Winter camping...enlighten me

[Iraqvet05]

My son is playing on an upper level hockey team this winter and he will have tournaments in Des Moines, Omaha and Wichita. The DW asked if we could take the camper to these tournaments if the weather (snow) permitted. We have never camped in the dead of winter so I don't know if that's practical for a family of 4.

Most of the CGs in Kansas City close for the winter so I assume it maybe hard to find a CG open around those locations too. Des Moines, for example, has a KOA but their reservation calendar is greyed out past October. Assuming there are isolated CGs that maybe open, can I expect the enclosed underbelly on my TT to keep the water and waste tanks from freezing if I run the furnace? I think it would be more practical to stay in a hotel but I just need some advice.

[rodro123]

Boondocking is your answer. You will need a generator. As far as a bathroom stay at a 24 hour truck stop. They have showers and bathrooms.

[33 RLDS]

Originally Posted by rodro123

Boondocking is your answer. You will need a generator. As far as a bathroom stay at a 24 hour truck stop. They have showers and bathrooms.

If a truck stop was my only option I think I would go with the hotel

[norty1]

If there is a cg near the venue, call and ask about a reservation. If I was boondocking in cold weather, I would not feel comfortable leaving the rig to go to a tournament and leaving the genny running.

I would think if they had a few sites open for cold weather you could make a reservation. My neighbor follows his kids to soccer matches and often takes the trailer year round and says it's very convenient. Of course it does not get bitter cold around here in winter

[Iraqvet05]

There's no way my DW would pick a truck stop over a hotel. If it were just me and the boy, I would consider it.

[norty1]

Originally Posted by Iraqvet05

There's no way my DW would pick a truck stop over a hotel. If it were just me and the boy, I would consider it.

I'm with you on that, Mine would not go.

[Screwby]

Most State campgrounds here have greyed out calendars too, that's just because the park is technically "closed". You can still camp there but the water is turned off and bath houses are shut down so basically your on your own. Sometimes they will let you fill your fresh water at the maintenance center if you ask nicely. Just call around and see, it's usually first come first serve but normally you are one of very few there.

Run your furnace and you should be good with tanks, maybe keep an eye on dump valves if they are exposed. Possibly fabricate a little temporary enclosed space to keep the bitter wind off.

[michael.g]

We've overnighted at the tournament venue in the past. We just showed up with the motorhome and asked if we could stay. At the last one we went to, there was a Sheriff's deputy there and he was fine with it. You might want to call ahead and ask. We always had alternatives if they said no, but it sounds like you might not. We've stayed at Walmarts and other large box store parking lots before too.

We were completely self contained in the motorhome since it had a generator. It would be tough in winter without a generator. You will need to run the furnace to keep the plumbing from freezing. The furnace will run the battery down pretty quick. If anyone in the family doesn't like the cold, you will probably run through a lot of propane.

-Michael

[DonaandDon]

I wouldn't try it without a campground that has electrical available. Their out there, just hard to find. Most enclosed under bellies will keep tanks from freezing to the single digit temps. Overnight it the main concern. I would use antifreeze in the black tank and used lots of bottled water to drink and flush. If you get close to the single digits then I would winterize at least the potable side. You didn't say how long your stay would be so not sure if she needs to shower and of course that's a new chapter in prepping.

[pconroy]

We're in a motorhome too so it's a bit different. If the temps will be mid-20's and up, I think I'd go for it. Anything under that -- especially at night -- I'd pass. We've camped low 20's and the furnace runs almost continuously. Probably every 10-15 mins it would fire up and run for 5.

We burned thru a ton of propane. We tried it with the heat strips, electric blankets and even some portable electric space heaters.

It's just cold. Floor is cold.
Bathroom is cold, etc.

If you're up for an adventure, then I'd say give it a shot. But again, anything below mid-20's and I'd personally pass.

[ctbailey]

The real trouble is transporting the trailer over snow and ice. These things don't handle well on ice.

It's one thing if the rig is stationary, then you can skirt it. But transient life would be tough.

The enclosed underbelly will keep tanks and valves good to the low 20's at best.


Craig Bailey
New Hampshire
Jayflight 32 BHDS
Chevy 2500HD CC

[rodro123]

Originally Posted by Iraqvet05

There's no way my DW would pick a truck stop over a hotel. If it were just me and the boy, I would consider it.

Staying in your own bed is worth it. You don't have bed bugs but the hotel can and most likely does. no fast food cook what you want. No early check out. No waiting to check in.

Camp grounds are closed. You asked for a place to stay. You could also stay in walmarts parking lot

[shrpshtr]

I bought my TT primarily for traveling softball with my 2 youngest daughters. My 1st choice of travel is always the TT. We have it fully stocked to just backup and go when we get out of work. I haven't had any problems at all with cold weather down to the low 20's. That's about the lowest I've seen since we got the TT. We just turn our furnace to the lowest thermostat setting and let it kick on when needed. I can't imagine a scenario we'd be playing softball that we'd have to worry about things freezing up during the day when we're away from it.

It's definitely beats staying in a hotel.

shrp

[vcbice]

Yes on the low 20's part. And on the propane. Plan on a tank every two days.

I would not do it again unless I really had to. Kinda like staying in >100F weather. You can do it but it really isn't very pleasant.

[Midnightmoon]

We have a daughter that does competitive dance during the winter. We tried taking our old trailer once and found it to be more hassle than it was worth for the weekend. We've just stayed at hotels since.