Hello to all, We are full time RVers. The past 3 years we have been winter Texans. This winter, due to family pressures we will be giving BC a try. Our choosen destination is Osoyoos, BC.
Can anyone tell me what we should expect and what special preparation should we do?
Having driven through Osoyoos in January, all I know is the lake was frozen. You are going to need a full winter package (all holding tanks heated) and a lot of propane.
HHmmm....there are more than a few parks in the Osoyoos area. I'd be calling around to find one open all year round. You'll want a full service park for power and water. It's the power mostly, for heaters and a dehumidifier. And some skirting material. The wind will chill out your home in no time flat. The Okanagan is pretty dry in winter, as a rule. It will get down to a minus 10 or so, Celsius.
As was mentioned, a winter insulation package and thermopane windows or at the very least some of the thermal adhesive you put on your windows. Some heat tape for your outside water lines.
If you put some thought into it, you'll be a snug as bugs in a rug.
I've never been to BC, what is the weather like? Is it very cold, -0F and colder? Do you get a lot of snow, wind? Will you try to stay at someone's home or at a cg? Will any CG's be open? If you stay at a relative's home, where will you be able to dump your holding tanks?
We just spent the winter in northern IL, the coldest it got was -12F, but we had 60+ MPH winds with it, so it was really cold. We had the foil covered foam on several of the windows and heavy drapes. we We have a MH, with 4 inch foam skirting all around it, all of the cracks were sealed with expanding foam and 4 inch rigid foam on the slides. We also had electric heaters under the rig and in the hook up bay. We still had some freezing problems a couple of times, mostly the water side. I think the wind sucked the heat away from the hook ups.
We have a 100 gal propane tank hooked directly to the rig and we went through 4 tanks, about 1 per month. The last tank was 3.13 per gal., so it was starting to get expensive. We had to use the propane furnace as it forces heat down into the bays, plus we used 2 electric
heaters inside the MH.
I'm sure that wintering in BC is doable, but you will have to make sure you have skirting of some kind, heat tape on your pipes, make sure your windows are covered in some fashion. Also make sure you have proper clothing for yourself and your pets. Be prepared to use a lot of propane, I expect it will be very expensive this winter. Don't forget you will have to winterize your car also.
There have been several discussions on wintering in cold climates, so if you do a search, you will probably find lots of information.
One winter is enough for me, I will not do it again.
I would suggest lining the entire bottom of your unit with straw bails to 8 inches above the floor level. This will keep your floor warm and help with the heating issue.
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Osoyoos may be a popular choice as it boasts a mild winter temp and it seems to be the most southern snowbird destination without crossing the border. Try this RV spot.
There is also Vancouver Island which is warmer and usually has less of a snow fall then the rest of BC. Having said that the Island, in some areas had a heavier then normal snowfall last winter.
I know there is a year round campground in Oliver just up Hwy 97 a few Km.
Soup
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Forget straw bales. I don't think you will find a park that will allow this, however ridgid foam insulation is usually permitted. You really need to block the wind from blowing under your coach and of course you will need heat tapes and insulation on the utilities.
Propane companies in the area can rent you a pig (large tank) for your stay. we have a number of folks who winter here in Vernon each year at www.swanlakerecresort.com and they seem to manage okay with the above preperations. Some years can be better or worse than others, talking to the ones who stayed last winter it was not one of the better ones.
I live in Summerland; an hour north of Osoyoos.
The Nk'mip campground linked to above, is a popular spot for you Saskie's to winter on this side of the border. Many do stay there.
We DO get winter here. From the end of Oct to mid March, you can expect some snow and some freezing temps. No huge dumps, and temps from 0 to -15C. Having said that, I have also golfed Xmas day. You just don't know from one year to the next. You're not going to sit out in shirt sleeves tho.
If your unit has winterized tanks, you'll have no problem staying there. The other little things you may need, you can get locally.
Call the park. They will square you away.
If It was me, I'd head for Vancouver Island.
More rain, but it tends to be milder.
dunno about that - a "Flatlander" used to bright winter skies will be mighty depressed by 30 days of gray moist cloud cover
I happen to have webbed feet and grew up in the "gray room" playing all year but I have friends from out "east" IE anything beyond Hope BC and they can have issues with the gray days.
I'll let you know about the campground as we'll up there in a few weeks. Of course I hope to need AC not propane
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and they can have issues with the gray days.
