Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
Jayco RV Owners Forum
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 10-21-2018, 07:04 PM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Cove
Posts: 4
Question shoulder season and winter use

We are looking at class c Jayco... Lots of stuff on how to winterize, and I know how to do that... We currently have a truck camper that is 4 season and we often camp in freezing temps with no problems... Never had to winterize this unit..

Questions...

Can the class c be used in the shoulder and winter seasons (cold) without winterizing?

I looked under one and pipes were exposed... What do people do in the non warm seasons??

Potential new guy needing help..
Bob Nelson 60765 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 07:21 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Brunswick
Posts: 491
We have dry camped in our Greyhawk a few times when overnight lows where in the 20s. The coldest I think was 23 degrees Fahrenheit. I think the coldest with full hook was about 27. We did not winterize.

When in a campground, we would remove the city water hose if temps went below freezing and we turned on the tank heaters. We did run the furnace with temps set in the 60s while the wife and kids used electric blankets. When dry camping, we ran the generator over night to power the tank heaters, the furnace and electric blankets.

We did not have any issues with freezing pipes. As long as day time temps are above freezing, then you shouldn't need to winterize. Daytime temps below freezing, I would be concerned. I wouldn't want to run the furnace 24/7 to keep the pipes warm.

-Michael
michael.g is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 07:53 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
Jagiven's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 9,736
Hello Bob, Where is Cove? and how cold do you expect the rig to see?

If you have a good Air Compressor, you could blow out the lines in between trips. But if the piping if fully exposed to the elements, it could freeze up if the outdoor temps are to cold. Possibly you could wrap the pipes with heat tape, and add some pipe insulation. Run the Generator to help keep things warm.

A buddy of mine, winterizes his MH (SOB), and brings a long a few jugs of windshield wiper fluid to flush the toilet with. Otherwise they run dry until they hit warmer weather.
__________________

2012 Jayco X23B
2020 Ram Laramie 3500 SRW Air ride 50Gal fuel tank.
2007 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab (sold)
Equal-I-zer 4-Point Sway Control
Jagiven is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 08:51 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
SloPoke's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Kingman AZ and where our Seneca is today.
Posts: 3,114
As some have asked... How cold are you expecting and how long are you going to be out. With AC power or on Genny power?

Certain motorhomes are built differently between models, where tanks are in enclosed spaces and others are exposed. We even had to make some modifications to our Seneca to sustain the Utah cold winter, and require the Genny to run all night or have 50A hookups to augment the Furnace.
__________________
Steve & Stacy with Jasper (Australian Cattle dog)
2015 Seneca 36FK
Custom 27' flatbed trailer hauling:
07 Toyota FJC & Yamaha Kodiak 400 ATV

SloPoke is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 01:06 PM   #5
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Cove
Posts: 4
Cove is in NE Oregon.... Just east of La Grande.... house is at 3400' and we rarely have temps below freezing for more than 3 - 4 months straight... RV will be inside when not traveling... Shop has heat and AC... Just enough stuff to spoil the RV, but a 12' high door limits us to a class c.

We often travel in the winter or shoulder seasons and in colder climates. Our camper has seen -15 for a week plus... Never a problem.. We have been looking at the Greyhawk 31FSP to give us a little more inside room... I do not want to run a genset 24 hours when we dry camp... (elk hunt camp can be a week plus at negative temps).

Looking at options... and any help will be useful…
Bob Nelson 60765 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 01:17 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Maine
Posts: 2,622
The furnace is a big battery draw
We can get by for five days dry in the summer
Two in constant subfreezing. You did say 3-4 minths consistently below freezing which means never abive during the day
And small spaces take less wnergy to heat

Youll want somw alternative power source
Also in my experience batteries perform much more poorly in the cold
__________________


2021 GMC Canyon
2021 Jayco 212QB
WDH ; Anderson
2012 Honda Ridgeline not towing anymore
2016 195 RB traded in
Kim Gass is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 01:52 PM   #7
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Cove
Posts: 4
From the initial responses, it looks like we may have to forgo Jayco and the class C..

Tiffin Breeze has a Class A just under 12' and a lot more $$. Just measured the shop again, and it will fit.. Really wanted the 31FSP.

Almost all class A have enclosed/ heated tanks and pipes. Something that seems to be missed with the Class C world.. A Shame...
__________________
2012 Artic Fox 1140 Camper
2015 GMC 3500 Dually
Bob Nelson 60765 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 04:17 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Maine
Posts: 2,622
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Nelson 60765 View Post
From the initial responses, it looks like we may have to forgo Jayco and the class C..

Tiffin Breeze has a Class A just under 12' and a lot more $$. Just measured the shop again, and it will fit.. Really wanted the 31FSP.

Almost all class A have enclosed/ heated tanks and pipes. Something that seems to be missed with the Class C world.. A Shame...
I think storage isn't your issue.. We have temps below freezing from November to March and the RV sits outside.. Winterized of course. We have not found dewinterizing and rewinterizing a pain but then we do it about four times a winter and it sounds like you would be doing more short outings.. You can live in a RV without water and with electric and furnace but the furnace takes a lot of power. I think that is your biggest hurdle.. relying on batteries below freezing. Our grandson loves his teen cave here in December but the RV is hooked up to shore power outside. He pees in the woods and the other he has to come inside or use Wag Bags. He can keep water in a big jug inside with the furnace on.
__________________


2021 GMC Canyon
2021 Jayco 212QB
WDH ; Anderson
2012 Honda Ridgeline not towing anymore
2016 195 RB traded in
Kim Gass is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 07:01 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
SloPoke's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Kingman AZ and where our Seneca is today.
Posts: 3,114
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Nelson 60765 View Post
Cove is in NE Oregon.... Just east of La Grande.... house is at 3400' and we rarely have temps below freezing for more than 3 - 4 months straight... RV will be inside when not traveling... Shop has heat and AC... Just enough stuff to spoil the RV, but a 12' high door limits us to a class c.

We often travel in the winter or shoulder seasons and in colder climates. Our camper has seen -15F for a week plus... Never a problem..
I lived in Minnesota for a couple of years, and -15 for a week plus is beyond my experience being outdoors. -15F is seriously detrimental to our dogs and for that matter - me.

I cant even fathom the idea of finding a RV built in today's market that can sustain -15F for a week on what fuel it keeps on-board.

Keep what you have.
__________________
Steve & Stacy with Jasper (Australian Cattle dog)
2015 Seneca 36FK
Custom 27' flatbed trailer hauling:
07 Toyota FJC & Yamaha Kodiak 400 ATV

SloPoke is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 07:08 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Maine
Posts: 2,622
Reflectix
Ive seen a lot of RVs with skirts of that. They must have underbelly propane burners. There are such made for winter tenting
The campers are snowmobilers. -15 is normal for them

Me too for winter snowshoeing though I have not RV ed on that temp

Just cause you cant buy a ready made RV doesnt mean you cant make it work
__________________


2021 GMC Canyon
2021 Jayco 212QB
WDH ; Anderson
2012 Honda Ridgeline not towing anymore
2016 195 RB traded in
Kim Gass is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 07:30 PM   #11
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Cove
Posts: 4
Northwood

We have been spoiled by Owning a Northwood RV, specifically this Truck Camper... All of the Arctic Fox units; trailers, 5v'r, and campers are designed to sustain the cold (or heat). -15 was cold, and that was only for 2 days. Rest of the week was just around -5. Bozeman Montana and we used lots of propane...

My concern with a non insulated unit, is if we camp someplace and it hits 32 or lower, even for a few days, I really want to use the RV as is... not have to panic over freezing pipes... Showering with antifreeze is not my cup of tea.

I was hoping someone had a thought on how to enclose the underside... I will be patient and look at responses.

Going to pour some wine and discuss even parking something taller outside... 50/30 amp is not a problem... and we have lots of room.

Thanks to all for your feedback and input.

Bob and Betsy in NE Oregon.
__________________
2012 Artic Fox 1140 Camper
2015 GMC 3500 Dually
Bob Nelson 60765 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-22-2018, 07:33 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
SloPoke's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Kingman AZ and where our Seneca is today.
Posts: 3,114
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kim Gass View Post
Me too for winter snowshoeing though I have not RV ed on that temp

Just cause you cant buy a ready made RV doesnt mean you cant make it work
We agree... you CAN make it work - but not as it comes stock from the dealer!

We have taken our Seneca out in the dead of winter in Utah. We spent 2 nights in Wendover Nevada for New Years and parked in the Casino's parking lot because all of the RV parks are closed for the winter. One night was +5, the other was +7 and it was cold, cold, cold!. We live in the Salt Lake valley where we know it is going to be cold - and we are used to it.

To do what we are talking about took some custom modifications to our Seneca, Just so that we could venture out during the Holidays... Now this is a situation where we are not skirting our motorhome for months, we are travelling to a destination and staying for a couple of nights - and moving on.

We have an 8KW diesel generator that is powering Six 1500W electric heaters. Three are in the coach and three are below in the underbelly of the coach to heat the tanks and plumbing so that they don't freeze. We also had to run the Propane Furnace at a setting of 60 because the heat-pump units on the roof won't work when the outdoor temperatures are below 45F.

The 8KW generator ran non-stop the entire trip. We filled up the diesel tanks when we arrived and used about 20-gal of fuel to run the genny before we departed to head home - and used 1/2 of the full propane we had on board -- for two nights.

Yea we were comfortable in the Seneca, nothing froze except for the moisture that accumulated on top of the slide toppers that froze into a chunk of ice that stopped the slide from coming in all the way. We had a good time seeing Sammy Kershaw in concert... and will be doing again - now that we know our Seneca is up for the challenge.
Attached Thumbnails
20161231_145451.jpg   20161231_145521.jpg  
__________________
Steve & Stacy with Jasper (Australian Cattle dog)
2015 Seneca 36FK
Custom 27' flatbed trailer hauling:
07 Toyota FJC & Yamaha Kodiak 400 ATV

SloPoke is online now   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Jayco, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:41 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2002-2016 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.