Another season wrapped up
Cold weather camping has it's merits
By Cliff Maurand
Then there is a hearty bunch out there that live in moderate area's, it doesn't get real bad winter weather, just a milder form of it. It's this group of campers that will hang tough and butch it out. I guess I've joined the ranks of that bunch, living in coastal Virginia where winters are ever so mild, which has proven to be survivable as a full timer.
Winterizing for us is an entirely different animal than those that go through the pink liquid rituals. Here in South East Virginia, the weather can drop below freezing, and on a very rare occassion even snow a little... or as in 1981 it can actually snow a lot...extremely rare here! It helps to have a nice four season RV such as an Arctic Fox, but most people have learned how to make do with what they have.
There are two key issues here, both having something to do with not freezing. First of all is keeping the living area comfortable. This is easily done with a unit equipped with a ducted furnace, but the propane usage will be sureal. Utilizing some electric heaters to do most of the work is one way to go, and others elect to utilize ventless propane systems. I prefer the electric, as I've read too many stories in the paper about Rangers finding dead bodies inside a camper with a faulty furnace.
The other issue is keeping your plumbing system from freezing. Now this is going to take much less power as you only need to keep things above the freezing mark, and some effective low powered items are out there to help get the job done. Heat tape for the fresh water hose, then all wrapped up nicely with some foam pipe insulation. Don't forget the feed pipe and faucett...this too will need protection! Also, the waste tanks will require something, either an electric warmer, or some more heat tape! There is also a need to keep the waste valves from freezing too, it's difficult to operate them if they are frozen stiff.
Almost all of the things you need to do you can figure out for yourself, it takes just a little common sense and a few ounces of practicality to figure it all out!
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