Helpful tips for living in an RV in cold places or winter time !
Ok so maybe the RV life is not for you but there are many people these days living in RVS. Face it in the Reno area the growth of RV living is increasing and many people stay long term or even short term in an RV. Many more parks are full over the winter time. Many parks are offering long term stays as in the past they would not.
There are many good things about RVS they are like a home including kitchens, bathroom, bedrooms, sewage systems, they are self contained mostly many of them working off propane and electrical systems. Many of them have generators and newer models have pulls out slide outs and many other options. Heck these days you can find RVS that cost as much as house or more.
However they all have similar issues like the roof, insulation, and weatherproofing for cold weather.
Here are some tips that can help no matter what kind of RV you have or what year:
INSULATE HOSES: Hoses for water in an RV is much smaller due to space if possible running insulation around the hoses will help prevent freezing in cold weather. This also means outside hoses many full time RVers or experienced RVers will buy hoses that are heated. You can find a variety of hoses and cost depending on where you look. However insulating inside hoses can be a great benefit as well in cold temperatures.
INSULATE HOT WATER HEATERS: Most RVS have propane heaters but some may have electric but either way it is a good idea to insulate your hot water heater while insulating your hoses.
INSULATE TOP VENTS: Vents in the roof can be insulated as well for the winter though you may want to keep one just for ventilation. There are products you can buy to insulate vents on the roof.
SEAL THE ROOF: There are several products you can get that can do it yourself roof insulation. This helps keep roofs in good shape and prevents cracks, water leaks and extra.
INSULATE WINDOWS: Make sure to seal around windows and insulate windows for the winter months you will thank me for this one. There are many ways to do this I have done it with styrofoam or you can seal windows with plastic. In the winter months this will keep heat in the RV.
COVER FRONT WINDOWS: Many RVers cover the windows even for the summer months and some RVS have curtains or ways to close off areas of view of the front of RVS. This happens more in Buses, Motorhomes.
COVER THE TIRES: To keep brakes and other parts of the tires in good shape many people cover the tires in the winter time.
COVER THE OUTSIDE OF THE RV: Some full time RVers buy covers that go around the bottom of the rigs. This helps preventing freezing lines, sewage, and grey water tanks.
RV ANTIFREEZE: RVers should use antifreeze in Sewage and Grey Water tanks when they are being sealed. Some newer models have heated tanks and may not need the antifreeze but if you have a used or older model using antifreeze will save you a ton of headaches.
PORTABLE PROPANE TANKS AND CONVERSION KITS: A lot of RVS use propane. One issue I found is a lot of parks do not offer a service for propane however. Who wants to move your rig every time the propane runs out. Having portable tanks or a conversion kit that allows you to have portable tanks will save you from moving your rig all the time in the winter. You can buy conversion kits at most Home Depo or Lowes stores or RV stores that sell parts. You can also find online and many newer RVS are set up for conversion kits.
GENERATORS AND OFF THE GRID LIVING: Many RVS have generators included but some models do not. Getting a model generator that has a 30 amp or 50 amp hook up is imperative all most all RVS have this type of hook up for electrical. If your model includes a generator going off the grid can be more comfortable. As most generators will operate the entire rig. Most generators operate on gas and in some models may be connected directly to the gas tank of the rig. However if not covering up your generator from the weather is a good idea. Also some models are using solar ans wind to live off the grid. If using solar you may have to clear snow or debri off the panels. If living off the grid most RVS have water tank or tanks that may need to be insulated also depending on where in the rig they are placed.
WATER TANKS: Insulating your water tank that is used for drinking water, showers and extra. Also keep an eye on the Water Pump because they can freeze as well. If on city water or hooked up to a water source you do not need the water pump. However if off the grid or using the water tank you will need to use the Water Pump.
There are many good things about RVS they are like a home including kitchens, bathroom, bedrooms, sewage systems, they are self contained mostly many of them working off propane and electrical systems. Many of them have generators and newer models have pulls out slide outs and many other options. Heck these days you can find RVS that cost as much as house or more.
However they all have similar issues like the roof, insulation, and weatherproofing for cold weather.
Here are some tips that can help no matter what kind of RV you have or what year:
INSULATE HOSES: Hoses for water in an RV is much smaller due to space if possible running insulation around the hoses will help prevent freezing in cold weather. This also means outside hoses many full time RVers or experienced RVers will buy hoses that are heated. You can find a variety of hoses and cost depending on where you look. However insulating inside hoses can be a great benefit as well in cold temperatures.
INSULATE HOT WATER HEATERS: Most RVS have propane heaters but some may have electric but either way it is a good idea to insulate your hot water heater while insulating your hoses.
INSULATE TOP VENTS: Vents in the roof can be insulated as well for the winter though you may want to keep one just for ventilation. There are products you can buy to insulate vents on the roof.
SEAL THE ROOF: There are several products you can get that can do it yourself roof insulation. This helps keep roofs in good shape and prevents cracks, water leaks and extra.
INSULATE WINDOWS: Make sure to seal around windows and insulate windows for the winter months you will thank me for this one. There are many ways to do this I have done it with styrofoam or you can seal windows with plastic. In the winter months this will keep heat in the RV.
COVER FRONT WINDOWS: Many RVers cover the windows even for the summer months and some RVS have curtains or ways to close off areas of view of the front of RVS. This happens more in Buses, Motorhomes.
COVER THE TIRES: To keep brakes and other parts of the tires in good shape many people cover the tires in the winter time.
COVER THE OUTSIDE OF THE RV: Some full time RVers buy covers that go around the bottom of the rigs. This helps preventing freezing lines, sewage, and grey water tanks.
RV ANTIFREEZE: RVers should use antifreeze in Sewage and Grey Water tanks when they are being sealed. Some newer models have heated tanks and may not need the antifreeze but if you have a used or older model using antifreeze will save you a ton of headaches.
PORTABLE PROPANE TANKS AND CONVERSION KITS: A lot of RVS use propane. One issue I found is a lot of parks do not offer a service for propane however. Who wants to move your rig every time the propane runs out. Having portable tanks or a conversion kit that allows you to have portable tanks will save you from moving your rig all the time in the winter. You can buy conversion kits at most Home Depo or Lowes stores or RV stores that sell parts. You can also find online and many newer RVS are set up for conversion kits.
GENERATORS AND OFF THE GRID LIVING: Many RVS have generators included but some models do not. Getting a model generator that has a 30 amp or 50 amp hook up is imperative all most all RVS have this type of hook up for electrical. If your model includes a generator going off the grid can be more comfortable. As most generators will operate the entire rig. Most generators operate on gas and in some models may be connected directly to the gas tank of the rig. However if not covering up your generator from the weather is a good idea. Also some models are using solar ans wind to live off the grid. If using solar you may have to clear snow or debri off the panels. If living off the grid most RVS have water tank or tanks that may need to be insulated also depending on where in the rig they are placed.
WATER TANKS: Insulating your water tank that is used for drinking water, showers and extra. Also keep an eye on the Water Pump because they can freeze as well. If on city water or hooked up to a water source you do not need the water pump. However if off the grid or using the water tank you will need to use the Water Pump.
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