Finding the one idiot in the camp ground

Throttle96,

 

My trailer wasn't setup for winter camping, and wasn't expecting to do it this time.   So a bit of preperation would have made things easier.

 

This is what I did, when things started getting a little nippy.  I left my fresh water tank dry and hooked up to city water.   Left sink dripping just at a slow drip to keep fresh water line from freezing.    (made a run into town for quick supplies)   I put RV antifreeze into the grey and black water tanks, and filled up the black and grey tanks to about 1/2 full to give them enough water mass to resist freezing at night.   Each night when I went to bed, put a just a bit more rv antifreeze into the shower drain and sink drain, just out of paranoia to keep the P-traps from potentially freezing.    My water pump etc is under the sink (on the 172), so left cabinet door  open a bit to allow air circulation.     Using a roll of black plastic I picked up at the local hardware store, I made a makeshift plastic skirt around the base of the trailer (from the floor to the ground) around the trailer.   This was my attempt to keep heat in around tanks and pipes.   It seemed to keep it about 5 degrees warmer.    I also tried to keep interior as warm as I could 70ish, as that kept everything else warm.    I had previously replaced metal blinds with cellular blinds, which made a big difference.   With blinds closed there was very little "draft" from cold windows.

 

I have put a dual tank setup on my 172, so regulator is now in a different spot and sheltered.   On a stock R-POD you would want to put a foam cover (the ones that go on faucets work well) to keep ice from building up on regulator and having it possibly freeze.

 

Alot of this was very makeshift on the spot.   In a previous trailer life I had 12v heating panels (built for RV's) under the tanks, and had insulated the water lines, and had a prebuilt canvas skirt and would hang a 40w drop light (hooked to a GFCI) under the frame to keep air warm under trailer.

 

Hope that helps.

 

I have been going up to the wallowa valley over over 30 years now.   Have learned all the good places to fish, eat, and sleep which pretty much covers all my essentials.    Alot of good fishing up there along the river once you get to know the folks.    Beautiful country with a lot of generous and friendly people.

 

Based on your needs I would tend to agree.   Two batteries up front and a second LP tank in storage seems to make sense.    I have seen quite a few boondockers carry a spare LP tank in the shower while traveling, then chain it to the trailer outside when they camp.   Since you are looking to use a second tank just for BBQ and not for the trailer, that might be a good option.   But if you have room in the bed of the truck, I have a feeling that is even more convenient.    Check out the  tank bases that makes it easier to keep tanks from moving around while you have them in a bed of a truck or in a shower. 

 

My 172 started off with a bit lower dry hitch weight of 179,  so had a bit more room to start with when it came to adding weight to tongue.