cpaharley2008
york,pa
Full Member
Joined: 03/27/2008
View Profile
 Offline
|
Now that I have a bathroom, what are some of the ways I can use my new tt in the winter, particularly the facilities. I have a furnace and electric heat, but what about the bathroom? Is there any way I can heat or keep my h/w heater going and my fresh water. I realize I can just pump antifreeze for the john, but the last time I drank the stuff it did not taste too good.
1992 jeep cherokee 4x4-153,000
2006 jeep crd 4x4-33,000
2008 Chevrolet Cobalt-8000
2007 nissan frontier 4x4-6000
2006 Harley Davidson Street Bob
2009 TaDa TXL
days camped 2008-22
|
Polishnurse
Schodack, NY
Senior Member
Joined: 03/13/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
I think you will have more a problem find a camp grounds that is open during the winter months. And stop complaining about the pink drink. It keeps you moving.
Your hot water heater and water lines for the most part are part of the heated space. Meaning there not run under the coach. What you will find is the gray tank and black tank tend to become soiled boxes if it goes blow freezing for to long. They do have tank heater but more the most part don't protect the piping that's in between the tank and whatever.
If you plan on going skiing, you might want to consider on of those portable potties and paper plates. Once you rig is winterized you will only have a short time frame once the heater goes off to get it re-winterized. The choice is yours. Bill
|
shenandoahvalley
Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
Senior Member
Joined: 02/09/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
We got our TT in late November and HAD to try it out over Thanksgiving. Weather was in the low 20's at night and the mid thirties in the daytime. I stayed in a site in the CG with E and S but no W so had to put water in the FW tank...not a great idea. Should have used the sites that had E and W but no S. We had no problems with the black and grey tanks but the fresh water froze. We used the furnace some and a cube heater constantly. All our water lines run inside the TT so we had no problems with them freezing. My$.02 FWIW is unhook (and drain) the water hose when the temp drops below 32. Keep some water in a jug for drinking and emergency washing (and flushing) in case the temps don't come up during the day. Put a slug of the pink stuff into the black and grey tanks to keep the valves from freezing, keep the heaters running. You can invest in some tank and line heaters for several hundred bucks.
|
bryanl
Reno, NV
Senior Member
Joined: 12/25/2003
View Profile
|
freezing is a big problem. If at a park then it is often convenient to rent a 100# (or larger) propane bottle to keep the rig warm
If 'camping' - When it gets downright cold it is usually best to move to bottles of water and keep the plumbing shut down.
You can use the toilet as long as the black tank doesn't get more than about half full. You can use either RV antifreeze in the water system to flush or just a cup or two of water from a bottle (saved wash water is a common source for this).
Battery capacity is reduced by temperature and the needs to run a furnace can quickly drain them so keeping the battery charged can be a problem, too.
Everything freezes and that means canned goods and other food stuffs need to be carefully chosen and stored.
I found it convenient to fill the coffee pot before I went to bed on one cold camp. When I fired up the stove in the morning for coffee, the water in the pot had frozen solid. If I hadn't filled it, coffee would have been a lot more of a problem!
Bryan
|
davidj54
South Alabama
Senior Member
Joined: 06/23/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
We've camped in 8ºF without a problem. The trick is that we have enclosed heated underbelly and the drain valves are cable operated so they're in the underbelly too. I insulated the outside shower, disconnected and drained the FW hose each night, made sure the furnace ran enough to keep the piping and tanks from freezing and haad a good time.
Dodge Ram 2500 Mega Cab (Yeah, it's got a Cummins)
2006 Forest River Grand Surveyor GS-280
Prodigy Brake Controller
1000/10000lb Equal-i-zer with 4-way sway control
|
|
|
PamfromVA
Fauquier County, VA
Senior Member
Joined: 05/22/2006
View Profile
|
We do most of our camping in the winter. We installed tank heaters on all of the tanks and pipe exit runs and if it is really cold, we fill up the FW tank and disconnect the hose overnight. It is our favorite time of year to be out and about.
Pam
2007 Coachmen Captiva 245DS
2007 Toyota Tundra double cab 5.7-liter V8
One DH
two DS's (one left at home still in school)
two very spoiled camping dogs
|
DutchmenSport
Indiana
Senior Member
Joined: 10/10/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
When we winter camp we winterize the TT. That means we use no water through the TT plumbing system. We revert back to the old tenting days when we carried water in 6 gallon military style jugs and use a port-a-potty and dump it in a pit toilet or flush toilet when one is available. We use the heat, cook, and everything else, just no water.
DutchmenSport
2005 Chevy Silverado 3500 Dually Duramax 6.6L V8 Turbo
Century Truck Cap Commercial /Toolboxes
Northeast Outfitters Canoe
2006 Keystone Springdale Model 263DBL
Weight 4985, Carrying Capacity 2575, Hitch 560, Length 30'
Width 8', Height 10' 6"
|
subourbon
Huntsville, AL
Full Member
Joined: 04/14/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
Go to you favorite Lowe's and purchase the Easy Heat Cable with Thermostat. It comes in all different lengths. You will need the special Electrical Tape 3M Temflex No.50348 & Shurtape (aluminum tape)which also should be in stock. Follow the instructions on the Easy Heat Cable package. I did not use the fiberglass insulation but the Self Sealing Hard Foam Tubes. Mine works very well in 14 degree weather. I wrapped a 25ft. hose for about 40 dollars. Beats paying the $395 for the advertised hose. Most of you campers now days have a covered underbody. If you use your heater at night, we set ours at 50 degrees, that keeps the water in the pipes from freezing. Some campers also have tank heaters.
Happy Camping
* This post was
edited 07/29/08 07:05pm by subourbon *
2007 Chev. Silverado CrewCab 4x4
6.0L Vortex Max
3.73 Rear Axle Ratio
Prodigy Brake Control
Equalizer Hitch
Champion 4000/3500 30A RV Gen.
Garmin 7200 GPS
2008 31E Jayco Feather LGT
UVW6225 GVW7850
ROBINS NEST
|
weathershak
Delaware
Senior Member
Joined: 12/11/2006
View Profile
|
DutchmenSport wrote:When we winter camp we winterize the TT. That means we use no water through the TT plumbing system. We revert back to the old tenting days when we carried water in 6 gallon military style jugs and use a port-a-potty and dump it in a pit toilet or flush toilet when one is available. We use the heat, cook, and everything else, just no water.
Ditto, We camp year round and usually go to Assateague MD in the winter months. They have chemical toilets which will do the trick if temps are way below freezing. We have made use of the plumbing when the night temps hover in the 20's, and were ok at the dumping station getting things drained when we leave. My concern would be the drain pipe breaking for the gray and black tanks, not the tanks themselves. We may head up north for some skiing trips this winter ( N.J N.Y. or PA) and will do ok as long as we can find a heated bath house.
Don't like the view?? Then change it and Go Camping   
|
Flyfisherman128
Broadalbin, NY
Senior Member
Joined: 08/09/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
Quote:I think you will have more a problem find a camp grounds that is open during the winter months.
This has been my problem...I insulated and enclosed my tanks, installed tank heaters, both 12 volt and 120 volt, Added heat tape to the pipes, both 12 volt and 120 volt. insulated the pipes, got a dehmidifier, added extra heat ducts for the basement, put in remote compartment thermometers and finally installed a quick winterization kit just in case...Come to find out it is next to impossible to find a camp ground that is open beyond
Thanksgiving.
|
|
|
