Anyone full-timing in extremely cold weather?

[hdxbonez]

The wife and I have been trying to come up with a plan to move from our home in CT, to the White Mountains in New Hampshire. We own land there that our Cougar is parked on ,and drive up nearly every weekend to enjoy the mountains. The company that I work for recently had an opening come up in a nearby town, and I took it in a heartbeat. It was a little sooner than we had envisioned, but this was an opportunity that doesn't happen often. So I'm here full time in the fiver. Once we get our house in CT sold, and a new home built in New Hampshire, the wife will be able to bring her job with her. But that wont happen until next spring/summer. Until then, I'm planning on getting through the winter in the Cougar.

I've stayed in it through a couple of cold spells last winter, but it was winterized, and we were dry camping. The camper stayed warm enough in below zero temps, but I wasn't using any of the holding tanks. This winter will be different.

To that end, I plan on dropping the coroplast and adding fiberglass insulation as needed. I also plan to install electric(115v) heating mats on the fresh, black, bath grey, and galley grey holding tanks. I'll build a skirt for the unit out of coroplast sheets as well. I've read where others have installed a radon fan in the belly to force some warm air from the basement along water lines, I might look into that too. I'll also pick up a #100 lb propane bottle and plumb it into the left side compartment.

Is anyone else wintering in their Keystone? if so, what what works/doesn't work for you? Anything you'd do over, or do different? As much of a PIA as this will probably turn out to be, I have to admit that I'm looking forward to it ;)

[hankaye]

hdxbonez, Howdy;

The top "Sticky" in this forum holds just about every answer you may seek.
Don't skip any of the links ...
http://www.keystonerv.org/forums/showthread.php?t=19807

hankaye

[hdxbonez]

Thanks hankaye. I have read through there, and although a lot of it is several years old, it contains a lot of good information. Just thought I'd start a more current discussion, see who else might be doing it these days, and see if anyone has any newer tips or tricks.

[bobbecky]

Instead of a 100 lb tank, get your local propane supplier to drop a 100 gallon tank next to your rig. I had this done at the in-laws property where we have full hookups when we are there, and I had the propane company make up a hose and installed a 30 psi regulator on the tank. I doesn't get as cold here, even with snow, but we only had to have the tank filled a couple times last winter. I would get foam panels to skirt your rig, instead of the coroplast, and tape them together with Gorilla tape. You could even place a separate heater under your rig to keep everything warm on those really cold times. Get a Pirit hose for your water, and you might also use some foam panels on top of the slides, and enjoy the cold weather.

[notanlines]

^^^^What Bob said. I don't think I'd spend time cutting coroplast for my skirting. 1" construction insulation (the blue stuff) would serve you better. And it would be SOOOO attractive......:D

[hdxbonez]

Instead of a 100 lb tank, get your local propane supplier to drop a 100 gallon tank next to your rig. I had this done at the in-laws property where we have full hookups when we are there, and I had the propane company make up a hose and installed a 30 psi regulator on the tank. I doesn't get as cold here, even with snow, but we only had to have the tank filled a couple times last winter. I would get foam panels to skirt your rig, instead of the coroplast, and tape them together with Gorilla tape. You could even place a separate heater under your rig to keep everything warm on those really cold times. Get a Pirit hose for your water, and you might also use some foam panels on top of the slides, and enjoy the cold weather.

I'll look into the larger propane tank. The reason that I may go with the #100 lb bottle is that I already have heating blankets that would fit it. I discovered last winter that warm propane bottles make a huge difference in the ability to use them. The foam panels for skirting is a good idea, maybe I can find some that are not that lovely blue color. :eek: I wasnt planning on heating the enclosed space, I figure that keeping the wind from blowing under it would be sufficient. I will run a rigid waste water drain, and put a heat tape on that to use when needed. Im planning on a heated water hose until it gets bitter cold, then I'll switch over to filling the holding tank and only turning the well pump on when needed as my well tank is in a seperate shed that also needs to stay heated.

[hdxbonez]

^^^^What Bob said. I don't think I'd spend time cutting coroplast for my skirting. 1" construction insulation (the blue stuff) would serve you better. And it would be SOOOO attractive......:D

Indeed....lol
http://www.roundupweb.com/home/cms_data/dfault/photos/stories/id/4/9/112220111725860616849/.TEMP/s_topTEMP325x350-1808.jpeg

[notanlines]

Yes, indeed, I did LOL! If I used that black tape on the Raptor like he has on that class C I'm betting the decals and paint would pull off or the glue would stay on forever!

[roybaker]

I actually like the idea of wrapping the rv with foam boards. It would be interesting to see how it would look with paint and graphics added to the boards to match the rv.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[hankaye]

roybaker, Howdy;

I actually like the idea of wrapping the rv with foam boards. It would be interesting to see how it would look with paint and graphics added to the boards to match the rv.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

...or .... you could go this route; :rolleyes:
http://www.russellsanders.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/PartridgeFamilyBus01-500.jpg

hankaye

[hdxbonez]

I've decided on using black coroplast, it looks like I can purchase all the materials for about $300. If I'm not heating the space, insulation boards aren't going to make it any warmer. My goal is to keep the wind from pulling heat away from the basement.

[nesparky]

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160915/d499fc620c81b25e5b3a554fc5f495f3.jpg

My setup last winter in Illinois.

[hdxbonez]

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160915/d499fc620c81b25e5b3a554fc5f495f3.jpg

My setup last winter in Illinois.

Did you do any other modifications, and were you able to keep water on all winter?

[hankaye]

nesparky, Howdy;

Interesting set-up, but how did you dump your tanks? Is the hose and
"hole in the ground" inside the skirting? Same question for the water supply.

hankaye