Camping During the Winter Months
11-23-2015
By Tammy Daly
A lot of people tend to hibernate during the winter months, at least from camping. However, the winter months can deliver some of the best scenery and provide the most R&R due to lack of crowds in campgrounds. Be sure to check the weather report and call ahead to make sure the campground is open before you head out. Then sit back and enjoy the quiet and serenity that winter brings. One more very important thing…make sure whatever you are using for a heating system has been serviced and is able to provide the heat you will need.
An RV forced air furnace is going to provide you the best heat when camping in the cold. Before you head out be sure to clean your furnace thoroughly using a brush to remove dust and debris that may have gathered there. It is difficult for your furnace to run productively when the air flow is restricted. So keeping the area free of bugs or anything else will help it run smoother. If your coach has only a heat strip you may want to consider using another source of heat as well.
As long as your furnace is working well, the key things you need to remember is to have your 12 volt power charged and have enough propane to produce the heat you need. Checking your batteries before you leave for your trip is mandatory for many reasons, but you must have it fully charged to keep warm. If your batteries are a little low during your trip run your coach (or tow vehicle) to charge the batteries and that should help get the furnace working properly. This is only a temporary fix.
Your propane tank also should be working properly and be filled before the temperature drops. If your heater does not come on right away, most often there is a propane issue. The first thing to do is make sure your propane is turned on. If that is not the issue, there may be an ignitor problem and that can easily be fixed before you leave for your trip.
When a furnace has not been used recently, it may give off a funny smell. This however, does not signify a problem. Some furnaces may even let off some smoke and may trigger the smoke alarm. This is not an issue as long as it does not continue every time you light the furnace. To keep this issue from happening you can start and run your furnace before you leave for your latest adventure.
There are some other things you can do to keep warm when the temperature drops. A small electric space heater can be used to warm certain areas and an electric blanket can be used on the beds. There are also some new heated throw blankets that are great when lounging around on a quiet winter’s day. To keep yourself from having any issues with your coach during the winter, it is best to take your coach into a trust RV service center and let them know your winter plans. Have your technician run a pre-trip inspection and make sure the coach is prepared and able to handle the cold. This will save you and your family a lot of hassle and whole lot of frost bite. Happy trails!!!
A lot of people tend to hibernate during the winter months, at least from camping. However, the winter months can deliver some of the best scenery and provide the most R&R due to lack of crowds in campgrounds. Be sure to check the weather report and call ahead to make sure the campground is open before you head out. Then sit back and enjoy the quiet and serenity that winter brings. One more very important thing…make sure whatever you are using for a heating system has been serviced and is able to provide the heat you will need.
An RV forced air furnace is going to provide you the best heat when camping in the cold. Before you head out be sure to clean your furnace thoroughly using a brush to remove dust and debris that may have gathered there. It is difficult for your furnace to run productively when the air flow is restricted. So keeping the area free of bugs or anything else will help it run smoother. If your coach has only a heat strip you may want to consider using another source of heat as well.
As long as your furnace is working well, the key things you need to remember is to have your 12 volt power charged and have enough propane to produce the heat you need. Checking your batteries before you leave for your trip is mandatory for many reasons, but you must have it fully charged to keep warm. If your batteries are a little low during your trip run your coach (or tow vehicle) to charge the batteries and that should help get the furnace working properly. This is only a temporary fix.
Your propane tank also should be working properly and be filled before the temperature drops. If your heater does not come on right away, most often there is a propane issue. The first thing to do is make sure your propane is turned on. If that is not the issue, there may be an ignitor problem and that can easily be fixed before you leave for your trip.
When a furnace has not been used recently, it may give off a funny smell. This however, does not signify a problem. Some furnaces may even let off some smoke and may trigger the smoke alarm. This is not an issue as long as it does not continue every time you light the furnace. To keep this issue from happening you can start and run your furnace before you leave for your latest adventure.
There are some other things you can do to keep warm when the temperature drops. A small electric space heater can be used to warm certain areas and an electric blanket can be used on the beds. There are also some new heated throw blankets that are great when lounging around on a quiet winter’s day. To keep yourself from having any issues with your coach during the winter, it is best to take your coach into a trust RV service center and let them know your winter plans. Have your technician run a pre-trip inspection and make sure the coach is prepared and able to handle the cold. This will save you and your family a lot of hassle and whole lot of frost bite. Happy trails!!!
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Author: Tammy Daly
