For most of us, the first snowfall marks the end of another adventurous RV Season, but it doesn’t always have to! Don’t let the snow scare you off. As long as the proper precautions, safety considerations, and winterization tips are kept in mind, you can continue to use your RV or campervan to explore the open road all year round.
Imagine driving through crisp mountain air, mesmerized by the sight of shimmering snow resting on the branches of evergreen trees. While winter conditions often call for additional steps to ensure safe and comfortable travel, traveling in an RV in the winter can still be a rewarding experience! In this guide, we’ll dive into everything you need to know about traveling in an RV during winter months.
Traveling in an RV in the Winter
There’s no denying that winter scenery can be incredibly beautiful, and snow can completely transform destinations we know and love into entirely different places. From ski trips to Christmas holidays and cozy romantic retreats, embarking on a winter getaway can be a fun experience, and a great way to avoid the peak-season crowds at popular destinations and favored campgrounds. While exciting, winter travel requires a variety of steps to ensure your RV remains safe, insulated, and warm.
Here are a variety of factors to consider when preparing your vehicle for winter travel:
Preparations for Keeping Warm
Four-season RVs are equipped with features like extra insulation, furnaces, heated tanks, and double-pane windows so they are ready to be used all year round. However, if you don’t own a four-season RV, there are several non-invasive modifications you can make to improve the insulation of your RV and keep you warm during the winter.
- Insulating your floors
Adding heavy rugs or foam board flooring to your RV can help add an extra layer of insulation, minimize cold air coming up through the floor, and provide a warmer surface to walk on. Additionally, you can place insulated covers over your AC unit and floor vents to prevent cold air from entering through other areas.
- Sealing Doors and Windows
Repair any possible leaks to prevent cold air from getting inside, and use draft stoppers to ensure cold air cannot sneak in under your doors and windows. Swapping out your standard window coverings for thermal curtains, or reflective window covers can provide an added layer of insulation and help keep your RV warm, especially at night.
- Additional Heating
Be prepared, and have additional heating measures in place like space heaters and electric blankets that can help to keep sleeping areas warmer. Always use caution when using space heaters in an RV. Ensure smoke and carbon dioxide detectors are operating properly and never leave a heater on and unattended. Parking your RV in the sun during the day can also help to warm your RV naturally.
- RV Skirting
Wrapping RV skirting around the exterior of your RV can help to block cold air from freezing your water tank, keep it warm inside, and protect the underbelly of the vehicle when camping overnight.
- Protecting Pipes
Protecting your pipes from freezing should be a major consideration. To keep your plumbing above freezing, you can wrap heat strips around your pipes and freshwater hose, use antifreeze in gray-in-black water, keep cabinets open to allow warm air to reach the pipes, or keep faucets running on a slow drip to keep your water moving. Alternatively, if you prefer to go dry, you can use bottled water and avoid using your internal water system altogether.
- Other Considerations
Depending on the climate in which you are traveling, you may want to consider swapping out your regular windshield fluid for one specifically designed for winter use. These products often have a much higher alcohol concentration to lower the freezing point of the fluid. If you’re planning on keeping your water running, a heated RV water hose or heat tape can help protect your pipes. Using RV temperature sensors is a great way to monitor the temperature and humidity in different areas of the vehicle, and can also help monitor water temperatures when placed near your tanks and water connection system.
Essential Packing
- Packing for the Climate
Don’t forget to pack all essential winter gear, including warm clothes and thermal layers. Additional winter essentials like an extra propane tank, water, and non-perishable food can also come in handy.
- Safety Equipment
Ensure your vehicle is equipped with the right winter tires, and pack snow chains for your rear wheels in case weather conditions worsen throughout travel. Keep an eye on your jacks, and place wooden blocks underneath them when camping, to ensure they don’t freeze to the ground. Make sure to pack jumper cables, a shovel, a hair dryer or heat gun, and ice melt or salt to ensure your campsite is safe to walk around. Always monitor weather and road conditions to ensure it is safe to travel and be mindful of your vehicle limitations.
- Insurance
While having insurance is important year-round, traveling in winter conditions calls for additional safety considerations, and having the proper coverage can provide an extra layer of protection if any unexpected problems were to occur.
Snow Big Deal: Conquer the Cold with Confidence!
Winter travel can be an exciting experience for those seeking a unique adventure, however, it does require additional preparations. When planning your winter escapade, consider choosing more temperate areas for winter travel to avoid extremely harsh temperatures which can be hard on your vehicle. While sudden weather changes are common throughout winter months, being prepared for anything is extremely important.
For those who prefer to explore during warmer seasons, winterizing your RV for storage may be your preferred option. Keeping your RV systems, plumbing, and engine in good working order throughout winter travel will depend on the essential steps listed above. Remember, your safety and comfort should always be your top priority. Embrace the adventure that winter RV travel offers, and let the beauty of the season inspire unforgettable journeys on the open road!
