RV Tips for Staying Warm in the Cold
TL;DR: Stay warm and cozy in your RV during cold spells with these tips: Ensure multiple heating options, stock up on propane, insulate thoroughly, skirt the RV, protect water lines from freezing, manage indoor humidity, and always have a backup plan for warmth. Ready for winter adventures!
While many people view RVing as a warm weather pastime, cold weather RVing can be a lot of fun too. Even if you don't plan on RVing in cold weather, it can sometimes sneak up on you. Being prepared for cold weather surprises will help ensure that your RV trip is as enjoyable as possible. Here are some cold weather RV tips that will be helpful on those long-planned trips in the winter, as well as the occasional shivery spell while you travel.
Have More than One Way to Get Heat
Most RVs are equipped with a propane furnace, a heat pump/AC unit and/or an electric fireplace. Use what comes with your RV to stay warm. Before each trip, or before the expected cold weather settles in, you will want to test your heating systems to make sure they work properly.
There's nothing worse than watching the outside temp hit freezing while your furnace tries and fails repeatedly to ignite. While you are testing your furnace, double check your propane supply. Your furnace is a hungry critter which will quickly empty low tanks. As the temperature drops, the pressure in your propane tanks will also fall. Having more propane in your tanks increases pressure and flow to your furnace and other internal appliances.
If you are having issues with your furnace failing to fire, always fill your tanks, reconnect them and open the valve slowly. This will solve many issues where low propane pressure or flow are preventing proper furnace operation. If your RV is equipped with a heat pump/AC unit, test it as well. Also, make sure you clean or replace your filters. This will improve air flow and allow your heat pump to work more efficiently.
Portable heaters can be propane or electric and are great to have on hand as back up. These provide an excellent way to stay warm when you have access to shore power. Don't expect them to keep up if your RV is particularly large or if the outside temperatures drop much below 32 degrees F. You can use them as supplemental heat in those circumstances. Choose a heater like Mr. Buddy that is designed for small spaces and has some safety features (automatic shut-off, for example) in place
There’s No Such Thing as Too Much Insulation
If you plan on camping in the cold for a prolonged period, you’ll likely need to consider adding insulation. If you camp in the cold routinely, when you purchase or rent an RV look for a 4 seasons unit or one with a polar or arctic package. These RVs have much better insulation than standard RVs.