Camping in Cold Weather-Long but hopefully useful

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Re: Camping in Cold Weather-Long but hopefully useful

Reply #25 – December 07, 2013, 11:26:21 am

When in freezing overnight or daytime temps, we follow Rich & Peggy's plan and turn on our four Lasko 200 watt personal heaters.
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When we saw these heaters at Walmart several years ago, we instantly bought four to replace our four 100-watt bulbs that we have been using for many years to keep our four water bay areas from freezing. Bulbs were inside a plastic cage to try to keep things from touching them and possibly starting a fire. Our heaters work great and are the perfect solution for our propane furnace coach.

The furnace did a poor job of keeping bays warm, as it only put a little hot air in a few places and only when the furnace was running. Between furnace cycles, the bay cooled down much faster than the inside of our coach. We monitor the bay temps with a wireless thermometer that has three wireless sensors.

We seldom use the furnace as we prefer to use two small two-speed (900 & 1500 watt) floor electric space heaters to keep the inside of our coach warm. Heaters are easy to store when not in use and have a tip-over shut off button on the bottom. Bay and inside heaters are plugged into electric outlets that are not powered by inverter to prevent battery depletion if inverter inadvertently turns on. Non-inverter outlets are located in different places in our coach and were originally wired for washer-dryer, refrigerator & vacuum cleaner, so we just ran extension cords that are plugged into these outlets, to be used for heaters.

Run a 12" fan sitting on dash to blow air against inside of windshield to prevent condensation. Some forward MCD shades are left up, and all windows are wiped down in the morning of and condensation.

We have several $9 Harbor Freight water alarms strategically placed to notify us of any water intrusion or leaks. Bottom inside step near hinge alarm goes off sometimes from condensation or heavy rain.
Water Overflow Alarm

When temps drop to single digits, we put a large piece of Reflectix to seal in all plumbing, across the inside of the bay door opening. With heater and wireless thermometer on the other side of the Reflectix, we can know how the space is holding up in very cold temps.
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We removed bottom sink drawer to let room air flow into plumbing space.

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Re: Camping in Cold Weather-Long but hopefully useful

Reply #26 – December 07, 2013, 01:32:28 pm

Interesting thread. As a former cold weather user long ago I am wondering how well my aqua hot coach actually does as far as tankages in serious cold weather?

Bob

Re: Camping in Cold Weather-Long but hopefully useful

Reply #27 – December 07, 2013, 05:12:06 pm

I understand for those living at the time in cold conditions, but am curious about those that posted that have their coach in their driveways and running heat in them- why don't you drain and winterize rather than pay electric/propane?

Re: Camping in Cold Weather-Long but hopefully useful

Reply #28 – December 07, 2013, 06:31:19 pm

Can't answer for others, but for us we want the option to be able to jump in our new-to-us coach and take off on a trip with minimum hassle. We have several short trips tentatively planned for the next few months. This extreme cold weather is unusual for our area (desert West Texas), and will probably be short-lived. We do not feel it is worthwhile to have to go through the full winterizing/de-winterizing routine (perhaps several times), at least this year. For us, paying a little extra for the electric and propane is worth the convenience of being "road ready".

Re: Camping in Cold Weather-Long but hopefully useful

Reply #29 – December 07, 2013, 06:36:43 pm

Like cjak says, we keep our coach ready to go year round. Living in Texas has its rewards. We use our coach every month of the year.

Re: Camping in Cold Weather-Long but hopefully useful

Reply #30 – December 07, 2013, 07:48:26 pm

I put mine in the garage and put on the radiator. I can run anytime that way except when there is white stuff on the roads. It can be on the ground but not on the road as a rule. I usually head south for a week or two and then home. Going to Nac in Jan and then hope to hit FL in late feb or early march. Winterizing is hard to use it when you want too and that is why I did not winterize but ran the heat till I built the garage. I did winterize a few times but then it was put up for the whole winter.

Re: Camping in Cold Weather-Long but hopefully useful

Reply #31 – December 07, 2013, 07:59:51 pm

While we don't have the milder weather that you folks do down in Texas, we have one unique thing here in the KC area. The area has several underground facilities for storage. They've converted older areas of mines and rent out spaces. The climate stays at 58 degrees year round so no need to winterize. This is a strong likely hood for our storage needs when "Mr Right" comes along.

Larry

Re: Camping in Cold Weather-Long but hopefully useful

Reply #32 – December 07, 2013, 08:30:10 pm

In our A-H coach we have never taken any precautions in the bays and have never experienced any freezing with temps down to the mid-teens.

Re: Camping in Cold Weather-Long but hopefully useful

Reply #33 – December 07, 2013, 08:37:07 pm

Ok temp in st louis fri night 8
temps in bays at 55 after 24 hrs turning up temps on electric heaters.
Warmer floors, top heaters not running as much.

Looks like this might be something to consider.

Re: Camping in Cold Weather-Long but hopefully useful

Reply #34 – December 07, 2013, 09:45:58 pm

For what it's worth.
For the past week, nights have been around 0. Coldest so far was -15. (all temps F). I installed an 'Extend-a-stay' hose and a 100# (25Gal) propane tank. The tank is on a Doctor's office beam scale so I can weigh it daily and track my usage.

I have a single 150W light bulb in the water entry bay, and a freeze-proof (electrically heated) hose. I use no electric heat except the light bulb in the water bay, and keep the thermostats set at 72. I have been comfortable and no freeze problems all week. Propane consumption is less than 3.5 Gallons ( 15 #) / 24 hours calculated at 4.2 #/Gal.

My Dometic freezer doesn't freeze, even with the 'cold ambient' switch on, but other than that, I can't be much happier unless I was in Arizona.

Stay Warm everybody.

Re: Camping in Cold Weather-Long but hopefully useful

Reply #35 – December 07, 2013, 09:48:10 pm

It got down to -3 last night here in Lincoln Nebraska and our coach did just fine. I did put a 75 watt bulb by the water pump and another in the wet bay. 2 years ago we were here and it got down to -12 and the only thing that froze was the water valve for the icemaker. My fault. should have turned off the valve under the sink and drain the line. This year I turned of the valve and drained the line, so should be okay. It started snowing just now so will have to break out the snow shovel.

Re: Camping in Cold Weather-Long but hopefully useful

Reply #36 – December 07, 2013, 10:18:00 pm

So Red. From your tagline, it looks like you've got a 115 ft coach if the bumpers are touching.
Nice!

Re: Camping in Cold Weather-Long but hopefully useful

Reply #37 – December 07, 2013, 10:46:01 pm

Yes I guess that is a little deceiving. Actually we only have the 40 ft 03 know as we have sold the other 2 coaches. We have really enjoyed each of the coaches, but we like the 03 the best. I would not have anything but a foretravel

Re: Camping in Cold Weather-Long but hopefully useful

Reply #38 – December 07, 2013, 10:51:04 pm

Quote from: red tractor – December 07, 2013, 10:46:01 pm

Yes I guess that is a little deceiving. Actually we only have the 40 ft 03 know as we have sold the other 2 coaches. We have really enjoyed each of the coaches, but we like the 03 the best. I would not have anything but a foretravel

Its interesting that those who have seen a lot of coaches really prefer the Foretravel.

That being said if a 40' 1991 marquis turned up I would be tempted. Showed cm one and you could see he was impressed. Probably why the coaches got prettier over time. Blame me.....

Bob

Re: Camping in Cold Weather-Long but hopefully useful

Reply #39 – December 08, 2013, 02:39:05 pm

Having worked on many different brands will say that the beaver interior wood work was pretty spectacular

Re: Camping in Cold Weather-Long but hopefully useful

Reply #40 – December 09, 2013, 06:11:56 pm

Reading this thread makes me very thankful we have an Aqua-Hot. It is so nice to use diesel and not to have to chase down a source for propane refill. The quiet operation of the heat exchangers, as well as having the bays heated (either directly by the Aqua-Hot or by the dedicated heat exchanger) is also extremely nice.

Re: Camping in Cold Weather-Long but hopefully useful

Reply #41 – December 09, 2013, 08:45:29 pm

It got down to -10 last night in Lincoln, Ne and we were snug as bugs in a rug. Nothing frozen. This is such a great coach. Love being in our foretravel.

Re: Camping in Cold Weather-Long but hopefully useful

Reply #42 – December 09, 2013, 10:06:31 pm

Red, now you know why we left Lincoln, Nebraska! That's home for both Jo Ann and me (both of us still have family there), but it is just too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer.

Re: Camping in Cold Weather-Long but hopefully useful

Reply #43 – December 10, 2013, 12:32:19 am

I'm on my way to HWH. As I sit here in Des Moines between a couple of trucks for the night reading these posts a couple of things interest me. So far the water bay temp has been in the low 50's with the remote on the floor of the bay next to the water pump. A point for the Aqua Hot there. It's supposed to get down to zero tonight here so more points if this thing works all night like that.

I did discover as I stopped here to get some rest that the electric blanket doesn't like the inverter so I started the generator. I just filled up and put some power service in the tank so I feel good about fuel. We like sleeping in a cold room but getting into a warm bed. By leaving the gen set on I can leave the electric block heater on as well. When I left home, with the aqua hot and the electric the Cummins started as if I'd just shut it down.

Should have read Red Tractor's post about the ice maker a day sooner. Yesterday I was gone from the coach about an hour and came back to a flooded kitchen floor. The valve on the ice maker had frozen, cracked and thawed and all the water was coming in under the fridge. We carry a wet vac for such emergencies and it just took some time I'd rather have spent reading a book. Wonder why that valve couldn't be under the sink or under the fridge where it wouldn't freeze?

I hope all goes well and HWH can solve our issues. Drove all the way here with the level light on and the bell dinging at times. Haven't tried the slides in a few weeks. Last time didn't think I'd ever get them in to leave.

Re: Camping in Cold Weather-Long but hopefully useful

Reply #44 – December 10, 2013, 06:45:34 am

I have driven with that light and bell too. Good luck.

Re: Camping in Cold Weather-Long but hopefully useful

Reply #45 – December 10, 2013, 07:49:28 am

Might be a good idea, in really cold weather conditions, to turn your water pump off except when actually using it. That way, if you do spring a leak from a cracked pipe or whatever, at least you will be there to immediately deal with it. Just something to consider.

Re: Camping in Cold Weather-Long but hopefully useful

Reply #46 – December 10, 2013, 10:40:51 am

We never leave the coach with the water pump turned on, we always shut the thing off before we leave the coach and when we go to bed.....except when we forget, and guess when something decides to leak. Water is my nemesis. It's like the plumbing is telling me hahaha you forgot.

Roland

Re: Camping in Cold Weather-Long but hopefully useful

Reply #47 – December 10, 2013, 01:34:17 pm

As I see a lot of experience here maybe I can ask a question. I see two temp type switches on my dometic side by side refer in my 97. One outside one inside.

What powers them and how and when do they need to work?

Thanks bob

Re: Camping in Cold Weather-Long but hopefully useful

Reply #48 – December 10, 2013, 08:46:15 pm

Since we want to leave our water pump off when leaving coach, I would sometimes wonder when walking down the steps, if we remembered to turn the switch off. So we ran a water pump wire to the front door and now I have a switch and LED by the door, just like we have at the kitchen sink, and now we know...

Re: Camping in Cold Weather-Long but hopefully useful

Reply #49 – December 10, 2013, 09:00:13 pm

I will report that with the bitter cold single digits last night in Des Moines everything was fine this morning with the exception of the bathroom lavatory frozen, both hot and cold. It had to be below the floor so I guess 50 degrees isn't hot enough in the bay to keep the north side of the bay warm. I've been in the HWH shop all day today and it thawed out with no leaks. I will turn up the thermostat on the water bay before I leave here tomorrow. I am camped inside their warm shop tonight.

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