Winter camping?

Leedawg84 · 10-14-2015, 11:51 AM

What's the coldest weather you have camped in. Wife and I were thinking of taking the 17z out with full hook up for chrismas in Julian CA might be around 20degrees at night. How was it if did camp in that cold?

mike837go · 10-14-2015, 12:05 PM

I've tent camped with my son's Boy Scout troop down to 'frosty morning' on a couple of occasions. We also did waterless cabins down to where the thermometer started cussing.

Knowingly take a water filled RV to 20F? Sorry, I don't like making that many repairs.

Although some neighbors with houses built near our campground have invited me for a Superbowl party. So, there is lots of mind-changing going on at the moment.

DocBrown · 10-14-2015, 12:28 PM

Lowest temp in our old hybrid ('03 Kiwi 17a) was 28f at night in West Yellowstone, MT. We had these temps in early June and early Sept. We had snow on the June trip. We were toasty warm but the furnace did run almost constantly. We went through a 20 lb tank in less than 5 nights.

Leedawg84 · 10-14-2015, 12:47 PM

Thanks for the reply. Did your water lines freeze. Camping would be 3-4 nights so I should be OK on propane I hope

Russ661 · 10-14-2015, 12:48 PM

I was not in my current coach but an older 2008 model Orbit when I went hunting and camped at about 7500 feet elevation in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. The temperature got down to 18° fahrenheit yet I had no frozen pipes or other troubles.

charles_cincy · 10-15-2015, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leedawg84

What's the coldest weather you have camped in.

-55 f...windchill around -135 IIRC...and I was in a tent. http://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/im...s/facepalm.gif

Thank you United States Army Winter Warfare School.

As far as the trailer..we've only had ours for a year, never had it out below freezing. But my understanding...

Dipping down below freezing for a few hours a night should be ok..assuming daytime temps are 50 to 60. 12+ hours at 20 might be a problem without an arctic package.

Are you sure the CG even offers full hookups during the period? Most turn off the water for the winter.

**Crabman** · 10-15-2015, 09:08 AM

-4 in tents Scout camping last Winter in February. Yikes. 22 above in the Jayco is my lowest recorded temp, and we were nice and toasty.

CKinsella · 10-15-2015, 09:52 AM

Here's a good article on winter camping.
What You Need to Know to Take a Winter RV Camping Trip

DocBrown · 10-15-2015, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leedawg84

Thanks for the reply. Did your water lines freeze. Camping would be 3-4 nights so I should be OK on propane I hope

No. The ambient temp in the camper keep them from freezing. And during the day it was anywhere from 60-70 so it was not an issue. If temps are at or below freezing during the day you might have to leave the heat on all day. Then you'd go through a lot of propane. That's when it makes sense to get a space heater.

Hattie · 10-15-2015, 10:27 AM

We live in California where one camps year-around and generally don't have to worry about winterizing. Our TT has the Artic package and we have no fear of cold temperatures so long as our heater is working, we have hot coffee, and our foul-weather gear is handy. Relatives have camped in Yosemite Valley floor in December snow and we're headed there for the last week of October ~ so far (in our drought) it is pretty mild but without warning it can get nasty (freezing temps and rain or snow).

clubhouse · 10-15-2015, 11:40 AM

Last New Years we had a seriously cold snap in California. We had night time lows of 24* for 3 nights. We had full hookups, so we left the grey open and let the sink trickle. That little flow was enough to keep the FW hose from freezing, and the furnace kept the internal plumbing from freezing.

We don't have an enclosed underbelly nor any thermal package and everything was fine but it was cold. The biggest issue was cold air from the pass through storage entering around the bed. I stuffed towels to reduce it.

IceOnFire · 10-18-2015, 11:29 PM

We're going to Julian on Thanksgiving...we went last year it was low of 45, which is probably the coldest we ever camped. We wouldn't feel comfortable in our X23B if it was colder, which is why we are upgrading to a JayFlight with the thermal package.

TWP723 · 10-19-2015, 06:23 AM

Went to Harper's Ferry WVA this weekend for our annual Halloween camping. Got down to 32 degrees. Nothing a hot coffee drink and roaring fire can't handle!!

**norty1** · 10-19-2015, 06:51 AM

We are in Maggie Valley, NC this week. Just got here from Hiawassee, Ga yesterday. It has been below freezing for the last 3 nights. We had to disconnect the water last night but otherwise no change in habits.

I wish the dogs could walk themselves . LOL

Trophyduck · 10-20-2015, 06:31 AM

we were just camping in lows of 30. no problem......I'd like to know also what is a safe nightime/daytime temp range to take the x23b in. I'm thinking of hunting trips....

TWP723 · 10-20-2015, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trophyduck

we were just camping in lows of 30. no problem......I'd like to know also what is a safe nightime/daytime temp range to take the x23b in. I'm thinking of hunting trips....

I know people who take theirs on hunting trips. They just don't use water through the unit. They bring it in bottles or jugs. I would imagine it would fair well as long as water is not running through it.

Trophyduck · 10-20-2015, 06:44 AM

yeah, that makes sense....thanks

Trophyduck · 10-20-2015, 06:48 AM

were just at Harper's Ferry too (Brunswick Family Campground) We really liked it up that area......any recommendations on other campgrounds to check out....or avoid?

Jagiven · 10-20-2015, 06:48 AM

Tent camped at -20 degrees F, with the Boy Scouts many many moons ago.

In the HTT, about 20 degrees night time lows, with 40-50 degree highs. We typically see these conditions a few times a year. Last weekend we had one night about 25 degrees for the low and that day was cold and windy and only got up to about 40 degrees. No issues. Electric only hook ups. Bunk ends are cool, but we have electric mattress pad heaters, so they are not too bad. The electric heater was on all the time, at night we turned the furnace on as the electric this past weekend just could not keep up.

When it is 20 degrees at night, I open the cabinets that have plumbing inside them just to ensure some heat gets back to the pipes, to ensure they do not start freeze. I also try to keep the FW tank fairly full.

TWP723 · 10-20-2015, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trophyduck

were just at Harper's Ferry too (Brunswick Family Campground) We really liked it up that area......any recommendations on other campgrounds to check out....or avoid?

Harper's Ferry KOA is nice but you have to be careful about their sites. My last trip, they told me the site I was in would be fine for my trailer. I barely...and I mean barely fit. If you decide to go there, bump your length about 5 ft. Other than that, it's a real friendly, clean campground.

You may also like: