9 Essential Winter RV Adventure Tips!
- rpickens
- Dec 24, 2022
- 3 min read
As the extreme winter temperatures have swept across much of the country, I wanted to provide helpful answers for some of your most frequent 5th Wheel winter RVing questions.
Written by RJ Pickens | Dec. 24th 2022
RJ's Water Line Performance Tips:
The water lines located beneath the fifth wheel are usually the most significant areas of concern in terms of low temperatures. Typically, they run near kitchen islands and half-baths towards the backside of your RV. On top levels, however, your master bathroom is almost ensured to have a warmer environment due to warmth being generated by surrounding pass-through storage area compartments.
To ensure the optimal performance of your RV water lines in cold climates, it is ideal to have an air barrier or skirt around it your camper. This functions similarly to how bridges and overpasses are protected from freezing temperatures; wind traveling on both top and bottom sides remove any residual warmth. By successfully blocking off the underside of your RV, you can extend its capabilities even further against colder temps! Whether you choose hay bails or rigid foam panels cut from a local hardware store as insulation material, this prevention strategy will guarantee a warm RV, with less propane usage.
To avoid freezing water lines, make sure to open the cabinets under your sink and direct a heat source directly towards where they run into the floor. Make sure you're using your furnace as the main heat source for your RV. If you've been relying on electric fireplaces or other space heaters, it can cause the furnace to turn off more frequently which limits its ability to provide warmth around the water lines in the underbelly. The longer and more often that your furnace is running, a greater amount of heat will be distributed across those pipes!
To prevent any damage to your water lines during cold spells, you can winterize or blow out the pipes. This will ensure that there is no water in them and although it's not ideal since you won't have access to running water for a short period of time, it's an effective way of protecting the system from freezing temperatures.
When the weather gets cold, having a heated fresh water hose is must. Still, there’s always the chance that your spigot might freeze up and leave you high and dry. To make sure this doesn't happen to you: fill up your freshwater tank while still have access to running water! If your city line freezes, no problem- switch over to the tanks and you're covered for days.
RJ's Lithium Battery Performance Tips:
Once the temperature of a lithium battery dips below 32 degrees, it will be unable to accept any charge but you will be able to discharge power until it runs out.
Are you noticing that your battery power is diminishing and the Renogy screens are blank? Or perhaps, do the lights seem to be flickering a bit? If so, it's likely that your battery has dropped below 32 degrees Fahrenheit and can no longer retain a charge.
Getting the battery to accept a charge may require you to warm up that compartment. Doing so can re-establish an optimal temperature for charging, making it easier for your battery to begin accepting power again.
To maximize the life of a battery that will no longer accept a charge, you can minimize usage of your 12V devices in the coach. This involves shutting off or dimming lights, not using 12V TV’s, etc. By incorporating these tactics, you can significantly reduce the power draw on your battery and prolong its life.
Conclusion
It's important to remember that winter RVing does come with a few extra considerations, but the tips provided should help you protect your fifth wheel from any cold weather damage. Taking proactive steps such as adding an air barrier around your camper and using your furnace for heat can go a long way in ensuring optimal water line performance during freezing temperatures. Additionally, if lithium batteries start showing signs of diminished power due to low temps, it helps to warm up their compartments or minimize usage of 12V devices until they are able to accept charge again. With these tactics in mind, I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday season!
If you have more questions let me know in the comment section below.
-RJ
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