Where, When and How to Winterize Your RV

Americans are blessed to live in one of the most beautiful countries on Earth, abound with climates and micro-climates; hemmed between two great oceans that bring with them their own mysteries and charms. The country is so vast that an RV is undoubtedly the best way to see it all. With an RV, you can settle down at exactly the right moment and truly make the experience “yours”.

But with America’s great size there is also a great dynamism. Touring the country requires a lot of thinking ahead in order to deal with the challenges and surprises of Mother Nature. Failure to do so can turn such a journey — the epitome of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness — into a very stressful undertaking.

One of the biggest challenges we’ve found is in the temperature fluctuations — and especially the extreme cold — of the Great Outdoors, and the effect this can have on RV living.

With this in mind, we have put together a guide on how you can be weather-savvy, and get the most out of your trip this winter.

America’s Climate in Brief
The United States comprises of a massive chunk of continental North America from east to west, and within its boundaries are many different climates and ecosystems. There is the temperate North-East, such as New England, which is not unlike the climate of the ‘old’ England of which it bears its name. Spreading west are the great plains; vast open spaces where heat can rapidly accumulate and disappear, subjecting its inhabitants to hot summers and cold winters.

Further south towards the Gulf of Mexico, the waters warm. The rivers turn into swamp-like bayous and the air grows more humid and hot. The south-west is desert country, with semi-arid vegetation and yucca plants that thrive in the dry, high altitudes; culminating in a lovely Mediterranean sub-climate on the coast, which is partly what makes California so popular. Back up to the north-west, it gets much cooler again and temperate; more mountainous, cloudier with more chance of rain.

Where to winterize your RV
All these variables make it difficult to know exactly when and where to winterize an RV if you are planning on travelling a lot in the US.
But, put simply, the answer is: everywhere. There isn’t a single state in the USA where temperatures haven’t dipped below freezing — that includes Hawaii and Florida.

The southern states are much less likely to experience freezing temperatures, especially in the coastal areas. But they can and do plunge below 32 degrees Fahrenheit some of the time. So it is important to consider that even the relatively “safe” parts of the US are susceptible and to keep an eye on abnormal weather patterns. For example, the “Polar Vortex” of January 2019 sent unusually cold weather down to even the typically warmest regions of the country.

Cold temperatures can wreak havoc on unsuspecting RVs — especially if your RV has water in its tanks and pipes. Freezing water can expand and burst water pipes, which is one of the single most destructive things that can happen to the interior of your RV.

Where you can guarantee the cold
We would recommend proactively winterizing your RV if you are planning on spending time anywhere that’s not in the deep south or the very southernmost proximities of California and Arizona.

But even then, it depends on what you want to do. Desert temperatures can plummet extremely and uncomfortably fast as heat is rapidly lost after sundown. And, Yosemite National Park often experiences snowfall and ice even in the springtime. So, despite its location, it’s elevation makes it a bit of a micro-climate anomaly in that region of States.

Beyond the deep south, which is warmed by tropical currents entering the Gulf of Mexico (kind of how like tropical currents keep the UK mild, despite it being very far north) the bulk of the United States is exposed to a sub-Arctic corridor, in which winds from the Arctic can come down and place the temperature uncomfortably low.

Even if it doesn’t freeze, you will want to keep comfortable and cosy, and winterizing is one of the best ways to do that.

When to winterize your RV
The coldest months are from December to February, where as much as 75 per cent of the US population regularly endure below freezing temperatures. In Alaska, below freezing is fairly common eight months of the year.

Tips for living in an RV over winter
The ‘walls’ of any RV are much thinner and less insulated than they are for a house. So you will definitely feel the cold much more when out in the Great Open. Here’s what we would recommend:

• Invest in larger propane tanks

• Use space heaters to alleviate your propane and keep you warm.

• Don’t be afraid to use a sleeping bag inside. They are very warm and practical, not to mention cost-effective.

• Use both insulation and heat tape to keep your water supply working.

• Keep the area where your water connects your rig warm. You can do this with a properly-mounted bulb. 40 watts should do the trick.

• Install vent covers to keep the airflow moving and lower condensation while you are inside.

• Invest in an RV skirt — or craft one yourself using fabrics. The positive effects of a skirt are really noticeable when the temperature drops into the teens in Fahrenheit, and you can install one easily in under half an hour.

• Use a multi-sensor thermometer to help you keep track of temperatures inside the RV, outside, and under the skirt. A thermometer like this can provide invaluable data and help you organise your trip.

• Slide toppers are a great way to keep snow and water from gathering on the roof and entering your RV via unorthodox circumstances.

For more tips, please refer to the infographic below.

Protecting your RV over the winter months
Not everyone wants to live in an RV over the winter and that’s perfectly understandable. The result is that many RVs stand idle for the coldest months, where they are vulnerable to the elements and a lack of attention.

If you aren’t planning to use your RV at all over the deep winter, check out how to winterize your RV for idleness by looking at this Infographic below; complete with a diagrammatical step-by-step basis and a checklist, along with some key facts:


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Neil Wright is the copywriter for We Buy Any Motorcaravan. He has written extensively on the challenges and rewards of winterising a caravan and winter living in a caravan, and has personal experience travelling up the west coast of North America, from the USA into Canada.