Snow Birds odd question....

[bmcevers_13]

We live in KCMO, we are spending our first winter in AZ, Jan & Feb. Question is what do you do about water on the way to AZ? The rv campgrounds are open year round but what is done about water pipe freezing? Will we have to dry camp & use their bath house? We have never camped in cold weather, not sure what to expect...

[Jagiven]

First check the annual weather report for your route. You might be able to dewinterize somewhere in route.

My buddy goes to Florida every winter from MN. He stays winterized until he gets to good weather. In route, he keeps a few jugs of water on hand. He flushes the toilet with good winter windshield wiper fluid, as it is cheaper than RV antifreeze. He winterizes in a parking lot on his way back once he feels it is getting cold enough.

I would put a couple jugs of RV antifreeze in the cargo hold some were just case on they way down, for to rewinterize on your way back.

[Joan617]

Our preferred method of winterization is to drive south, but we apparently are not good at it. We are stuck right now in Lubbock, TX in freezing rain, sheets of ice and temps. in the 20's until later tomorrow. We are supposed to drive to south Carlsbad NM tomorrow but the roads are not safe yet and many are closed with wrecks everywhere.

We are still learning the high plains/ central plains weather patterns (so different than coastal GA!) and I did not take the reports seriously enough. Both water hoses and the water softener frozen solid and the water pressure regulator ruined. Lucky we had fresh water in the tank and are running off of that until we move Thursday. Brought the hoses and softener inside to the shower to thaw out. We don't even own an ice scraper to chip the 1/2" of solid ice on the Moryde steps.

Our neighbor with a North Point very wisely re-plumbed his water softener to his basement and replaced his water hose with a heated one.

Angus

[EA37TS]

Originally Posted by Joan617

Our preferred method of winterization is to drive south, but we apparently are not good at it. We are stuck right now in Lubbock, TX in freezing rain, sheets of ice and temps. in the 20's until later tomorrow. We are supposed to drive to south Carlsbad NM tomorrow but the roads are not safe yet and many are closed with wrecks everywhere.

We are still learning the high plains/ central plains weather patterns (so different than coastal GA!) and I did not take the reports seriously enough. Both water hoses and the water softener frozen solid and the water pressure regulator ruined. Lucky we had fresh water in the tank and are running off of that until we move Thursday. Brought the hoses and softener inside to the shower to thaw out. We don't even own an ice scraper to chip the 1/2" of solid ice on the Moryde steps.

Our neighbor with a North Point very wisely re-plumbed his water softener to his basement and replaced his water hose with a heated one.

Angus

And that is why I carry a portable compressor during cold weather travel. Only takes a few minutes to blow all the lines out with compressed air.

[Kim Gass]

Originally Posted by bmcevers_13

We live in KCMO, we are spending our first winter in AZ, Jan & Feb. Question is what do you do about water on the way to AZ? The rv campgrounds are open year round but what is done about water pipe freezing? Will we have to dry camp & use their bath house? We have never camped in cold weather, not sure what to expect...

Its not horrid. We carry a couple of 5 gal jugs of water in our tow vehicle. Most campgrounds here ( in Maine) that are open in the winter have provisions for an inside faucet to put water into a container. They do not hook up water as the water lines are above the frost line.

Using a bath house is usually not an issue. We have been to Florida and back five times from Maine and north of NC are winterized with no water hookup and no water in the tank.
Having coffee right after waking is VERY important to us Hence we will carry water.

[CAG]

Just for info it is now winter in northern Arizona. There is snow on the ground, not much but some and the low in Flagstaff tonight will be 20. Lows in the Valley (Phoenix metro area) are in the upper 30s tonight. Forecast is for warming back to the 80s for the metro area. Northern Arizona is another issue.

[ceasare]

We leave New York for Arizona 1/3. We leave the camper winterized till we get to warm weather use a jug of water to flush and use the campground bath houses for showers. Their is already antifreeze in the black and grey tanks. Haven't had a problem.