Cold Weather Preparation
02-16-2018
Author: in Henley's Happy Trails
Many RVers head south to warmer climates in the winter. Some, like us, decide to brave a colder location because that is where the work is available. We have found a few preparation tips that can make a cold stay more tolerable.
There are many different sizes and products out there that can get the job done. We opted for a large 70 pint dehumidifier. This is intended for an area larger than we have, but we know it won't be overloaded. The dehumidifier has solved about 70 to 80 percent of our condensation issues. The windows can still be problem areas which is why the dehumidifier is not the only thing we use to prep for cold weather.
Some of those cracks are the vents in your windows. We like to use clear plastic shrink wrap on the inside. This creates a barrier between the window and the inside of the RV. This not only helps with condensation but insulation too. For other cracks, we will use tape or blankets where applicable to stop cold air coming in.
We haven't just used the skirt for cold climates either. We spent the summer in Las Vegas, and we believe it helped keep the area under the rig cooler because of the added shade. The skirt also acts as a tire cover preventing the sun from damaging our tires while we are not traveling.
There are many ideas and tricks that RVers have used over the years to stay warm. There are even how-to books about RVing in cold weather. The subject can get extensive, but when we are headed to where the snow may fall and the water may freeze, the above are the first things we address in order to have a more pleasant stay.
Related Read: RV Winter Tips for Full-Timers
Dehumidifiers are a must.
When warm moist air meets a cold flat surface, condensation forms. The simple act of breathing adds moisture to the air. Add used, wet winter gear and a RV can look like a steam room. If there was a way to take moisture out of the air then condensation would have trouble forming. Fortunately a dehumidifier does just that.There are many different sizes and products out there that can get the job done. We opted for a large 70 pint dehumidifier. This is intended for an area larger than we have, but we know it won't be overloaded. The dehumidifier has solved about 70 to 80 percent of our condensation issues. The windows can still be problem areas which is why the dehumidifier is not the only thing we use to prep for cold weather.
Related Read: Surviving a Cold or Flu in your RV
Seal the cracks.
There will inevitably be cracks and spaces that allow cold air into your RV. A fun game we find ourselves playing in the colder months is Find The Source. It is a riveting game where you initially feel a cold draft around your ankles and then crawl around for 20 minutes looking for where the cold air originated.Some of those cracks are the vents in your windows. We like to use clear plastic shrink wrap on the inside. This creates a barrier between the window and the inside of the RV. This not only helps with condensation but insulation too. For other cracks, we will use tape or blankets where applicable to stop cold air coming in.
Related Read: Winterizing Your RV for Travel- Surviving the Winter
Get a skirt.
One of the best things we did last winter was invest in a RV skirt. Fortunately, the RV park we were working at knew a guy who built custom skirts for RVs. The thick material blocks the wind from blowing underneath our rig which solves a lot of draft problems and helps prevent freezing of lines that are underneath the rig. As a bonus it creates a little storage area under our RV for stuff we want outside but not cluttering our site.We haven't just used the skirt for cold climates either. We spent the summer in Las Vegas, and we believe it helped keep the area under the rig cooler because of the added shade. The skirt also acts as a tire cover preventing the sun from damaging our tires while we are not traveling.
There are many ideas and tricks that RVers have used over the years to stay warm. There are even how-to books about RVing in cold weather. The subject can get extensive, but when we are headed to where the snow may fall and the water may freeze, the above are the first things we address in order to have a more pleasant stay.
Comment
JZellmerFebruary 16, 2018 | 10:58 PM
Amazing read. Thanks for sharing the blog.
Author: Levi and Natalie Henley
