Furnace

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

Maybe a cooler in the tow vehicle with the freezables in it. Not too much effort to move them from unit to unit. Beer is good down pretty low. Especially some of the Belgian Tripples. Or Hooch
Dave

I agree, but it's easy to miss things. Any liquid will freeze, probably be ruined, and potentially burst the container if it gets cold enough (lots of alcohol makes that temperature quite low, of course). When completely packed for a trip, that means potentially moving beverages, toiletries, and maybe even cleaning products, in addition to normally refrigerated foods.

Here's another fun effect of winter: if the RV interior is cold enough the refrigerator will not need to run to maintain 4 C / 40 F in the refrigerator, and that means it won't cool the freezer compartment, which can end up below freezing but not low enough to keep frozen foods solidly frozen. Thus, cold weather causes frozen food to thaw.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

Just that up here the outside world - and thus eventually the trailer interior - gets a lot colder than a refrigerator in the winter.

Colder than a deep freeze a lot of the time lately too. Not sure what the forecast is for Edmonton, but the high here is forecast at -20°C) (-4°F).

[Santiago]

Seems to me that for travel in northern states and Canada in the winter, you need the trailer furnace running to maintain say 50 deg F. Tow vehicle should keep furnace fan from depleting battery, just bring lots of propane. Alternative is to head south earlier and miss peak cold periods.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Santiago

Alternative is to head south earlier and miss peak cold periods.

For RVing I choose plan B.

Still good temps tomorrow to go for a ski with not as much worry of overheating.

[float5]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

Colder than a deep freeze a lot of the time lately too. Not sure what the forecast is for Edmonton, but the high here is forecast at -20°C) (-4°F).

Don't know what it was last night but one prediction was -2F. It is ridiculously cold here AFAIAC. Especially since you are much farther north and you are supposed to be colder!
I don't want to go skiing! Oh, okay, that was our low. I feel much better.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by float5

I don't want to go skiing!

It one does not embrace winter for all it's goodness, it makes for a long winter.

[float5]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

It one does not embrace winter for all it's goodness, it makes for a long winter.

You're right. That's why I am going south! Did the skiing thing many many years ago in Japan. (Impossible now with my hips and back due to all of that "great exercise" for so many years. Don't overdo.) Have fun. We're into the puzzle at the moment. That's about our speed. Snow looks so beautiful but I no longer want to be in it!

Don't know if you can start the furnace, Kip, but you ought to be relatively warm in Gilbert. You're south!

[cpaharley2008]

I read somewhere that 4 season living is healthier than 2 or 3 season residency, also helps your mind to stay sharp, but I can not remember where I read that??.....

[Zardoz]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

This is how I intend to provide good circulation in our 5.0TA. The Caframo Sirocco is used a lot in the marine world, and made here in Canada. Nice that it folds out of the way, and can swing out into the aisle. Will help when using heat or A/C, especially for loft air circulation, and Lisa loves having moving air on her face year round in our bedroon.

Jim,

Be sure to check out the Amazon reviews on this particular Caframo product. After reading them, I opted for the similar, "Bora" model. Don't mean to put doubts in your mind, but thought you should know FWIW.

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by float5

Don't know what it was last night but one prediction was -2F. It is ridiculously cold here AFAIAC. Especially since you are much farther north and you are supposed to be colder!
I don't want to go skiing! Oh, okay, that was our low. I feel much better.

We had -16 DEG F ( That's below zero ) this morning. House was down to 51 deg at 5:30 AM . Loaded up the wood stove and went back to bed . Only 100 days to ice out if past history is correct.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Zardoz

Jim,

Be sure to check out the Amazon reviews on this particular Caframo product. After reading them, I opted for the similar, "Bora" model. Don't mean to put doubts in your mind, but thought you should know FWIW.

I read those, but also read about it on some marine forums, and there it got really good reviews. Go to amazon.ca and it gets a 4.8 rating while the Bora got 2.5, go figure. Personally, I will look at Amazon reviews, but take them with a grain of salt, as many reviewers just chime in to bitch, while those that are happy go about their merry way.

It is the same with travel destinations. I have read scathing reviews of places that left me to wonder if they were at the same place i was. I think some just have their expectations too high, thus end up disappointed.

Besides, it was not that pricey, and to change out if ever needed is not a big deal.

[emers382]

Originally Posted by fudge_brownie

Greg
Thanks for clarifying this. This is something snowbirds can encounter when heading south. As well as winter pickups from Chilliwack. One advantage, albeit a minor one, is pickups probably will not be carrying much or any food items. As a possible bird this year I was wondering how to deal with cold temperatures inside the trailer. I know the furnaces are designed to be operated while driving with the usual safety precautions but did not hear of anyone doing it. Of course outside temperatures make all the difference. My concern was not regarding personal comfort but rather the perishable items one may carry. Probably not the time to plan to eat many salads but what about other food items that the usual traveler carries. How much drop in temperature can one expect during an 8 hour day of driving at below freezing temperatures?

Last winter we left MB in deep freeze conditions in January, did not even consider sleeping in the trailer, had booked hotel in SD, but we did have a lot of food staples with us, traveled inside the truck and had to carry them in and out of the hotel. Of course no fruit or vegetables with us as we could barely leave home before crossing into the US and as we all know, you can't take those into the US. We spent two weeks at our daughter's in KS then headed to NM. We didn't even de winterize the trailer until we got to friends home in Las Cruces. The prior night at a campground in northern NM it was -11C when we got up in the morning. Out of curiosity I tried the water tap at the site, of course it was frozen.

Adrian

[Zardoz]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

Go to amazon.ca and it gets a 4.8 rating while the Bora got 2.5, go figure. Personally, I will look at Amazon reviews, but take them with a grain of salt, as many reviewers just chime in to bitch, while those that are happy go about their merry way.

I think some folks major in "Negativity Sciences" while in school. Interestingly, I just checked Amazon's Ratings for the Bora and it's 3.9 - as you said, go figure. So much for my confidence in their rating systems.

[War Eagle]

Winter in Alabama: 17 degrees this morning (Sunday), predicted to be in the 70's by Wednesday.

[tractors1]

Originally Posted by War Eagle

Winter in Alabama: 17 degrees this morning (Sunday), predicted to be in the 70's by Wednesday.

No sympathy here. I'm supposed to be landing on Maui Hawaii in 2 hours - instead I am stuck in Portland, Oregon with all flights cancelled due to an ice storm............

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by tractors1

No sympathy here. I'm supposed to be landing on Maui Hawaii in 2 hours - instead I am stuck in Portland, Oregon with all flights cancelled due to an ice storm............

Oh Man! That sux. I'm about 5 miles east of Portland International Airport and it's really coming down out here... freezing rain that is. I hope you can get out soon Charlie.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

For RVing I choose plan B.

Still good temps tomorrow to go for a ski with not as much worry of overheating.

Okay, I still did overheat, cut my face is grizzled because of the wind. Saw 3 bucks on the ski. Excuse the crappy zoomed in cell phone shot.

[Greg A]

72 degrees here today. Time to go camping.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Greg A

72 degrees here today. Time to go camping.

Let the melting begin.

Someday, not too far off, I will spend parts of my winter down your way, and across the southern states. No way I could survive the summers though.

[Greg A]

You'd be surprised, Jim. We sit on the patio year round as long as you're not in the direct sun it's fine. I've been way more uncomfortable in 90 degree summers in humid places than our summers here.