Winterizing for Fulltimersby NewLeaf
Answer: We can provide several suggestions about what you should do to get ready for winter living in your 5th wheel. Try to find out whether your RV was built with extra insulation and heated bays. This is important to keep the plumbing from freezing. If your RV was not built for winter RVing, then you will have to take steps to insulate the RV’s tanks and pipes. Let me start with the water supply at the campground. If you are lucky, the water supply will be accessed via drain down type spigot/faucet. Drain downs protect themselves if you take the step to shut them when you are away from the campground. They look like an old-fashioned water pump handle. They are called drain downs because when you shut off the water, all the water inside the spigot/faucet and supply pipe drains out below ground thus preventing freezing. You then remove your water supply hose until it is needed. In this scenario, you would use the water stored in your fresh water tank and replenish it as needed. If you don't have this sort of spigot and want to leave the water connected for the winter season, then you will have to take steps to protect the spigot/faucet and any part that sticks up out of ground as well as you water hose (I prefer to use PEX pipe) with heat tape. I use short pieces of electrical tape to attach the heat tape to all the water supply elements that need protection. Cover the heat tape with some insulating material to keep the heat in and then protect the insulation with duct tape to keep moisture out. This is a more permanent approach at protecting the water supply side of your camper. If you have never heard of heat tape, it is a heating device that you plug into an electrical outlet. The heat tape creates heat and keeps things from freezing. Heat tape is sold at hardware stores, farm supply, and large DIY outlets. Heat tape comes in many lengths to suit your needs. Protecting your 5th wheel is important too. At all times, keep the temperature in the 5th wheel at a minimum of 55 degrees. I use two small electric ceramic heaters to keep the interior warm. If you pay for electricity then you might consider using your furnace. Just be aware that furnaces can run out of fuel. Put skirting around the bottom of your fifth wheel to keep the wind chill down and keep heat in. Keep two 100-watt lamps lit under the fifth wheel at all times. Place them under the holding tanks and the sewer drain valves. A small electrical heater would also work but you will have to take precautions to keep moisture and water away from the heater. Instead of the light bulbs, you could add heating blankets (not the ones you use in bed) to the underside of the fifth wheel where the holding tanks are located. A few ideas. We welcome other comments.
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