Safely Moving North: Winterizing Your RV for Ohio’s Harsh Cold

[JudyJB]

I know, I know, I should wait until March to head north to start moving into my new condo in Northeast Ohio. Right now I am in central Florida and heading north to Valdosta on Saturday of this coming week. My plan was to head slowly to Ohio in the hopes that in a couple of weeks it would be a little warmer than the current teens at night and 20s during the day.

The condo has the furnace operating and all utilities turned on. It is nice and warm, but I have minimal furniture there--two large loveseats, dining table and chairs, and desk. I have mattresses ordered that can arrive in a couple of days, however I could sleep on one of the loveseats if necessary. I am planning on keeping my motorhome, getting it winterized, and storing it somewhere. This coming week, I am going to start packing up the "basement" but really not taking a lot from there. Big problem is packing up clothing, electronics, etc from inside, but I can make multiple trips using my grandson's car while he is gone to college.

SO, I need to spend a couple or three days in ohio in really cold weather packing and running over to new condo. If it is really cold, can i just dump my tanks except for a couple of jugs of water and then just toss in some pink stuff and flush it?? This would be temporary to getting it really winterized. So, if I did this and my tanks were mostly empty, how much pink stuff should I put in black and grey tanks and fresh water tank???

I do have somewhat enclosed tanks and a heater duct down there.

 

[CamperAL]

Hi JudyJB,

I'm in northern Indiana and it is bitterly cold right now and is supposed to be next ten days. Even Indianapolis is calling for single digits and close to 0 at night. Tonight it is going to be -14 wind chill in my area and flesh freezes really fast if your not careful.
The water lines can freeze fast in this kind of weather.

Perhaps your greatest problem is the wind chills day and night. If your in your RV, I'd highly recommending winterizing before coming up north. Then have jugs of water you can use. Stop at rest areas to avoid putting anything in your tanks.

Make sure you have super warm coats and head cover and gloves that are high quality. Make sure you have a stay warm kit in your car and RV, along with water, food snacks in case you get stuck someplace. I'll wish you warm travel!

 

[CharlesinGA]

DRAIN THE WATER HEATER!!!!!

 

[John From Detroit]

I have traveled in Jan a couple of times on the I-80 route and what I advise.
Winterize. You can carry a "Jerry can" or two of water (I carried both a 6 gallon plastic Jerry and a 5 Gallon Coleman bottle) IN the heated interior Since my Class A heated the wet bay I did not worry about the black/gray tanks as they were not full enough to worry about all plumbing heated.

I also uses rest stops and campground toilets and if I used overnight dumped

Only on problem was "way below zero" (Was supposed to be much warmer) and that problem was minor.

 

[UTTransplant]

Dump your fresh water tank instead of winterizing it. RV antifreeze takes FOREVER to clear in a fresh water tank. Just drain it completely and use bottled water inside. But I really would recommend looking at the long term forecasts. I am seeing bitter cold over the next few weeks. While our well-insulated and fully four seasoned motorhome has handled single digit temps, it takes a LOT of propane. It is not something I would recommend if there is any other way.

 

[Tom]

I can confirm Pam's comment re propane usage. One of the few times we've brought our motorhome to the MidWest in winter, we were camped in our son's driveway in northern KY. Icicles hanging from the bottom of the coach, propane furnace running flat out. We had several electric heaters running full time, in addition to basement heating, and kept blowing fuses in our son's basement. We were out of propane in less than a week, and decided to head home to California. My big concern was water lines freezing.

We've been at our Columbus, OH townhome (sans RV) since mid December. Temps have varied between single digits and mid 60's. We're currently in single digits today and, with the exception of tomorrow, the forecast is for frigid temps. Before bringing an RV here' I'd look for indoor/heated storage and move into a hotel.

When we leave our Wyoming lot for the winter, the 5W is fully winterized before being moved to covered storage, including tanks emptied, lines blown out and RV antifreeze added to P traps, etc.

Apologies if this is not a lot of help. We wish you the best and are keeping fingers crossed for you. Good luck with the move-in.

 

[JudyJB]

I have three nights in Lake Louisa and then am going to hang around Valdosta for a few days.

Good point about warm clothing. I do not own any snow boots and my "winter" coat is more like northern California winter. Need to get a real winter coat before I head north, but will wait until GA at least since I am not confident about FL winter coats.

 

[Tom]

I know, I know, I should wait until March to head north ...

Did I mention my northern KY story happened around March 1.

 

[Ohiosnowbird]

We live in SE Ohio in a log cabin. Ohio cold is cold! We stay in the RV prior to heading South in December. We ended up getting 2 space heaters in addition to the furnace. We keep the fresh tank drained. Black and grey tanks we avoid using until we get south. Socks and slippers. Floors get cold! This before the serious cold sets in! The temps there now are vicious. I’d wait if you can.

https://www.amazon.com/Heat-Storm-Infrared-Attachable-Thermostat/dp/B07719X5XC/ref=ast_sto_dp_puis?th=1

 

[jymbee]

We've been at our Columbus, OH townhome (sans RV) since mid December. Temps have varied between single digits and mid 60's.

Brings back the memory of our first overnight on our trip one year staying at Alum Creek with overnight temps down to THREE degrees. Not fun...

 

[IBTripping]

In January 2025, I drove across the U.S. 2,400 miles. I ordered a lot of RV antifreeze from Amazon and put it in the fresh water tank so I could use it flushing the toilet. I also carried bottled water for drinking and cooking. Nothing froze.

 

[jymbee]

Like most areas here down South (Texas) temps expected to drop quite a bit come the weekend. As it's not prolonged cold below freezing, based on previous such events we should be ok with our "usual" preparations-- disconnecting park water, bringing hoses in, firing up the propane furnace a few times overnight, bringing a few gallons of water for drinking & toilet, etc.

One popular item I carry is a electric heat gun. Popular in the sense that neighbors who didn't prepare of just didn't pay attention appreciate being able to borrow it to thaw out frozen connections.

​

 

[UTTransplant]

In January 2025, I drove across the U.S. 2,400 miles. I ordered a lot of RV antifreeze from Amazon and put it in the fresh water tank so I could use it flushing the toilet. I also carried bottled water for drinking and cooking. Nothing froze.

I really, really don’t recommend antifreeze in the fresh water tank. We just keep a gallon bottle of antifreeze next to the toilet. We pour a little in to flush.

 

[BizCrate]

Yes, to all previous comments about winterize before heading up north (except pink stuff in the fresh tank - just drain it and use the winterizing bi-pass to protect the water pump).
I've spent the winter in a ski town before and all the mumbo-jumbo a person needs to go through to actually use the water system in a camper is not going to worth it for a 3 day stay. I'm talking about heat tape, skirting, heated water hose, etc.
On the other hand - keeping a couple jugs of RV AF on hand during travel up to Ohio and during the stay is going to be really helpful. Pour a couple cups down the drains to reach the grey and black tank valves after dumping in FL. You are protecting the valves and not so worried about the tanks (more room for freezing without cracking in there) and continue to add AF every few flushes. AF becomes slushier when mixed with water and it's temp rating declines so start with the lowest temp protection you can find (-30, -50, etc). You are using bottled water to wash and flush and use very limited amounts at that. As others have said, target rest stops and use your condo while there. The point is not to be afraid if you have to use the black and grey, be prepared - but also try not to if not necessary.
When the temps really drop you want to make sure you are not blowing thru the propane if not necessary so using electric heaters when you have power is nice. Again, don't go crazy with wattage - that's how RV electric fires start. Low and slow, keep the areas of potential trapped water above freezing by opening related cupboard doors open (if you haven't 100% winterized).
It sounds like you are off on a challenging new adventure. Good Luck (and you've got this)!

 

[gwinger]

Hi JudyJB,

I'm in northern Indiana and it is bitterly cold right now and is supposed to be next ten days. Even Indianapolis is calling for single digits and close to 0 at night. Tonight it is going to be -14 wind chill in my area and flesh freezes really fast if your not careful.
The water lines can freeze fast in this kind of weather.

Perhaps your greatest problem is the wind chills day and night. If your in your RV, I'd highly recommending winterizing before coming up north. Then have jugs of water you can use. Stop at rest areas to avoid putting anything in your tanks.

Make sure you have super warm coats and head cover and gloves that are high quality. Make sure you have a stay warm kit in your car and RV, along with water, food snacks in case you get stuck someplace. I'll wish you warm travel!

Wind chill does not affect static items. The air temperature remains the same and things will not get colder than the actual temperature.
Wind chill is a number used to determine the effects on the body.
Your body will lose heat faster when the wind blows, but will not get colder than the ambient temp.

 

[Alaskansnowbirds]

Wind chill does not affect static items. The air temperature remains the same and things will not get colder than the actual temperature.
Wind chill is a number used to determine the effects on the body.
Your body will lose heat faster when the wind blows, but will not get colder than the ambient temp.

So correct!! I wish people would stop talking about wind chill unless they're talking about a living body.

Wind chill only determines how fast your body will get down to the ambient temperature.

I saw an experiment once demonstrating how wind chill has no affect on static items. A small quantity of water was place in a area where the ambient temperature was 35 degrees. A fan was used to make the wind chill equal to 10 degrees. The water never froze. The temperature of the water never dropped below 35.

 

[gwinger]

So correct!! I wish people would stop talking about wind chill unless they're talking about a living body.

Wind chill only determines how fast your body will get down to the ambient temperature.

I saw an experiment once demonstrating how wind chill has no affect on static items. A small quantity of water was place in a area where the ambient temperature was 35 degrees. A fan was used to make the wind chill equal to 10 degrees. The water never froze. The temperature of the water never dropped below 35.

Maybe the weathermen should start explaining this.
Some do when they say "feels" like temperature.
It "feels" like it is colder than it actually is, to your body.

A perfect explanation:
"The wind chill temperature is how cold people and animals feel when outside. Wind chill is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by wind and cold. As the wind increases, it draws heat from the body, driving down skin temperature and eventually the internal body temperature."

 

[CamperAL]

My comment was regarding windchill on people and not objects.

However, I worked in the printing industry for years. We used compressed air to stir ink buggies. Because of the nature of ink being so flammable. As the air turned the blades to stir the ink, the air going through the system would frost the metal on the outside of the unit.

I've lived in the Indiana climate for 70 years (might have to subtract some of that as I have been south a number of times during cold weather). When it is zero degrees out and no wind I've had the car start a bit slow but start. When it has been zero degrees outside and the wind was blowing at 20 mph I've had to get a jump before under same conditions with same battery.

Conclusion, I believe cold air with wind does effect objects.

 

[JudyJB]

I have added 6 nights in northern Florida before heading to southern GA on about Jan 30th. I am continuing to add nights if I can and will try to stay put instead of getting so anxious to drive to my new abode. This may take until mid-February, but am going to be more realistic, which considering I grew up in Michigan makes a lot of sense.

I did wire the funds to the title company yesterday and signed the closing papers a couple of days early since the seller had already signed her, so I am now the official owner!!

Going to spend the next few days sorting through all the junk I have accumulated in this rig in 13 years!!! Going to put little things in tiny ziplock bags and then put them in bigger bags according to what room they go in. That should help my moving. No room to pack up now into cardboard boxes as no places to put them.

 

[RayIN]

It's supposed to snow in N. Georgia this weekend, and some places will get ice up to 1" thick.
You already know to flush the toilet with RV antifreeze after winterizing. I carry 1G jugs inside the bathroom for that purpose after I've winterized.
FWIW, Menards carries -70°F RV antifreeze now, I just bought the -50°F stuff though, both are dilute-able to some extent, but you need the straight stuff in the holding tank valves and piping, as that would be the first to freeze.
The weather people say this cold will remain until the end of Jan. here in Indiana and Ohio.
Above all, STAY SAFE! Anything purchased with money can be replaced, your life/health cannot.