As cold December rears its ugly head, there are still folks that are enjoying winter camping in a travel trailer.   Almost everyday on social media you can see Travel Trailers blanketed in snow and folks enjoying the winter weather.  You will also get a fair amount of winter campers posting questions and talking about mishaps they are experiencing.  Some campers underestimated mother natures wrath.   A few of these stories don’t end well. 

It Does Snow in Texas
It DOES snow in Texas, Just ask Kendra and Hannah

When we lived in Wisconsin and the kids were young, we would pull the trailer out of hibernation during spring break.   This would happen typically in late March.

Those of you that understand the climate in Wisconsin realize that usually there is nothing nice about the weather during spring break.  March still feels like winter.    Many times my tires would actually be frozen to the ground in the storage area due to puddles around the trailer that had turned to ice.  I would need to break the ice with a hammer in order to pull out of storage and head home to load up.  

Spring Break usually meant a trip to Florida.  There would always be a stop along the way so we could get some sleep, and break the trip into two days.  The first stop was never pleasant because it was still cold, and warming the trailer up with the furnace took quite a while.  There were no fireplaces in travel trailers back then.  During this stop we wouldn’t use any water, for fear of freezing the pipes.  We just used the trailer as a place to crash for the night. 

Things have changed with travel trailers since those days.  The insulation is much better throughout the travel trailers now.  In addition,  the underbelly of the trailer is ordinarily heated where water lines and waste tanks are located.  With reasonable care, this makes winter camping a real possibility. 

  1. Make sure that your propane tanks are full before you leave.
  2. If you are camping and the weather is below freezing you will either need to have a heated fresh water hose or you will need to disconnect it and drain it prior to storing it.
  3. Make sure you have an understanding of how your trailer is constructed for cold weather.   You need to know if your water and waste tanks are heated; or if your underbelly is heated,  so you know for sure what weather your travel trailer can withstand.  Make sure you turn on your tank heaters if that is an option.  If your tanks are not heated,  you need to make sure your furnace is running regularly so that heat circulates in the underbelly of the trailer. 
  4. Many folks decide they want to run space heaters to save on propane.  This will do nothing to protect your water lines and tanks in the underbelly; you will more than likely freeze your lines using this approach.  If you are really concerned about propane usage, dial your furnace down to 60-65 and then throw an electric blanket on the bed.
  5. Know your propane levels, and before you run out of propane fill your tanks.  Know where the closest locations are for getting a propane fill.
  6. Keep cabinet doors that contain water lines cracked open to allow heat to enter those areas.
  7. You can keep more heat in the trailer by putting a foam insert in your exhaust fan(s), and using some type of insulation on the windows (like the foam backed foil type).
  8. Given that the humidity level in the Travel Trailer may get high causing condensation on the windows etc.  Invest in a dehumidifier for your travel trailer; many are small and are under $50.00 on Amazon.
  9. Have a weather band radio with you.  Advanced warning of major bad weather will allow you to get on the road or to prepare for what is coming. 
  10. Before you pull your slide out room(s) in, make sure the seals are not frozen.  Also make sure you have cleared the slide-out roof of any ice or snow.
  11. Finally, just in the event you lose power, have a back up plan to save you and your RV.  For instance, a portable generator to keep you running while you wait for power.  If that is not an option you should invest in a portable battery powered air compressor;  so you can quickly winterize your trailer.  Drain your tanks, water heater, and blow out your water lines.  Take some RV antifreeze with you in the event that you need to go this route.  Pour it in the toilet and down each drain to protect the plumbing. 

This is probably not an all inclusive list but it will get you moving in the right direction.  You can go winter camping in a travel trailer; just think of all the possibilities and then make sure you have a solid plan.  Happy Camping!