Cold weather advice, please

ScottPost · 05-07-2022, 12:14 PM

New to trailering in our 2022 Escape 19. We’re at a campground in Bozeman, anticipating snow and temps in the 20’s for the next few days.
We have full hookups.
We have spray insulation under the trailer.
What prep do you suggest?
Thanks for your help!

WyoTom · 05-07-2022, 02:09 PM

Don’t worry about it. Get yourself a small electric heater and keep on low at night. Keep your bathroom door open. Make sure you unhook your city water supply at night as it will freeze and may cause damage.
I find even without heater the temp inside will be 10-15 degrees warmer.

ScottPost · 05-07-2022, 02:20 PM

Awesome! Thanks for the tip on city water, will do. We have a small electric ceramic heater we’ll use.
Should I do anything for the lithium batteries in the storage box?

kavm · 05-07-2022, 02:59 PM

Electric heater aside, I would run the propane heating in the camper.

ScottPost · 05-07-2022, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kavm

Electric heater aside, I would run the propane heating in the camper.

Thanks, will do.

ColoradoSwany · 05-07-2022, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kavm

Electric heater aside, I would run the propane heating in the camper.

Just curious as to your reasoning on using propane versus electric ceramic heater?

TTMartin · 05-07-2022, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottPost

Awesome! Thanks for the tip on city water, will do. We have a small electric ceramic heater we’ll use.
Should I do anything for the lithium batteries in the storage box?

With full hookups, your converter will be providing the 12 volt DC to the trailer. If you have the GoPower lithium battery they have a low temperature sensor that will prevent them from being damaged by charging them when the temperature is too low.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kavm

Electric heater aside, I would run the propane heating in the camper.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColoradoSwany

Just curious as to your reasoning on using propane versus electric ceramic heater?

I assume kavm means have the propane furnace set to on, in case the electric heater can't keep up.

You want the interior of the trailer as warm as you can comfortably sleep with. Ideally, keep the temperature set to 65 degrees or higher, day and night, occupied or out for the day.

Your electric heater on the lower heat setting (typically about 750 watts) should have no problem keeping the trailer warm enough, but, having the furnace on and set to 65 as a precaution is a good idea. You don't want to run a portable electric heater on high (typically 1500 watts) as your trailers wiring isn't really designed to carry that load for extended periods.

hondasaurus · 05-07-2022, 06:08 PM

Your electric heater on the lower heat setting (typically about 750 watts) should have no problem keeping the trailer warm enough, but, having the furnace on and set to 65 as a precaution is a good idea. You don't want to run a portable electric heater on high (typically 1500 watts) as your trailers wiring isn't really designed to carry that load for extended periods.[/QUOTE]

1500 w is lest Thant 15 amp. Trailler is wire with 14 ga electric wire so no problem there. Is there were the brakes will trip.

You will be fine with the electric heater,,,,

ScottPost · 05-07-2022, 06:37 PM

Excellent, yes, we have the GoPower batts.
Appreciate all the advice, thanks!

kavm · 05-07-2022, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColoradoSwany

Just curious as to your reasoning on using propane versus electric ceramic heater?

The question has largely been answered. In OP’s situation, I would be mainly worried about freeze related issues. Not that a warm interior is guaranteed to prevent it, it is the best option available to the OP. The OP has a small electric ceramic heater, and it is unclear whether running it would equate to a warm camper. So, I would run the propane furnace in the camper. You need not agree but that’s my reason for the suggestion.

kernwig · 05-07-2022, 09:58 PM

We recently had two nights with a low around 18F in Utah. Little electric heater kept us nice and warm. We never hooked up to the water supply, as I expected it would freeze.

The second morning, the hose that draws from the fresh water tank froze though. Fortunately we were someplace with (heated) restrooms and it was our last day. Drove to lower elevation and warmer temperatures, spayed the intake hose with warm water, and all was well.

ScottPost · 05-07-2022, 10:30 PM

Thanks for the info - I appreciate all the suggestions and data points, so helpful!

tacchino · 05-08-2022, 07:57 AM

Crack a window and the roof vent to keep the humidity down. I'll generally open one of the doors to the under bed storage to get some heat into there as well

Shiny · 05-08-2022, 09:23 AM

I'm curious about tank heaters. Not sure if yours is equipped or not but they haven't been mentioned.

The original owners of our camper had tank heaters installed. We have never turned them on. What are they for, how effective are they? Any downside/risks to running them?

TTMartin · 05-08-2022, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shiny

The original owners of our camper had tank heaters installed. We have never turned them on. What are they for, how effective are they? Any downside/risks to running them?

The two downsides are electric usage, which isn't a factor with full hookups.

The other is they should not be turned on when the tank is empty. Someone, left them on overwinter with empty tanks and melted the bottom of the tank.

kavm · 05-08-2022, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TTMartin

The two downsides are electric usage, which isn't a factor with full hookups.

The other is they should not be turned on when the tank is empty. Someone, left them on overwinter with empty tanks and melted the bottom of the tank.

What are tank heaters? Is it the same thing as heating pads? If so, we have them and plan to use them when we have electric hookup. If they are different, I am quite interested to find out more as we run into worries about freezing.

TTMartin · 05-08-2022, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kavm

What are tank heaters? Is it the same thing as heating pads? If so, we have them and plan to use them when we have electric hookup. If they are different, I am quite interested to find out more as we run into worries about freezing.

Tank heaters and heating pads are the same thing.

Facon RV Tank Heater Pad

ghosthunter · 05-08-2022, 10:49 AM

I think everyone has you covered.

If there is wind 20 degrees will be a lot colder.
In that case I would crack open cupboard doors under galley to make sure heat is getting around any isolated in door piping.

I would also stuff a rag or insulation in the outside access door of your water fill ports. Just in case.

If you have a shore power cord that is hard wired to trailer that port is a source of cold to that compartment.

If you have a plastic water filter on you water hose. I would bring it inside for the night.

kavm · 05-08-2022, 02:01 PM

@TTMartin - Thank you very much! Appreciate it!

cpaharley2008 · 05-08-2022, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghosthunter

I think everyone has you covered.

If there is wind 20 degrees will be a lot colder.
In that case I would crack open cupboard doors under galley to make sure heat is getting around any isolated in door piping.

I would also stuff a rag or insulation in the outside access door of your water fill ports. Just in case.

If you have a shore power cord that is hard wired to trailer that port is a source of cold to that compartment.

If you have a plastic water filter on you water hose. I would bring it inside for the night.

Actually windchill only impacts humans, not inanimate objects....

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