pass to dump tanks. I'm there so much, some know my name and rig and pretty much wave me through (I do make reservations).

We will have all had our 2nd shots by the end of next week. Once that happens my other siblings will be able to come to town and spell me so I can start traveling again and take a break from the "Pandemic Projects". :-)
My wheels:
2003 MB
2012 Jeep Liberty

Re: Why We Winterize in Texas
Reply #5
"I have been in Bastrop County..."

I've got kinfolk in the Bastrop Cemetery, family name is Gatlin.
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!


Re: Why We Winterize in Texas
Reply #7
Was at Bastrop State Park last month!
2006 Mid Bath

Re: Why We Winterize in Texas
Reply #8
Rats! I missed you. :-(
My wheels:
2003 MB
2012 Jeep Liberty

Re: Why We Winterize in Texas
Reply #9
I have been in Bastrop County (next door to Austin),

Howdy, neighbor.  I've been in Dripping Springs at my son's house since Christmas.  We got our first shots; 2nd at the end of Feb.  Then I'll probably head south to enjoy some beach weather.  Yee ha  8)
Linda B
Green 2021 RB
2022 Ford Maverick toad

Re: Why We Winterize in Texas
Reply #10
In Houston here, won't be as bad as Dallas area, thinking of just running the heater at 50 (the lowest). Hope that's enough 🥶
1995 23.5 Rear Lounge

Re: Why We Winterize in Texas
Reply #11
We live in Fredericksburg, TX where it may get to 0 on Tuesday morning.  Our LD has been winterized and put in storage for a few weeks.
Ross Taylor
2017 MB

Re: Why We Winterize in Texas
Reply #12
We live in Fredericksburg, TX where it may get to 0 on Tuesday morning.  Our LD has been winterized and put in storage for a few weeks.

Hoping to visit your neck of the woods again in the LD but will wait for warmer weather, ha ha! Need to get some more of that Texas BBQ!
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264


Re: Why We Winterize in Texas
Reply #14
Interesting! At first I had a mental image of a pickup with an Onan mounted in the bed. But reading the article, I can make a pretty good guess what they’re selling: a beefed-up (or maybe second) alternator plus an inverter. My F-series pickups already had 200 W inverter outlets front and rear, and this is just an extension of that. Makes sense.

Curious about the cost, I did a little digging and came up with this at Edmunds:

"The available 2-kW system for the F-150's regular gas engines is a $995 option. That's in the ballpark of what you'd pay for a similarly capable portable gasoline generator. When you buy the F-150 with its new [$4,500] hybrid V6 powertrain (PowerBoost), the 2.4-kW system comes standard. Going all-out for the 7.2-kW system requires the hybrid powertrain but a mere additional outlay of $750.”

All in all, that's a lot less expensive than I expected. I figured Ford would be gouging buyers several thousand bucks for the generator options, but they’re not. I wouldn't buy a Ford pickup just to get the generator option, but if I were planning to buy one... well, I'd consider it.

That said, a Honda EU series generator almost certainly uses a lot less gas per kW than a truck’s big V6, V8, or diesel would. And idling a truck for hours on end is generally agreed not to be good for it.
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"