Name of Blog

Author :Blog Editor in RV Tips & Education

As the warm summer days give way to the cool, crisp all months it’s time to start thinking about preparing your RV for winter. Even if you are staying in an area that stays pretty balmy throughout the year, you can’t really depend on that – look at the past few winters in Florida and California. Even those states had some pretty chilly weather, albeit they were brief. Plus, temps can really drop at night no matter where you are.

I will say, I love fall; it’s my favorite time of year. It means I can open my windows and let cool, fresh air in. It means I can turn off the AC. It also means that many of the tourists around here have gone home so things are somewhat quieter. It’s nice. It is finally getting cool here in South Carolina and we will likely sit tight, at least until spring, but even here it is prudent to winterize your RV.

It is at this point that you need to decide if camping season is over for you. For us full-timers, that isn’t an option. We’re in it for the long haul.

Most RVs are not built for winter living. They typically don’t have very good insulation so if you are spending the winter in your RV (even in a so-called warmer climate) you will have to make a few preparations.

Windows
Your windows usually won’t do much to keep cold air out but sealing your windows helps. Shrink wrap is a popular, economical way to help insulate your windows. Other methods include Plexiglas, foam board, insulation sheets, and wood. If the temperature drops a lot, we put insulation sheets on most of our windows. It works quite well. I would imagine thermal curtains and plain ole duct tape and blankets would work in a pinch.

Cover drafty gaps.
Look around your RV for places where cold air can sneak in and warm air can escape. The doorframe can be a pretty big culprit, but vents can cause drafts as well. Compartments can also trap cold air, making it more difficult to heat. Sealing the smaller areas helps. Insulation and weather stripping is pretty effective, but foam spray also works in a pinch. In one RV nightmare we had we hung a blanket over the door because there were no seals and the air just blew in all the time. The blanket helped.

Heat
RV heaters are usually not the most economical or efficient heating methods. Our unit has propane heat with an electric fan (as do many RVs). This works great when you just want to “take the chill off,” but when you need to actually heat the place it can get crazy expensive having to go buy propane all the time.

We use a couple of approved UL heaters and they work fine. I keep a couple of sweatshirts and some blankets in the cabinet so if one of us gets chilly we can layer up or throw a blanket over our legs.

The thing you want to make sure of with electric heaters is that they don’t overload your circuits. Also, make sure it has auto shut-off if it gets tipped over. If electric is not included in your spot fee you’ll also want to make sure it doesn’t put your bill through the roof. Even if electric is included in your spot fee it is still a good idea to be conservative with electricity usage.

Propane heaters are another option, but make sure you have proper ventilation. Propane can cause condensation and create fumes so that is a consideration before using a propane heater.

Water and Sewer Lines
Your water and sewer lines can freeze if you haven’t properly winterized your RV. If you’re staying put through the winter, like we are, it just adds some things to our daily routine like filling and emptying the freshwater tank every day.

You protect your hoses similar to how you would protect pipes in a house. Use foam insulation and if you know temps will be dropping overnight, let the faucet drip. When you wrap the hose, also wrap the connecting points and even the faucet.

Sewer lines should slope down to ensure that they drain properly. I’ve seen some full-timers use PVC instead of the regular slinky sewer lines. It is a hardier, more weather resistant material so we may look into it. We keep the valves closed and empty the black water tank daily which also helps.

Consider RV antifreeze ad insulation to keep everything protected.

I’ve also seen some full timers put plywood around the outside of their RV, sealing off the underside. This will keep the frigid wind from blowing underneath which will also help with retaining heat inside.

In the end, you have to do what works for you. If you aren’t sure what the RV winterizing best practices are in your area, ask other campers in the park where you are staying, especially if they have wintered in that area before.

What are your best RV winterizing tips? I’d love to hear them! Stay warm folks!