Mission: warm camper trailer

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kowalski

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Howdy
I'm new... I guess I'm supposed to introduce myself here
I'm moving to the middle of Washington State... and my plan is to be living in a camper trailer year round... and I hate being cold!  So I joined this forum to learn about trailers, to try to select the optimum trailer, on a budget.  Currently residing in the suburbs of Chicago. 
 
Hi & welcome to the RV Forum!
"Warm" and "camper trailer" are almost an oxymoron.  RVs, even the best of them, are not well suited for extreme temperatures. The exterior walls are too thin for much insulation, there are many windows in proportion to wall space, and the roof is full of openings (skylight/vents, etc). The better brands will have the best insulation, dual pane glass and other temperature-comfort features, but don't expect anything on a par with a northern stix & brix house or apartment. Whatever your budget, buy an upper-tier brand even if it means getting an older model. Buying an RV is like buying a house rather than a vehicle - newer is not automatically better. Much has been written here about spending winter in an RV, so use SEARCH (on the menu bar) to find and read some previous discussions.

We have friends in Moses Lake, WA, and have spent much time there, so are familiar with the area you will reside in. Winter is cold, but so is Chicago so you will be accustomed to it.
 
Welcome to the forum.
I don't know enough about the various trailers or your needs to be able to tell you just what to buy, but there are things to be considered.
How will you be parked? In a campground with hook ups or with no hook ups using your propane and battery to heat the RV. With electric you can use space heaters to do the work or at least augment the trailer. No hook ups means you can go thru a lot of propane daily and need to keep your battery charged up too. That will require a generator or solar in a sunny environment.
A 4 season trailer will have a heated belly to protect the holding tanks and plumbing, but the fresh water hose still needs protection. Either use a heated wrap or fill the fresh water tank as needed and disconnect the hose in between.
Parking in one spot all winter allows you to skirt the bottom to cut the wind and heat loss thru the floor. Some do this with bales of hay.
Rv fridges are only good till 20 degrees F, after that they start freezing up themselves. A light bulb in that compartment will keep it warm enough to keep cool.
Since you can go the so much propane, a external larger tank should be used so you are not refilling the ones on the trailer all the time.

Our trailer is not a 4 season model, then again we dont use it when it's freezing day and night either. We use Glad press and seal to make make shift storm windows and then cover that with bath towels. Just that cuts the heat loss by a huge amount. You could put the window kits that you shrink with a hair dryer and they will last longer. We also use foam inserts to insulate the ceiling vents. They have no insulation and you can feel the cold dropping off of them. Our furnace comes on twice a night set at 50*, three times set at 65* and that's when it's in the 20s outside.

So that's something to think about. Others will know what rigs are best for cold weather camping. Just know that by the time you pay for your space, possibly plus electric charges and replenishing the propane, it may be cheaper to rent a apartment. (and much more comfy too)



 
kowalski said:
Howdy
I'm new... I guess I'm supposed to introduce myself here
I'm moving to the middle of Washington State... and my plan is to be living in a camper trailer year round... and I hate being cold!  So I joined this forum to learn about trailers, to try to select the optimum trailer, on a budget.  Currently residing in the suburbs of Chicago.

Are you locked solid onto a trailer? Reason I am being nosey is our old Class C MH does really good in cold weather. Its been below zero several dozen times and as long as the chill can be broke on the inside no need to worry about froze water issues.  One electric twenty buck  WW heater makes it cozy. Or one burner of the stove works about as well. Especially when a smart person grabs the bunk over the cab. Thats a perfect spot for a cold natured old Widder Lady. Must have something to do with the hot air rising thing is all I can figure out. I know the coldest I ever been in my life is in a Starcraft tent camper with forty mile and hour cold N. wind  robbing the heat from the underside of the plywood bunk. Dont fall for that. Thanks. If its real cold a Army cook tent works well. Keeps us posted. We figgered that out slaying Bambis in Colarada. Unless a person has been cooped up with 5 other stinky Sportsmen? for five solid days. A peson do not realize how much a breath of non polluted air can be worth. The class C is also good at surviving Typhoons and stuff.  One guy brought a fancy trailer on that deal They found his Virgina in North Carolina and bits of his teats in Dallas. We was camped in Irving. Thats a long trip.
 

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