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Cold Weather Camping

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Debra

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  • Model: 2350 Ford
  • ModelYear: 2004
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  • Location: CA
Cold Weather Camping
« on: February 20, 2015, 04:08:40 pm »
I recently acquired a 2004 PC 2350. On my first camping trip along the Washington and Oregon coast I spent a few sleepless nights worrying about whether the temperature would drop below freezing and what damage that might cause to the RV. If the furnace is set at 60 or 65 degrees what is the lowest safe outdoor temperature that won't cause damage to the coach?  Would it be 32 degrees or can it handle temperatures below that?  What would be the weakest points most likely to sustain damage?  Are there any tips, tricks or easy modifications to help prevent cold weather damage?  I'm new to the forum so I apologize if this has been previously discussed. I tried a search and didn't find the answers I need.
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Carol

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Re: Cold Weather Camping
« Reply #1 on: February 20, 2015, 04:40:40 pm »
Hi Debra, and welcome!
I have a 2351, basically the same coach, just a foot longer.
I weathered several nights in the 20s before coming south, and here are the things that helped me get through:

-- I set my furnace thermostat to 65, though I know many people set theirs as low as 50.
-- Leave the bathroom cabinet open and the bathroom door cracked so that the furnace will heat the pipes leading to your outside shower, which is definitely a vulnerable point.
-- Crack open your kitchen sink cabinet so that heat can filter back to those pipes, too.
-- Anytime it is going to be 32 or below, be sure your water heater is on.
-- Be sure there is at least a few gallons in your gray and black tanks, and if you have the heating pads, turn them on.  If you don't have heating pads, pour some antifreeze down there.
-- If you have a macerator, put some antifreeze in the gray tank then run the macerator just a little bit to get some of the antifreeze mixture in there.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head, but I'm sure others can offer more.  It's a start.  Good luck!
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David J. Rotelle

Re: Cold Weather Camping
« Reply #2 on: February 20, 2015, 08:03:04 pm »
Hello Debra,

When my wife and I left Pennsylvania last week to come to Florida the temperature was below 10 degrees. We traveled with temperatures well below freezing for our first 10 hours. We also spent the night in North Carolina with temperatures below freezing without any problems.
Before we left PA we had our Cruiser in an enclosed machine shed with the heat set to 60 degrees.  We had temperatures below zero while it was in the shed without a problem.
Last month we took our Cruiser to Vermont and had temperatures in the single digits. While in Vermont we experienced the pipes under the bathroom sink freezing when the temperature got that low. To protect them I put insulation in the outside shower compartment and made sure there was plenty of heat in the bathroom. As Carol mentioned I also left the bathroom vanity door open and used a small ceramic heater to keep the bathroom warm.
Although we don't plan on making it a habit of allowing our pipes to freeze I am pleased to say everything worked fine after the pipes thawed.
We enjoy using our coach in the winter and are glad the Cruiser can be used throughout the year.

I think you'll be fine if you keep the heat on and follow Carol's advice.

Dave


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Barry-Sue

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Re: Cold Weather Camping
« Reply #3 on: February 21, 2015, 05:52:05 am »
Hi Debra,

  Congrats on your PC.  Great suggestions from everyone.  If we do encounter some unexpected cold nights as we did in FL the last two days, we make sure we have an ample supply of fresh water in the fresh water tank and disconnect and drain the fresh water hose.
   If we are in travel mode as we are when we leave MI and head to Fl, we do not dewinterize until we get into warmer weather, usually GA.  We carry a jug of water with us to use as a toilet flush while we are still winterized.
   Enjoy your travels.

Sue
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Barry and Sue 
Current   2012 2551 w/Slide
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keelhauler

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Re: Cold Weather Camping
« Reply #4 on: February 21, 2015, 08:05:56 am »
The biggest problem and easiest to remedy is the outdoor shower. Disconnect the shower head and drain it and the hose. The Macerator suggestion is excellent, needs some RV antifreeze in there.
A caution when you do winterize also is the kitchen sprayer. Disconnect and drain it.
Leaving sink cabinets open to get heat from rig is also an excellent suggestion.
Things don't freeze all that fast on cold nights.

Or do what I do, just go to Mexico for the whole winter. We really got cold last night, all the way down to 57oF.
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John
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TomHanlon

Re: Cold Weather Camping
« Reply #5 on: February 21, 2015, 08:42:26 am »
I hope a coconut falls out of the tree and hits you on your bare bellyl.  >(  roflol
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keelhauler

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Re: Cold Weather Camping
« Reply #6 on: February 22, 2015, 07:57:28 am »
Saw one laying there this morning right where my head was.
Did you know more people are killed in MX by falling coconuts than snakes or scorpions?
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John
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2 Frazzled

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Re: Cold Weather Camping
« Reply #7 on: February 22, 2015, 08:52:42 am »
Why lay in your hammock wondering if a coconut is going to get you? Be proactive and shimmy up that tree, hack off those coconuts, and make pina coladas to sip while you lie there contemplating the wonders of the world... like free coconuts.
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John, Holly, and sometimes Chloe.
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KB9OMH

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Re: Cold Weather Camping
« Reply #8 on: February 22, 2015, 07:20:22 pm »
We were coming home from a winter caravan in CA, NV, and AZ last Jan. and Feb. had to stay a week in Dallas area waiting on a 2 day run for home. That week it was in the low 40's day time low 20's at night, when a 2 day opening came with no snow and ice forecast we headed for Peoria, Ill. on the 2nd night we stopped in southern Il. for the night, we ran the tank heaters and 2 elect. space heater in the unit for heat. Got down to below zero during the night, one of our dogs got me up for some water, I found the dog's water bowl, which was between the driver's and passenger seat to be frozen, this was about 3:00 am, so I turned on the gas heat at that time to warm up the front end of the unit. By the way, the 2 space heaters keep the unit about 55 degrees during the night. No problems with the fresh water, ran fine. So the PC can take a lot of cold weather and still keep you warm and going.

Jim
KB9OMH
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