How to Survive the Winter In Your RV
And Other Things We Learned From Bears
RV Skirt - This goes around the base of your RV to protect the underside from snow and wind. This can help keep it warm, which has a greater impact than you'd think on keeping the interior of your RV warm. Heated Hoses - Nobody likes a frozen hose. Heated hoses will prevent the need to drain and disconnect your freshwater hose every day. Going to the local stream isn't an option for you. Make sure you have fresh water. RV Plumbing Heat Tape - Wrap your freshwater and wastewater hoses in heat tape to prevent them from freezing. We cannot understate how important it is to keep your pipes from freezing and bursting. This can be used as a substitute for a heated hoses. As long as your pipes are warm, the methods are less important. Floor / Window Insulation - Keep the heat you have! Foam insulating boards are popular among RVers to keep the heat in and cold out. Even thick (non-bear) rugs on the floor of your RV will help regulate the temperature. You should also insulate your windows with thermal curtains or insulating foam to prevent heat loss. RV Antifreeze - RV antifreeze isn't just for when you winterize your RV and store it. A quart or so of antifreeze in your gray and black tanks will go a long way to keep the tanks from freezing! Pro tip: You definitely don't want that. Tank Heaters - Heated holding tanks are less likely to freeze, this much is obvious. What is less obvious is how much warm water on tap is appreciated on a cold winter day (and this is essential when you run into a hot cocoa drought in the middle of an ice storm). These tank heaters keep your water tank heated so they can be used normally, even in conditions that would normally freeze the water inside. Generator / Solar Power System - This might not seem vital if you have an electric hookup at your campsite. But believe me when I say you don't want to be caught without power for any length of time when temperatures drop. Having backup energy can be a lifesaver (literally and figuratively) on the coldest days. Pro Tip: Solar panels use UV rays and not heat, which means they work perfectly fine in the dead of winter as long as you keep snow from covering them up! See what you'll need with our solar calculator! Ventilation Covers - You can lose a lot of heat through your vents. So having covers that keep that heat inside is important. Make sure they are easy to remove in case you are using a gas heater inside of your camper (and make sure your carbon monoxide detectors are working properly to detect gas buildup).
Space Heaters - Keeping the interior of your RV warm can be difficult. Sometimes you need a little bit extra warmth to really be as comfortable as possible. We suggest catalytic space heaters, as they do not rely on burning fuel or open flames to produce heat, and are less of a fire hazard than electric or fuel-burning space heaters. Dehumidifier - Moisture is the enemy. If your RV is heated and the outside is cold, you will get plenty of condensation inside. If you don't properly dehumidify the inside of your RV, condensation can freeze and make it that much harder to heat your RV, let alone get cozy. Extra Propane - It is important to make sure you have enough propane to last for an extended period of time while you're RVing in the winter. Propane will fuel several necessary things, from your furnace to your stove, and plenty of other things you want to make sure are working throughout the season. Carbon Monoxide / Fire / Smoke Alarms - We mention these above, but with so many heat sources and flammable material around, it is vital that you keep an eye on them. Make sure your batteries are fresh and the alarms are in working order. Fire may be warm, but a fire in your RV might be the worst possible end to your winter adventure. Shovel - A snow shovel is great for keeping snow away from your RV, which is necessary to keep ice from forming. But it is also great for making large snow piles for cover in particularly heated snowball fights. Pro Tip: Always make sure your snowballs are as smooth and round as possible; this helps them fly straight with more consistency. And don't even think about putting rocks in there. Traction Mats / Tire Chains - These help you move your RV in the event of an emergency. But we would also suggest large waterproof mats in front of your RV to keep you from slipping as you walk in and out. Waterproof Matches / Lighter - You hopefully won't have to use these, but in the event of emergency, the ability to make a fire in an otherwise wet and cold situation is invaluable (especially if you are overlanding with few neighbors). Ice Scraper - You probably already have one in your car, but the same principle applies here. Keeping windows free from ice is great for visibility, but also contributes to a warmer RV. Warm Clothes / Shoes - This might seem obvious, but dress for the weather. You will have a difficult time enjoying yourself if you are cooped up in your RV all winter with no way to go outside and play. Pro Tip: Gloves are worth their weight in gold, maybe even more, diamond-studded gold. Cold-Weather Sleeping Bag - Having a warm place to sleep is important. And a sleeping bag graded for extremely cold weather will help with that. Hooded sleeping bags will trap heat and make sure you are warm and comfortable. Pro Tip: A heated blanket can be the difference between being warm enough and being downright toasty.
Fish - It is important to make sure you have consumed enough calories to last you the winter. We suggest catching fish straight from your local stream, but it is also possible to scavenge from campsites in your area if you are unable to meet a caloric minimum. Pro Tip: Waiting at the top of a small fall, where fish have to jump out of the water, makes it easier to catch them without having to get your paws too wet in the process. This is especially important after your winter coat begins to grow in, which can take a long time to dry without the sun and heat of the spring. Wind-Proof Shelter - A cave would be perfect here, but any locale that protects you from snow and cold winds will work. Provided you have eaten enough fish prior to the winter, your natural insulation will keep you warm enough to wake rested and relaxed once spring rolls around again.
Put a skirt on your RV: We mentioned the RV skirt in the above section, but make sure you use it properly. You might even consider putting a small heater beneath your RV to keep the underside of your vehicle warm and ice-free, which will help regulate the temperature inside as well. Protect your pipes: Any pipe with water in it is prone to freeze once the temperatures drop. You always want to do everything you can to prevent this. Heat tape is one of the most effective ways of keeping your pipes safe, as well as using heated hoses and keeping the inner workings of your RV warm throughout the season. Your pipes bursting is at best the end of your adventure, at worst a nightmare. Even a 900-lb grizzly wouldn't want to go anywhere near a burst black water tank. With this in mind, you also want to keep your gray tank closed. While it is normally acceptable to leave them open during a warmer trip, letting the cold air in will only encourage more rapid freezing. Which, I repeat, is a bad thing. Keep your propane full: Propane will be a primary source of heat for you throughout the winter. It is vital that you keep a watchful eye on the levels in your tank so your tanks don't run dry, which is the last thing you want to happen in the middle of a cold, winter evening. Pro Tip: You can keep an eye on your propane levels with a GasStop found here. Protect the exterior of your RV: This is where your shovel comes in. When snow builds up around your RV, it can turn to ice, which can damage the exterior of your RV. This is especially bad when it happens on your RV roof and the damage causes the roof to leak. Parking your RV under a large tree or other cover can help minimize this naturally. But that isn't a substitute for clearing it off manually. It is best to regularly keep snow buildup away from your RV to ensure safe functioning throughout the season. Don't forget your engine: When the temperatures plummet, it is also vital to protect your RV's engine. Make sure your batteries are maintaining a charge, and make sure the engine antifreeze is at least 50% concentration. Consider purchasing an engine block heater to warm up your engine for 4-5 hours in especially cold climates before starting up your RV. Protect against moisture: Being cold is bad, we can almost all agree on this point. Being cold and wet is the recipe for an awful experience. With the heat inside of your RV and the cold temperatures outside, you are very likely to have condensation on the interior of your RV. Try to leave the roof vents or door open when cooking, and run a dehumidifier regularly to keep moisture from developing. This is less of a problem if you're sleeping in a damp cave, but mold developing inside of your camper can add a litany of health concerns on top of the harsh conditions. Remember, moisture is the enemy. Monitor your batteries: You will likely be using significantly more power in the winter (those space heaters won't power themselves, unfortunately). And when temperatures drop below freezing, batteries are at risk. Make sure your batteries are fully charged, and that you maintain a fully charged spare. A drained battery is more likely to freeze, rendering it unusable. We suggest storing spare batteries inside of your RV to make sure they are not negatively impacted by the temperature. Pro Tip: Consider a battery monitor like the one found here to make sure you have an up-to-the-minute reading on your power.
Excessive heat loss: We've already gone over the insulation of your RV. But make sure you keep doors and windows closed as much as possible. Remember, the best way to heat up your RV is to maintain the heat it already has. Forgetting gloves: Much of what your RV needs to keep functioning throughout the winter requires you to go outside. If you've ever tried to scrape ice off your car windshield without gloves, you understand why these are important. Pro Tip: If you don't know what this feels like, try filling up a pair of oven mitts with bees, and then putting those oven mitts on and trying to tie your shoes. This will simulate the stinging pain and inability to utilize your fingers for fine motor functions. Pro Pro Tip: DO NOT ACTUALLY STICK YOUR HANDS IN BEE GLOVES! Traveling with tires that have insufficient tread: Being out in the winter because you choose to be can be great. Being out in the winter because you have no way to leave is terrifying. Make sure that you are able to travel in the weather you are camping in. Traveling while it's snowing: Believe it or not, sometimes staying put is the safest bet. If you are prepared to stay warm in your RV, then it can be much more dangerous to try to drive while it is still snowing. The last thing you want is to prepare properly for a harsh winter, only to wreck your RV in an automotive accident. Wait until the snow has stopped for a day or so before you decide to travel.
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