Winter RV Camping

If you’re an avid RV camper, you likely spend many summer months exploring and enjoying the great outdoors in your recreational vehicle—but what about winter? Winter RV camping can be a fun experience but it does come with some unique challenges and risks, which means you have to take special safety precautions if you plan on hitting the road in freezing temperatures. If you want to brave the cold this winter, consider using these five tips for safely enjoying winter RV camping in extreme cold temperatures.

 

5 Tips For Successfully Winter RV Camping In Extreme Cold

How To Pick The Right Motorhome

When planning a winter camping trip it’s important to be prepared. One of your first purchases should be a quality motorhome with four-wheel drive and good clearance, that way you can maneuver through deep snow without getting stuck or damaging your investment. To further protect your investment you should also make sure it has winter tires with aggressive tread for extra grip.

Finally, installing a portable heater will help keep everything warm and toasty during those frigid nights outdoors. If you do all these things then you’re ready for a successful winter RV trip in cold weather.

 

How To Protect Yourself Against Extreme Cold Weather

Proper preparation is essential when winter camping in extreme cold. If you are uncomfortable, not prepared or not wearing proper clothing, then your chances of suffering frostbite and hypothermia can be increased dramatically. Here are a few tips to help you prepare for a safe and enjoyable winter camping experience.

Proper care of yourself in order to enjoy all that nature has to offer during these colder months. With these simple steps it is possible to keep yourself safe from hypothermia and frostbite while having fun during those chilly nights.

1. Dress in layers: This is a very important factor when winter camping in extreme cold weather. Layers will help trap warm air and keep you warmer than wearing one heavy layer of clothing that could potentially cause moisture to build up on your skin, which could lead to hypothermia or frostbite.

It is also a good idea to dress in layers that are easy to remove if you become too hot and sweaty while hiking or doing other activities during your trip. When you start feeling hot, take off a layer or two so you can cool down without being uncomfortable from sweating heavily inside all of your clothing.

2. Avoid cotton clothing: While cotton is a popular choice for clothing during warmer months, it is not a good idea to wear while winter camping in extreme cold weather. Cotton absorbs moisture and takes a long time to dry out once it gets wet, which can lead to hypothermia or frostbite if you are not careful.

Try wearing synthetic fabrics such as polypropylene or wool instead of cotton for warmth and comfort during your trip. It is also a good idea to bring along extra clothes that you can change into if you get wet from rain or snow so you can stay warm and comfortable throughout your trip without having to worry about getting sick from being cold and wet at night.

3. Keep yourself dry: If you are going to be outside hiking, skiing or doing other activities during your winter camping trip, then you need to make sure that you do everything possible to keep yourself dry. This means dressing properly with waterproof layers and using waterproof gear when necessary. You should avoid touching snow directly with your skin because it will cause moisture on your skin and could lead to hypothermia or frostbite if you are not careful.

4. Stay active: Another important tip for staying safe while winter camping in extreme cold weather is staying active by doing fun activities like hiking, cross-country skiing or even playing games together with friends around the campfire at night.

 

How To Stay Warm Inside Your RV

Staying warm and comfortable inside an RV is crucial when you’re in extreme cold. If you live in a climate with really cold winters, you’ll have no choice but to winterize your rig, but even if you do that, heat loss can still be significant – after all, everything on your roof and outside will be exposed to brutal temperatures.

Even though RVs are designed to withstand those temps without any damage; they are not designed for comfort living during the winter months. So what should you do?

Here’s what we recommend…

1) Insulate your pipes: Insulating your pipes is critical if you want to keep them from freezing over. Use insulating tape or some other insulation product designed for outdoor use. This step alone could save you from costly repairs later down the road.

2) Drain grey water tank: Draining grey water before winterizing also prevents potential problems, so don’t forget to drain it!

3) Put antifreeze in fresh water tanks: Putting antifreeze into fresh water tanks helps prevent freezing, which would cause irreparable damage to your plumbing system.

4) Add extra propane: Adding extra propane is always a good idea because it makes sure you won’t run out of fuel at an inconvenient time.

5) Add stabilizer: Adding stabilizer helps prevent gas from becoming unusable due to temperature changes and moisture buildup (which happens often).

 

How To Keep The Tires From Freezing

The most important task of preparing your car for winter is to check tire pressure. If your tires are inflated to proper pressures, they will be better able to maintain contact with slippery surfaces (such as ice or packed snow) and grip more effectively. Use a gauge to be sure of tire pressure before heading out on an extended trip in cold weather conditions.

Keeping all four tires at recommended levels is critical; uneven tread wear can occur if only one or two tires are underinflated by several pounds per square inch (PSI). This can reduce the effectiveness of antiskid features in modern cars, and make handling more difficult. In addition, unevenly worn tires produce a harsh ride for passengers, especially on wet pavement.

If you know that you’ll be heading through an area where there is likely to be snow, call ahead and speak with someone in charge of that area’s road conditions. Perhaps they can tell you how many plows will be out on what roads or if some routes are likely to become impassable without chains or four-wheel drive. If you’re headed for higher elevations, ask about possible icy spots above certain altitudes. Also learn where their snow chain requirement zones are located so that if necessary, you can avoid them when parking or driving through at lower speeds.

 

How To Plan Ahead When Traveling Through A Snow Storm

Planning ahead for an unexpected snow storm is critical to a safe and successful winter RV camping trip. We strongly recommend that you always carry a minimum of five gallons of extra water in winter, especially if you plan to travel through areas known for heavy snow fall.

The best way to keep your mind at ease during inclement weather is by remaining prepared. By following these few tips, there’s no reason why anyone should not have a fun and safe time during their next winter RV camping excursion.