Staying Warm During Winter in Your RV
Some RVers choose to store their campers during the winter season and only bring them out again come springtime, but you don’t have to be one of them! If you’d prefer to camp all year round, you can, provided you take some extra precautions to make sure that you’re staying toasty-warm in your RV. This will become a major necessity if you plan to travel to the Midwest, Northeast, Great Plains or Pacific Northwest regions in the United States, even if warmth is not as much of a concern for us here in the South. You can take advantage of some unique opportunities on winter trips, like going skiing, snowboarding, sledding or simply admiring a winter wonderland.
Razorback Camper Sales here in Hot Springs is your Arkansas RV dealer. Just in case you’re considering some trips up north this winter, here are our best tips for staying warm in your RV even when it’s freezing outside!
Add Insulation
Your RV probably comes with some insulation already, but you might want to add to it in order to keep out the cold in icier climes. You can put up window film to prevent cold air from transferring through the glass and put up heavier drapes to keep out the cold. Foam-board insulation underneath your RV can help protect your water system. An RV skirt can also keep out cold, but make sure your exhaust vents and tailpipe are free. Line your vents with foam to prevent heat from escaping, and look over your RV to find any gaps where the cold can creep in.
Obtain More Heat Sources
Your RV’s furnace may not be enough to keep you and your family warm. Cooking will provide some heat, but you may also want to get space heaters for bedrooms. You could hook up a propane heater to your furnace or get a pellet stove, too.
Protect Plumbing
One of the parts of your RV that is most vulnerable to freezing temperatures is your water system. You’ll want to prevent hoses and pipes from freezing. Adding heat strips can prevent water from freezing in your pipes, although if pipes run through your RV’s interior (cabinets and so forth) then they may stay warm enough without your help. Heated hoses are another option.
Insulate your waste valve and keep it closed when not in use, and consider adding antifreeze to your grey and black water tanks (but never to your freshwater tank). You may want to rely upon your freshwater tank if it’s in an insulated area of your RV, rather than trying to use outside water sources, which would need hoses.
Prepare For Emergencies
You never know when a crisis will strike, so it’s important to be ready. As always, your RV should have fire extinguishers, a first-aid kit, a repair kit, tire patches, signal flares and a hand-crank or battery-powered radio. But also make sure that you have plenty of warm clothing, additional blankets, water, food and portable power at hand in case of an outage (extra propane will be helpful).
Check on road and weather conditions before you head out each day. If things look dicey, it may be best to stay where you are rather than trying to drive through a winter storm or over icy roads.
These tips should help you to have successful winter trips and stay warm all season long. If you still need a camper for your upcoming fall and winter travels, stop by our dealership located in Hot Springs, Arkansas, to check out our current selection of new and used RVs for sale. We provide financing options to help you get the perfect camper. Razorback Camper Sales proudly serves Texarkana, Little Rock and Pine Bluff, Arkansas.