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Old 12-14-2017, 07:22 AM   #1
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It's below freezing should I cancel our trip?

We were suppose to leave for a 3 day camping trip, but the night time temps are in the very low 30's and that is not including any wind chill factors. We have a new 2017 with the insulated windows and the heater, but not the underside spray foam.

We are worried our pipes would freeze!!!! so considering cancelling our trip. What have others experienced camping in below freezing weather?

Nancy
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Old 12-14-2017, 07:34 AM   #2
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We were suppose to leave for a 3 day camping trip, but the night time temps are in the very low 30's and that is not including any wind chill factors. We have a new 2017 with the insulated windows and the heater, but not the underside spray foam.

We are worried our pipes would freeze!!!! so considering cancelling our trip. What have others experienced camping in below freezing weather?

Nancy
If there is no water in your plumbing system then there is nothing to freeze. We have camped at -17 below zero F and the worst consequence was that our feet got cold.
We camp in early May and October and it often dips below freezing and have never cancelled a trip or taken any special precautions.
Another benefit is that you don't have to make ice runs to keep the beer cold.
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Old 12-14-2017, 07:54 AM   #3
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I have camped many times where nighttime temps dipped below freezing a bit, without any underside insulation, and have never had a problem. This is with using the tanks as normal too. As long as it warms up a bit during the day, all is good.
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Old 12-14-2017, 08:05 AM   #4
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Though we are still Casita owners, we have camped and boondocked many nights when the temperatures were in the low twenties, or maybe lower. This was with water in the tank and lines, and water heater operating. I'm sure that as long as the daytime temperatures stay above freezing you won't have a problem.
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Old 12-14-2017, 08:06 AM   #5
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Same experiences as Jim mentions above, no problems as long as it warms up some during the day.
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Old 12-14-2017, 08:27 AM   #6
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I've done it several times, just make sure everything heats up correctly and you should be ok!
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Old 12-14-2017, 08:30 AM   #7
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Wind chill has no impact on freezing water, that is just a way to compare what our bare skin feels when exposed. As long as it does not stay below 32 you should be fine. You will have heat on inside and the pipes should be fine.
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Old 12-14-2017, 09:26 AM   #8
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Go South.
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Old 12-14-2017, 10:03 AM   #9
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We camped for 6 days recently with the temperatures dropping just below freezing each night. Probably overkill but we did not hook up the water and just used bottled water instead. Also in November we camped for two nights in Vancouver in below freezing temps at night and did use the waterline. No problems but blew out the lines when we got home.
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Old 12-14-2017, 11:06 AM   #10
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We've done it many times. If you're really worried, use RV antifreeze to "flush" the toilet, and put some in the P-traps before bed. Having some of it in the tanks will also help keep them and the valves from freezing up. Then there's the dreaded "WAG bags"...God forbid...

Carrying Your Poop | The WAG Bag Waste Kit - Brian's Backpacking Blog

Between limiting the water going down your plumbing, and using some RV antifreeze (non-toxic pink stuff), we've never had an issue.
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Old 12-14-2017, 11:24 AM   #11
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I agree with those who've stated it's not really a problem, provided the sub-freezing temperatures are not sustained. We've camped in several places where the daytime was in the 40s or 50s but the overnight temps got down to 18-20F or so, with no freezing of the lines.

If you're camped with hookups however, do remember to disconnect the water hose before going to bed, unless you like hose popsicles. Or, get one of those fancy hoses with the plug and the heating coil on them.

One other thought: if you want to go camping, go camping. We find camping when the overnight temps are below freezing to be one of the best times to camp. It's nice and cozy inside, it's quieter, and the campgrounds aren't packed either.
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Old 12-14-2017, 12:35 PM   #12
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You can also open the cabinets with pipes in them to allow the heated air in.
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Old 12-14-2017, 12:45 PM   #13
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Good point. My wife walks around opening every cabinet.
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Old 12-14-2017, 02:29 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by The Quilting Lady View Post
We were suppose to leave for a 3 day camping trip, but the night time temps are in the very low 30's and that is not including any wind chill factors. We have a new 2017 with the insulated windows and the heater, but not the underside spray foam.

We are worried our pipes would freeze!!!! so considering cancelling our trip. What have others experienced camping in below freezing weather?

Nancy
You should be just fine! If you said 20s or if it did not warm up during the day I might worry a bit. When that happens we put water and some RV antifreeze in the tanks and use it for hand washing and toilet flushing. Bring a jug of drinking water and leave the water heater off and bypassed. No problem in our spray foamed Escape or our non spray foamed Scamp. Enjoy the piece and quiet!
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Old 12-14-2017, 07:17 PM   #15
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I agree with what others have said. Also note that wind chill is not a factor in your calculations as this is a measure of the effect wind has on bare skin, not a trailer.
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Old 12-15-2017, 09:26 PM   #16
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Wind chill is a factor, especially externally because it decreases the retention of heat. It will impact water lines outside etc. and will increase ur heating need inside.
Nevertheless, a properly prepared Escape could easily manage temperatures down to a reasonable level, depending on ur prep, tolerances and other needs, but certainly doable.
Have fun!
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Old 12-15-2017, 09:38 PM   #17
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Wind chill is a factor, especially externally because it decreases the retention of heat. It will impact water lines outside etc. and will increase ur heating need inside.
Almost. Wind chill will cause an external component (like a pipe) to cool more quickly to the actual air temperature, but the item will not cool below the actual temperature. It should have zero effect on your interior heating needs once the exterior of the trailer is at the actual air temperature. A driving wind could mean more cold air entering the interior if there is a gap in the door insulation or vent or window that isn't fully closed, but that's not wind chill.
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Old 12-15-2017, 09:58 PM   #18
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The Infiltration rate increases as the wind speed increases and is often expressed as air changes per minute or hour ( Infiltration)
In older homes infiltration is the leading cause of heat loss so often times new windows do more to cut heating bills and drafts than more insulation. Considering that the hull of an Escape is monolithic most of the heat loss is from wall / ceiling penetrations .
Windows whether single pane or thermopane have a low R / U factor plus leak a considerable amount of heat along their edges
As long as the heating source can supply btu's at a rate faster then they are lost, your ok.
When you raise the indoor design temp and have a greater difference between inside and outside temperature the heat loss increases.
Turning your thermostat up does not heat your trailer any faster , the thermostat is not a gas pedal.
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Old 12-15-2017, 09:59 PM   #19
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Thank you Steve. "Infiltration". That's the word I was looking for.
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Old 12-15-2017, 10:10 PM   #20
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I taught heating / cooling calculations and design for several years.
The application in residential & commercial building is slightly different then in a trailer but the principles are the basically the same.
Glad that I could be of some help / assistance to you , that seems to be a rare occurence.

Happy Holidays and Stay Warm
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