RV living winter canada

[mayank_k_dhir]

How does one lives in their RV travel trailer...in winter in Canada?

 

[darsben]

usually one does not. No easy way to get water or dump sewer. On cold days your furnace WILL NOT keep you warm. You may exist but you will not be happy

 

[RV_Lee122]

What he said ^. No water/dumps will be open and you'll freeze. IF its plugged in at a park you can skirt it and do things to help but it'll still be a miserable experience. You can stay in the Quartzsite AZ public land desert for free and thats where most people go.

 

[Trav_Lr]

Go to the west coast or Vancouver Island, very moderate climate, little to no winter freeze.

 

[uchu]

Go to the west coast or Vancouver Island, very moderate climate, little to no winter freeze.

Agreed.

That being said, winter RVing in other areas of Canada is feasible, but it requires research and preparing the RV for the conditions (i.e., skirting- and possibly running a heater under the skirt to prevent plumbing freezing, extra insulation for windows and other cold spots, judicious running of extractor fan, to relieve some of the humidity build-up inside, etc.). If electricity is available, it's better to use for heating, rather than propane - you'd need a lot of it.

Also, I can only say that it's not for everyone. It can be hard to get used to, but some people cope with it fine.

 

[OldWEB]

Annual Average Weather for Vancouver Island, Canada

The annual average maximum daily temperature is 12.5°C (54.5°F) which is too cold for sunbathing. The annual average water temperature is typically 11.0°C (51.8°F) which is very cold and bracing, it's not recommended you swim with out a full wet suit. Annually there are on average 13.5 days of rain per month and 5.3 hours of sun per day.

The coolest month in Vancouver Island is February when the average maximum temperature is 7°C (7°F), average temperature is 5°C (41°F) and average minimum temperature is 2°C (36°F).

 

[mayank_k_dhir]

usually one does not. No easy way to get water or dump sewer. On cold days your furnace WILL NOT keep you warm. You may exist but you will not be happy

...any pointers that can help in maintaining the RV travel trailer in winters if it's just parked and I'm not living in it...?

 

[uchu]

...any pointers that can help in maintaining the RV travel trailer in winters if it's just parked and I'm not living in it...?

These two links are helpful:

Winterize your RV

These steps to winterizing an RV were compiled from inputs provided by RV Forum members and staff. Compiled by Tom Jones.

www.rvforum.net

Winter Storage

Whether “winter” means snow and sub-zero temperatures or just the occasional overnight freeze, it is necessary to protect your RV while not in use. Written by Gary Brinck.

www.rvforum.net

 

[UTTransplant]

It is possible, but, as others noted, it takes significant preparation.

First you need a trailer that is suited to winter. It will need to have a heated area around the tanks and wet bay. Such rigs exist, but they aren’t terribly common. There are some Canadian suppliers, and there are a few US suppliers like Outdoors RV.

Secondly you need to find an RV park that is open in the winter. You will need electricity, water, and a dump. You will also need access to LOTS of propane, so find a place that will rent you a 100 gallon tank and organize how it will get refilled. You can’t rely on electric heat since the propane heater is ducted into the belly where the tanks are, and an electric heater can’t get in there.

Thirdly, you will almost surely need some insulated skirting around the entire perimeter of the rig. Buy a remote view thermometer so you can monitor temps in the wet bay at least. You may need to add a small personal sized heater where the valves are, 150-200 watt. You can control it with a thermocube that only allows it to turn on when temps are below 45 or so. You will also need insulation around the windows and a way to exhaust humid air.

Good luck. It is not a task for the faint hearted.

 

[RV_Lee122]

Agreed.

That being said, winter RVing in other areas of Canada is feasible, but it requires research and preparing the RV for the conditions (i.e., skirting- and possibly running a heater under the skirt to prevent plumbing freezing, extra insulation for windows and other cold spots, judicious running of extractor fan, to relieve some of the humidity build-up inside, etc.). If electricity is available, it's better to use for heating, rather than propane - you'd need a lot of it.

Also, I can only say that it's not for everyone. It can be hard to get used to, but some people cope with it fine.

Its a catch 22 with electric heat. Its (IMO) a better heat but does nothing for the plumbing or tanks which in my case are all heated by the furnace. Even plugged at an RV park I still have to run the furnace to keep the pipes from freezing. I guess the best option would be a Velit gas heater that is plumbed into the factory duct work - but I run south in the winter instead!

 

[Kirk]

.any pointers that can help in maintaining the RV travel trailer in winters

Read the two links by uchu. A lot also depends on the place in Canada that you are. Winters range a great deal but in any location it is best if the RV can be under some sort of roof. If winterized properly and noting is left inside that can freeze and so break, then there isn't a lot needed. I would make sure that the battery is charged and remains that way. I always charged the battery and then lifted the negative cable on the battery when we used to store one in Wyoming, where winters are pretty comparable to most in Canada. Some people remove the battery and bring it inside, but if you do that, don't set it on a concrete floor without a board or something under it.

 

[Rene T]

but if you do that, don't set it on a concrete floor without a board or something under it.

That’s not true anymore. I understand battery cases are made from a different material then they were years ago

 

[IBTripping]

There are owners who successfully live in RVs in the winter in Canada. But, there are preparations that must be done such as skirting, reflectix on the windows, an electric heater under the RV, and putting foam boards around any slide outs. There are a lot of YouTube videos that provide excellent actions to be taken for successful winter camping.

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

That’s not true anymore.

I'm not sure it was true ever. There is nothing about what surface a battery sits on even with rubber cases of yore that promotes self discharge. One forum discussion I read posited the notion of temperature delta (concrete vs ambient air) increasing electrolyte convection but I don't know that in itself accellerates self discharge. It's my belief that many batteries that were stored this way were already wounded or discharged to begin with and normal self discharge and neglect did them in. I suspect few mechanics much less joe sixpacks fixing cars at home knew about self discharge or stratification, and it seemed to happen sitting in the basement or garage floor. And so the tradition begins.

Mark B
Albuquerque, NM

 

[Kirk]

I understand battery cases are made from a different material then they were years ago

Years ago, the battery cases were made differently and it could cause a chemical reaction that discharged the battery, but that has not been the case for a very long time. The reason that I do not set mine directly on the concrete floor is because and spillage will permanently stain the floor. It probably isn't a critical issue but I still consider it to be a good practice.

 

[Rene T]

I just Googled it and years ago, the case material was very porous compared to cases today. Being porous, it would allow acid to seep out through the case and create a conductive path to the concrete leading to discharging the batteries.

They said keeping a battery on a concrete floor today could actually help a battery by keeping it cool which slows their discharge rate.

 

[Rene T]

Kirk, I modified my post #18 a little

 

[Kirk]

Keep in mind that most boards only raise the battery by 1" or less. Actually, the last time that I stored a battery indoors, I used a trash-bag to protect the floor.

 

[RV_Lee122]

This is a great video but its in a mild winter location (south BC) compared to Ontario

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

I've read the porous case theory too. Not sure what difference there would be putting it on one nonconductive porous surface (concrete) vs another (wood). Then what about a conductive surface like a steel battery tray? So maybe everything you set it on discharges it? Show me the data. I'm with Kirk, I use a plastic oil drain or dishpan so it doesn't stain whatever I set it on.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM