RV University This Week 02/01/2010

Check out this week's poll: "Who drives or tows the RV most?" To participate in the poll, look on the left hand column (here at RV University) towards the top

Share your thoughts & experiences with other RVers and Campers

Big problem for small business; lenders reluctant to make loans
HGR Truck & Trailer has been dealing with tough times since 2007, when soaring gas prices flattened its sales of cargo and utility trailers.....

Annual RV convention on way to Hernando County
Recreational vehicles of all types, from luxury liners to tag-alongs, are on their way once again activity to Hernando County....

Could trailers be sent to Haiti instead of auctioned off?
Would unused trailers manufactured to serve people affected by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 be a good fit for residents of activity earthquake-ravaged Haiti?....

...with Mark
Q. Hi Mark,
I enjoyed your article on cold weather RVing . We are in the process of purchasing our first Class A motor home and we would like to find one that can be used in freezing temperatures.

We are looking at fairly high end, older (early to mid 90's) diesel pushers such as 1992 the Monaco Crown Royal or Dynasty, Newmar Mountain Aire, Holiday Rambler, etc. How can I tell if the motor home we are considering is equipped for freezing temperature use? Is having double pane windows a good indicator?

Do you know which models are particularly good and/or bad at being used in freezing temperatures?

Where can I find this information?
Around here it is typically in the +7°F to +23°F range during the winter with cold snaps into the 0°F range and once in blue moon (every 10 or so years) we will experience a super cold night down to close to -40°F. I'm not expecting to camp in -40°, but above 0°F would be nice.

I would hope that at least the high end motor homes, and or specific make/model motor homes could provide fully functional running water in sub-zero temperatures as long as the main furnace is used to keep the interior at room temperature (knowing that the furnace is used to heat the water tank bays on many, if not all Class A motor homes). Ideally I would like my family to be able to fully utilize running water while we travel in the winter with whichever RV we purchase.
Thank you.

Mark Says: Unfortunately RV's really aren't designed for sub zero temperatures. They are only required to meet minimal insulation values and other requirements that could cause major problems in freezing temperatures. Condensation issues, frozen plumbing systems, frozen wastewater valves and inadequate heating sources are just a few problems you may encounter.

With that said some RV's are built with options like arctic packages where some of these concerns are upgraded for cold weather camping, but still not at 40 below zero. You would definitely want an RV with these options so you would have heated holding tanks, heated compartments where ever water lines are located, upgraded furnace, dual pane windows, and upgraded insulation values. Even with this you would always need a guaranteed source of heat to prevent water and people from freezing.

The problem is this type of equipment is considered an option in most cases and the first owner of the RV would have had to add these options when the unit was built. So, with an older unit you would need to find one built like this. Higher end units really have nothing to do with these types of features, except maybe for dual pane windows and a larger furnace to heat a larger space.

I have camped in 8 to 15 below temperatures and found it difficult to keep the unit warm and had problems with the holding tanks freezing. The only water you would have available is what you can carry in the on board fresh water tank because no water source would be available in those temperatures. Basically the entire water system, including the holding tank would need to be in heated space to have access to running water, and the heat source would need to be constant for the duration of your trip.

Let RV Education 101 help you save money in 2010

RV Seminar DVD 6PACK Plus free DVD SAVE MONEY---LIMITED TIME ONLY- Now offering a free DVD with this purchase, titled: The RV Orientaion. The RV Orientation is not sold retail only through RV Dealers. The RV Orientation is 54 minutes long and it’s packed with information on topics like campground setup, the LP gas system, water system, electrical system and much more. We even added a bonus chapter on RV safety features and some bloopers to make it more entertaining. It applies to all types of RV's, with the only exception being a pop-up.
sale price: $99.95 Buy Now

16 RV Single DVD Titles in our Library

Money Saving DVD Sets Available

Travel Trailer / 5th Wheel Training DVD Sets
Class A Training DVD Sets
Class C Training DVD Sets

14 RV Instant Download E-Book Titles in our Library