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Open Roads Forum  >  Public Lands, Boondocking and Dry Camping

 > Prevent tanks from freezing while dry camping

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PatriciaHVAC

New York

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Posted: 08/10/08 08:50pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I am new to RVing. I purchased a used A class motorhome. My plan is to camp in and around NYC. My concern is how to keep the tanks from freezing.

JUrban

Delaware

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Posted: 08/10/08 09:01pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Not sure what you got, but most Class A's have a portion of their rear heat going to the wet bay and the tank areas. A few also have electric blankets on the tanks. Check and see what you have.

A trick we use is to put a LaCrosse remote temperature sensor in the wet bay/tank area so we can monitor the temp. If you have 110V power (not boondocking) a bulb in these compartments also works.

John


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Rolling Condo

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Posted: 08/10/08 09:19pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I really don't see how you can dry camp and keep your tanks from freezing. You can insulate your tanks using foam insulation panels and spray foam and add Ultra Heat tank heaters that will operate off 12V but that will require batteries with a substantial amp hour capacity to operate them and then the batteries would require charging.


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nny12972

NY

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Posted: 08/11/08 05:19am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Please get back to us in January-February....really curious just where you'll be "dry camping" in and around NYC......
J

F-TROUP

VISALIA, CALIF

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Posted: 08/13/08 01:41pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

PatriciaHVHC said they were new to RVing,so maybe Central Park is looking good to them as a boondocking area.........what do you think nny12972....LOL

WKAYL

Loveland, Colorado

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Posted: 08/13/08 08:27pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I put heat tape on my drain tubes. First I spiraled the tape around the pipes. I then wrapped them with aluminum foil following that with foam tape. I run my generator when it gets around 25deg to keep things from freezing. I have camped (hunting in the Rockies in October) in the teens and even down to 6deg one night without any problems.


There is no place to boondock in Colorado. Repeat after me, there is no place to boondock in Colorado.
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Sun-Seeker

Illinois

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Posted: 08/18/08 06:50am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Regular automotive antifreeze works great too. I use 1 gallon in each tank. Sometimes a bit expensive, but well worth the cost.

garyhaupt

Kitimat, BC, Canada, Mile '0' of Alaska HiWay #37

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Posted: 08/18/08 08:04am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

As posted..anti-freeze. The stuff made for RV's is best, it is NON-toxic. The automotive stuff is. If you had a small drip around the valves and an animal found it, it'd kill it. The other ting you can do is throw a cup full of rock salt into the tanks. The salt is hard on the valves tho, so most would favour the anti-freeze. If you are really boondocking during a cold spell, put a cup full down each sink too, each night. Get it into the p-traps.



Gary Haupt

Matthew_B

The boonies near Dallas, Oregon

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Posted: 08/18/08 10:00am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

garyhaupt wrote:

As posted..anti-freeze. The stuff made for RV's is best, it is NON-toxic. The automotive stuff is. If you had a small drip around the valves and an animal found it, it'd kill it.


No, it's not that toxic. It's sweet, so animals will drink a bunch. A few drips won't do them in.





bananadanna

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Posted: 08/20/08 06:43pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Matthew_B wrote:

garyhaupt wrote:

As posted..anti-freeze. The stuff made for RV's is best, it is NON-toxic. The automotive stuff is. If you had a small drip around the valves and an animal found it, it'd kill it.


No, it's not that toxic. It's sweet, so animals will drink a bunch. A few drips won't do them in.


1-2 teaspoons of ethylene glycol may kill a cat, 3-4 tablespoons a medium size dog:
antifreeze poisoning


Dan
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