Once you consider RV dwelling within the winter… do not you image the snowbirds who journey South within the winter for delicate climate RV dwelling?
Properly, that is not us – we do issues a bit in another way from the norm – simply ask our household!
Our fulltime RV dwelling selection discovered us on the banks of the Missouri River the place we presently work as camphosts at a personal campground and are on the point of spend our third 12 months of winter tenting in Missouri the place the climate may be balmy in the future and brutal the subsequent.
A lot of individuals suppose we’re loopy… loopy for this way of life of fulltime RV dwelling, however even crazier for spending the winter in Missouri after we might be in Arizona or Florida or Texas the place the winters are heat and sunny.
Oh effectively – we’re accustomed to raised eyebrows!
We had those self same locations in thoughts till the campground proprietor employed us for the year-round job and we fell in love with the gorgeous setting on the banks of the Missouri River.
We determined winter tenting within the chilly and snow can be a brand new expertise so as to add to our adventurous fulltime RV dwelling journeys.
Perhaps it was the problem to determine learn how to comfortably survive RV dwelling in winter that drew us in, or perhaps it was the Universe telling us that it was time to vary our notion of winter.
(We’re massive time complainers of snow and chilly.)
Really, it was each!
Little did we understand that our first expertise of RV dwelling in winter climate would happen throughout the BLIZZARD of 2011!
Little did we understand how a lot our perspective can be tried and examined when the whole snowfall for the winter set a brand new report for our space… 43 inches to be precise!
Our preparations for RV dwelling in winter climate had been invaluable classes in survival. Our solely winter preparations earlier to this was to maintain the snow shovel and ice soften useful by the entrance door.
We spent hours Googling suggestions from different RVers. It took some digging to search out the fitting data since most suggestions for winterizing an RV centered on getting ready the RV for winter storage – not RV dwelling IN winter.
We made numerous journeys to Lowes, Westlakes, and Bass Professional to ask for help with our RV dwelling in winter undertaking. (once more, the raised eyebrows from the clerks who tried to assist us!)
Essentially the most invaluable useful resource of all was discovered at an area cell residence provider. It was there the solutions to all our questions had been answered by educated individuals who knew how and what and the place and why to guard our truck camper for RV dwelling throughout winter. Their options had been sensible and easy… they had been extremely keen about serving to the loopy couple who’ve this notion of RV dwelling in winter climate!
For starters, all the pipes, inside and outdoors that I may handle to achieve had been wrapped in foam pipe insulation. The empty areas across the pipes and holding tanks had been stuffed with insulation. The within ceiling vents had been lined with plastic to assist maintain the chilly air out. Straightforward to do – acquainted duties to any home-owner… and particularly important for RV dwelling in areas the place bitter chilly and snow and ice assault you for a number of months.
I learn a number of recommendations of protecting the home windows as effectively to maintain out the chilly, however simply could not convey myself to dam my view, particularly since I can look out my window and watch the river – it’s my saving grace whereas holed up inside whereas the snow flies and the temperatures plummet.
This sort of view is what makes RV dwelling so worthwhile.
We shortly discovered that for RV dwelling in winter climate, it was needed to guard our water provide and the sewer hose from freezing temperatures. With the assistance of the workers on the cell residence retailer, we designed a water hose from a small plastic pipe fitted with connections to the campground water pump and our camper. This pipe was wrapped in an electrical warmth tape, which was then wrapped in foam pipe insulation.
Our versatile sewer hose was inserted into a bigger PVC pipe for added insulation. It took a couple of tweaks to search out the fitting elbows for the pipe, however we did it! Now the skin hoses had been protected and we had a protected water provide for our first RV dwelling expertise with winter tenting!
These fixes labored nice to guard our water provide and sewer hose; however, after we unhooked every little thing to take a street journey, we quickly realized how “EXACT” our parking needed to be after we returned residence. It took a number of makes an attempt of backing up – pulling in a bit nearer – backing up – pulling to the fitting a bit extra – nope – angle it extra to the left… time and again till the pipes lined up excellent for reconnecting.
Usually, no massive deal to do that – however it was bitterly chilly that day. Simply one other a part of the method of studying the artwork of RV dwelling in winter climate.
As we started our second season of RV dwelling in Missouri’s winter, we appeared for different options that might assist us simply and shortly reconnect our hoses. We needed to discover extra flexibility.
Google looking got here via once more as we researched extra methods to outlive in winter climate. The following winter, our water hose was wrapped in heavy obligation aluminum foil, adopted by the warmth tape, adopted by the froth pipe wrap. We additionally bought a brilliant heavy obligation sewer hose that is ready to face up to frigid temps. Now we had flexibility! No extra inflexible pipes to reconnect after we arrive again on the campground.
One of the crucial treasured discoveries in getting ready for RV dwelling in winter was the electrical radiator heater. These heaters work effectively as a supplemental warmth supply in small areas and keep heat with out utilizing a lot electrical energy. As a result of pure convection distributes the warmth, there is no fan to make noise, making them extremely quiet. We did not must run the furnace always, by no means needed to fear about operating out of propane in the midst of the night time and waking as much as a chilly camper.
With all these fixes in place, the one massive downside we encountered for surviving RV dwelling in winter was condensation that constructed up beneath our mattress the place the chilly exterior air meets heat our bodies. (our mattress is over the cab of the pickup)
The answer?
Create an air area between the mattress and the ground of the mattress. I headed to Lowes with measurements in hand and requested for assist determining my loopy thought. Fortunately, I used to be helped by somebody who knew precisely what we wanted –
boards to make use of as slats and 1/2 inch foam board to put on high of the slats and beneath the froth mattress.
Now the air can flow into… and the most effective half is the froth board added safety from the chilly flooring of the mattress.
I AM a cheerful camper… RV dwelling within the winter is a bit of cake!
Two years in the past, we had been stocking up on meals and flicks and water as a result of the forecast known as for a blizzard! We had anticipated a lot of new adventures with RV dwelling and winter tenting, however, a blizzard was one thing we had by no means skilled! Nineteen inches of snow fell as we had been snuggled safely in our camper.
The following day, we had been like little children. We could not wait to get out and tromp round within the deep, deep snow that had drifts a number of toes deep.
If we had determined to take off that winter and settle into RV dwelling in sunny Florida, we might have missed the magical views of snow lined fields glowing like fairy mud within the gentle of a full moon, surrounded by stillness.
If we had headed South for the winter – positive, we may have performed on the nice and cozy, sandy seashores, however we might have missed sinking as much as our thighs in snow – similar to we did after we had been three years previous and three toes tall!
I might have missed that magical January morning after I headed to the river, wrapped in my sub-zero sleeping bag, digital camera and occasional in hand… and watched the wonderful dance of the gulls swooping and swirling with grace and majesty.
Full time RV dwelling is our life and our dream.
It offers us freedom. It additionally offers us alternatives to make the most effective of any state of affairs.
What’s that saying – when life offers you lemons, make lemonade?
Properly, for RV dwelling throughout the winter, when life offers you 19 inches of snow, you get to be a child once more!
Trending Merchandise
