Long term PC living in the north

I know some of you FT folks have faced times where you had to stay put long term for family issues, etc.  I am preparing for that scenario in South central PA.  Having lived there for years I know how cold it can get.  I have read the topic about winter camping and the advice there.  I was wondering if any of you who faced the long term life holding pattern had advice on ways you further set up your Cruiser to sit still all winter while you lived in it.  I know other RVs at that park have large stationary propane tanks that somehow feed into their units.  I assume some form of skirting will be necessary with some added warmth produced underneath.  I appreciate any life experiences of this nature you can share.

Will you be staying in an RV park with full hook-ups "working", boondocking, or at someone's house with available 30 amp electricity?  Your implication states "RV park with all working hook-ups".  Please confirm.

If you don't have on-site fresh water, sewer, and at least 30 amp electricity working during your winter stay, I imagine you will be moving the motor home routinely for gasoline, dumping sewage, and replenishing water.  At that point, going the extra mile with skirts, or better-yet hay bails for insulation, will be very painful to manage.

I wonder if a huge propane tank including delivery and maintenance can be rented.

As a kid we spent many winter weekends in a 1950 20' Spartan travel trailer in North Conway New Hampshire.  We kept it in a "trailer park" VS a standard RV park (which there was no such thing at the time)  The difference was/is all the utility connections were under the trailer.  The water line had a heat tape and the sewer line ran right into septic tank.  My father had skirting made out of painted Homasote board....not really great for holding up to the weather.  All the older trailers had oil stoves and we had a big 55 gallon drum set up on those criss cross saw horse  thingys in the back.  The down side was that the inside was always like a Sauna because of a lack of good thermo control.  Insulation values in those old rigs with 2" of Rockwool not much difference to the 1-1/2" of foam board insulation today.  The one benefit to being in deep snow country that you would not get in south PA is that 2-3' of snow on the ground all winter acted as good insulation around outside of the trailer.  Really helped when temps would go below zero which was very common in that part of the country.

So it is doable.  Lots of folks keep their RV's and TT in parks in north NE for skiing in the winter.    I believe most Propane companies rent their tanks.  We rent a 100 gallon pony tank at our cabin in eastern WA.  If you could find a Trailer Park that took in RV's all the better because of the utility connections.

Hutch42.  I hadn't thought about trailer parks though in that area those parks are pretty seedy.  I hadn't seen them doing RVs but it is something to try.  There is only one RV park that is even open in the winter and unfortunately their utilities are not really set up for winter.  I figure when temps/sun allows I can fill the water tank to run from and likewise dump and then add antifreeze again for the dump line/tanks to help there with the tank heaters running

I had to look up the board you were talking about - I can see what you mean about it lasting all winter.  But I am thinking I need something more like a board so I don't encourage critters to burrow in.  Thanks

We did years grounded for family issues but we stayed in the house there with the rig winterized and stored. We would take out out during the winter but returned it to storage after.

We have spent weeks living in it in freezing temps but nothing long term enough to warrant the extra protection you'll want.

The campground would have to have a heated & insulated water spigot and I would get a heated hose.

You'll want to have your hot water heater and waste tank heaters on during extended deep cold. Insulate your outdoor shower if you have one.

Drape the cab! Evil cold sneaks in there. I use a tension curtain rod, two space blankets and plastic clothespins. Shoes and such snug it to the floor.

2 Frazzled - You were one I was thinking of but couldn't remember if you moved indoors.  My parents are in a retirement village so that part isn't an option.  I did skip the outside shower so at least there is one thing I don't have to worry about!  I do wonder how well the plumbing to the shower will hold up in that back corner.  Hopefully there will be enough heat inside to counter the cold that will be working from the outside on that set of plumbing - no way to get at it to help it out.  thanks

Catsaplenty    I really think that spending the winter in south central PA is doable.  I guess finding an RV park that is open year round in the area would paramount.  Having a bit of experience doing this in more recent times, I believe it is not terribly difficult.   I have attached a couple of links to sites to look at.  I can tell you that the main water line procedure is the most important.  The procedure seen in the video, I have used at our cabin for visiting RV's.  The heat tapes on water lines not only protects the exposed area, but also heats up the water for several feet down into the main water spigot and underground and up into the utility bay of the RV and into the rig it self.  The other thing that I have used is a 60 watt flood light for keeping the utility bay warm.

The winter video is taken in Breckenridge CO where it gets below zero frequently.   Also a chart of average temps by day in the Chambersburg PA area.  It does not look to bad.

Good luck

https://www.usclimatedata.com/climate/chambersburg/pennsylvania/united-states/uspa0258

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sORrlTH2hM

hutch42, thanks for the links and the help.  I figure it will just be a different kind of adventure - as are so many stops in this FT RV life. Always something new to see, learn, survive!

The winter video is taken in Breckenridge CO where it gets below zero frequently.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sORrlTH2hM

I watched that video.  It was very informing.  I was surprised how snapping on a thin vinyl skirt around the perimeter of their 5th wheel was enough to change the underside temperature so dramatically.  I wonder if they suffered significant heat loss through the floor.  The well-insulated floor of a PC might require a space heater under the rig with such a thin vinyl skirt.  Or use some kind of thermal skirt.