Winter Camping
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10750
Printed Date: 17 May 2024 at 4:26pm
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Topic: Winter Camping
Posted By: HANSONS
Subject: Winter Camping
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2017 at 8:50pm
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------------- Karen and Joel Hanson 2016 RPOD 179 |
Replies:
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2017 at 9:17pm
Must be a white-out.  Please try again. Also, welcome! We have a 2016 RP-179 also.
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: HANSONS
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2017 at 9:36pm
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Yes it was a white out. We are moving to Sequim Washington and will be staying at an RV park over the winter since our house will not be ready until next summer. The winters don't appear to be too bad here and we figured we needed to put insulation or film over our windows to help retain the heat inside. Also need to put a cover over the water line going into the trailer as well as insulating the hose. Not sure if we need to put skirting around the trailer or not. The temperatures during the winter here average high 40's to low 50's during the day and around freezing at night. Not sure what else we need to do but any tips would be really helpful. Karen H ------------- Karen and Joel Hanson 2016 RPOD 179 |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2017 at 11:11pm
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You'll be okay at the temps you describe without any special prep. You can get into the 20s at night as long as it warms up into the 40s during the day. Sustained temps in the 20s will get worrisome. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: DavMar
Date Posted: 04 Oct 2017 at 7:06pm
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You might want to look into heating pads for your holding tanks but most likely unless you have a deep freeze I would think you'll be okay with just insulating your water intake line. Best of luck! ------------- Dave & Marlene J with Zoey the wonder dog. 2017 Rpod 180 2016 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 Lexington, NC |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 04 Oct 2017 at 8:41pm
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+1 on no special prep needed since you say daytime temps will be well above freezing. Plus, you will be running the furnace or some other form of heating. That will help also. We've made a couple of winter trips and found that as long as it is not prolonged freezing temps, the R-Pods handle it well enough. Edit: You may want to get a roll of the insulation that looks like reflective faced bubble wrap at you local Lowe's or Home Depot store. Cut sections to fit the windows and slide them in behind the shades. It will help for when it does get cold. I also put some insulation underneath the bed platform. It seemed to help also. See my mods for details. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 05 Oct 2017 at 8:15am
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+1 to SH on insulating windows, especially bed area. That makes a big difference. Would also look at a ceramic heater and definitely a heated water hose. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: HANSONS
Date Posted: 05 Oct 2017 at 10:19am
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Is there a way to insulate under the large cabinet under the cook top and the cabinet near the fridge?
------------- Karen and Joel Hanson 2016 RPOD 179 |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 05 Oct 2017 at 4:06pm
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If there is a will there's a way, I haven't looked at my TT, but would ask why you think you need to do that? Just asking. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: HANSONS
Date Posted: 05 Oct 2017 at 4:45pm
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It's an area where there is a lot of cold air. We were at 37 this morning and when I went under there to pull out items it was pretty cold. Just trying to think of all the ways to keep cold out and the warm air in.
------------- Karen and Joel Hanson 2016 RPOD 179 |
Posted By: RobnCari
Date Posted: 05 Oct 2017 at 5:43pm
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+2 On SH suggestion of using Reflectix (brand name) also if you don't want the inside blacked out during the day use clear on the windows. Mist the windows with water and it will stick right on. You could try using Reflectix under the cabinets or cut Styrofoam insulation to fit (floor and outside walls) You could just leave the cabinets open a bit at night when it gets really cold. ------------- 2006 Toyota Tacoma 4WD AC 2018 RP 179 |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 05 Oct 2017 at 6:07pm
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THANKS, I'll look at that and if I have an idea will post. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 05 Oct 2017 at 7:05pm
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One of the first mods we did on our 177 back in 2011 was to take out that ugly curtain, yeah, the one you couldn't open or close easily and replaced it with a 2x cell insulated shade that can be pulled down or pushed up. Makes a huge difference keeping the cold out. Purchased a couple plastic pins and screwed them into the wall below the window then drilled a couple 1/8" holes in the bottom of the shade bracket so that it would lay tight up against the wall/window area when in the down position.
------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: HANSONS
Date Posted: 05 Oct 2017 at 8:29pm
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That's a good idea may have to try that modification next year. We purchased some of the 3M Film for windows that people used up in Minnesota for windows and will seal all the windows that way. We figured that way we'd still have light in the trailer. Won't do that until we get into the final park for the winter the end of this month.
------------- Karen and Joel Hanson 2016 RPOD 179 |
Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2017 at 1:54pm
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The fridge will be an issue; it an absorption fridge (ammonia) and doesn't like freezing weather. Make sure to insulate the vents and leave just a small hole (1/3 of a louvre) at the top. If its regularly below freezing, you'll have to put a 60 watt incandescent bulb back there as well to provide heat. Your tanks will definitely be an issue. Definitely skirt. If it snows, pile the snow up against the skirt for better insulation. You may end up having to put a 100 watt incandescent bulb under there. You valves will freeze. Expect it. Wrap 'em in heat tape. Your fresh water hose and sewage hose will freeze. Keep the fresh water hose in the trailer, take it outside only to connect to the tap and fill your fresh tank. Then, disconnect it and bring it back inside. Ideally, you'd do the same with the sewage hose, but that'd reek. Instead, leave it connected. Make sure there are no dips where water can collect (use a slinky stand). Do not leave your valves open - only open them to dump and then close them again. And, of course, run fridge and hot water on electric only. Propane, insulation, exhaust gas, and living people do not mix well. Tape down the propane switches and mark them clearly as DO NOT USE just in case someone other than you thinks that using propane might be a good idea. Oh - put a layer of reflectex under the bed and behind the dinette cushions. After a few very cold nights, you may also want to consider putting a layer around the bed and up the bedroom walls about 3'. An electric blanket is also an excellent idea. And a night cap (both of the wooly and alcoholic types). *** To be honest, unless you're very hearty and feeling adventurous, I'd suggest finding an alternate arrangement. Wintering in an r-pod is going to be tough at times. A long-term stay at a cheap hotel, cooking on a 2-burner cooktop may not sound like a great idea... but its not *that* bad. ------------- Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150 |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2017 at 6:03pm
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+1 I can do winter camping, and have done it for a few days, but not for an extended period as you plan on doing. As Craig well states: "It's not *that* bad.
------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: Live2Camp
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2017 at 6:17pm
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The coldest I've camped in was 12F inside my shelter, no heater, and solo. Very warm layers and bedding (my guy wasn't there, luckily I had the right-rated sleeping bags!). Last year I camped solo in 27F, have camped in high 20s and 30sF many times. These are nighttime temps, and then 30sF and 40s and even 50s during the day. I would not have wanted to be dealing with systems in those temperatures, not even a propane heater, for fear that something would burst or break or freeze or what-have-you. I really value having equipment that can keep me warm without needing batteries or propane (love those camp stoves though for heating water and food!). I think it's a matter of really learning the systems on your trailer, using the advice here (I'm putting Outbound's & others info here in my RPod binder) and practicing. My sweetheart knows a lot more about dealing with equipment & water pipes & such in winter being from a really cold state originally, so that will help to. So I guess if it were me, being adventurous, I'd start out in the trailer using the advice shared here, and then move to a motel if needed. Or do a back & forth thing to break it up. Not much help I realize! I bet you'll figure it all out and all will be well. ------------- 2017 R-Pod 179 HRE (the green one) His:Ford F150 double cab 4WD; Hers/mine:Tacoma V6 double cab 4WD Still love rugged, diggin' comfy too |