ECO718QB
The Road
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Joined: 08/17/2009
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Wow! There is A LOT of information here regarding winterizing but I still have a few questions regarding full-time camping here in Denver in the winter. I have a new 19' TT with no underbelly insulation and fairly small holding tanks. Cherry Creek State Park has heated water faucets in their winter loops. Campground workers/hosts have indicated that if I insulate the water hose from faucet to unit and keep the interior warmed and, perhaps, keep the water dripping during freezing days that I should be just fine all winter. They did say that they would recommend NOT keeping water in my fresh water holding tank, i.e. just use city water (from the heated faucets). Does anyone who has experience winter camping in Denver think that I should worry about the grey/black tanks when being used?? And/or my FW holding tank when not being used?? The TT has been winterized; therefore, if I decide to use it full-time this winter and, if I don't plan to use the FW holding tank, can I flush everything except the FW tank and simply leave the plug open on it??
I'd appreciate any first-hand information available. I certainly don't want to damage my new home!
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JTMO
Novato, CA
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With an open underbelly at 5000+ feet in winter you are going to be in a drafty box eating up a lot of energy to keep it warm enough to not freeze the pipes.
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nny12972
NY
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Joined: 10/25/2006
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Denver, CO Average Temperature
Month Low High
Jan 15.2°F 43.2°F
Feb 19.1°F 47.2°F
Mar 25.4°F 53.7°F
Apr 34.2°F 60.9°F
May 43.8°F 70.5°F
Jun 53.0°F 82.1°F
Jul 58.7°F 88.0°F
Aug 57.4°F 86.0°F
Sept 47.3°F 77.4°F
Oct 35.9°F 66.0°F
Nov 23.5°F 51.5°F
Dec 16.4°F 44.1°F
It doesn't matter WHERE you winter camp, but the TEMPERATURE does matter! (Your average winter temps are only about 2-3 degrees cooler than mine here in NNY.)
Trying to tell you if your rig will do alright is like trying to tell if it's gonna' rain on the 4th of JUly next year! Too many variables---you gottta' adjust your water/heating habits for the temp and heating in your rig, and your useage. As mentioned, you ARE gonna' use a whole lot of HEAT to stay alive & keep water lines from freezing!!!!!
FW tank will be OK with a gallon or two of RV antifreeze to keep it damp.
GW tank could go either way depending on temp. May need some pink stuff if you don't empty it regularly and it's cold....how cold? Depends on what you put in the tank...wind chill (how fast it cools to ambient temp), and how long it sits there.
BW tank is OFTEN OK, but won't hurt to add pink stuff when it's very cold/windy.
MAJOR DANGER is your FW water lines and tub/shower traps---maybe even sink traps.....I'd sure be keeping cabinets with water lines open & heated....also try to insulate water lines from floor and wall locations---you may be able to add a new heat duct to under-cabinet spaces.
At 15 degrees, I'd be disconnecting the park water line and draining the hose. You're gonna' have to keep water running---not just dripping, to keep it from freezing.
J
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Rolling Condo
South Carolina
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Here are some links to products and reading information that I've collected on winter camping:
Reflectix Insulation: Reflectix
Heating pads for your tanks: Ultraheat
Since you are in Colorado: RV Skirting
DIY Skirting: Airforums Skirting
Heat Trace:Heat Trace Cables
Now, for your reading pleasure the following links:
4SCF Winter Camping Tips & Tricks
Sunline Club Forum Winter Upgrades
RV Living Winter
Keeping Warm
Happy Vagabonds
Surviving the Winter
By Example
RV Living
Best of luck to you on your preparations.
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txdutt
Parker CO
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invest in a couple of thermostatically controlled electric heaters, you'll be burning thru a bunch of propane if you depend solely on your furnace--your water heater will be working overtime as well as the water coming in from the connection will probably be around 40degrees or so... be prepared!!
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eddeeeee
colorado
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Yes, you can just use the heated camp supply line and leave the plug open in your holding tank. Just make sure you have no other waterlines running under your trailer ( like low point drains ) or exterior showers that might be outside of the insulated and heated envelope.
With the sun in Denver in the winter, even if the high temperature is 20 degrees, your trailer will probably be plenty warm in the sun during the day, but will quickly lose heat as the sun goes down. Your tanks underneath are still going to be sitting in 20 degree air, however and will freeze. Leaving the water to trickle will leave a small trail of flowing water but because of the cold tank, it will have ice all around and will probably clog easily when you try to flush something down it. Think of a small stream in the winter. It is completely surrounded by ice but has a small channel big enough to allow the average flow of water to flow. Also, you aren't really supposed to leave the tank valves open all the time anyway. Get some tank heaters on there and wrap the valves with heat tape. Also, wrap the water supply hose with heat tape. Just insulating it will not work as insulation only slows the heat loss, it doesn't end it. If you turn the water off at night, it will be frozen by morning. If you leave it running with your tank valves closed, you will have overflowing tanks by morning.
Hopefully you will be here when we have our 60 degrees days in January and not when we have 36 hours below zero with a blizzard.
If nothing works and you are frozen in, the Emerald Isle bar is just outside the entrance to the state park and will warm your spirits.
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westernrvparkowner
montana
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Your problems are not going to come from the average highs and lows, they will come from the extremes you WILL face. In Denver, you will face an extended period of below Zero temperatures. That will cause freezing in any unheated line and may even freeze some lines with heat tape if they are not properly insulated as well. Any lines running along the walls of the RV will also be subject to freezing. RVs are not built for long term stays in extreme cold. If the park allows skirting, by all means get some up and then insulate and heat the area. In my opinion, you are asking for trouble to full time in an inadequately insulated travel trailer.
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Rolling Condo
South Carolina
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Found a thread back on here that you might find helpful Adding Insulation
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ECO718QB
The Road
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Thanks to all of you. This has been a great help as I face being in Denver full-time for the winter. Much appreciated!!
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Mile-High-Endura
Colorado
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Is there a reason for staying at Cherry Creek and not an RV park with full hook ups? Monthly rates at an RV park or mobile home park might be worth looking in to.
Jeff
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