Holiday Area: Cold Weather

How to Cold Weather Camp in Your RV

While “snowbirds” head south to warmer climates such as Florida's as soon as fall passes, others relish the sensory deprivation that winter camping affords. Modern RVs are equipped to deal with colder temperatures, and the payoffs are lighter traffic on the roads and the pick of spots at campgrounds.

Winterizing Regime

For short trips, many winter RVers drain and close off their water system entirely, carrying water in portable containers instead. For longer adventures, preparing the RV's water system, including pipes and tanks, is essential. Some RVs have heated water tanks, but if yours does not, add a couple of quarts of RV antifreeze to both blackwater and graywater tanks, taking care to run the antifreeze through any pipes which extend below floor level, such as the shower P-trap. If you winterize, take bottled water to drink and brush your teeth. A neat trick if you have an RV with several exposed pipes is to leave a faucet dripping, which will at least keep water running through the system and alert you if the water starts to freeze solid. It is also worth taping up any exposed pipes with heat tape before departure, although most modern RVs place pipes adjacent to heat ducts.

Site Selection

Pick a spot that catches the sun and has a natural windbreak, such as hedges or trees, and park the RV with the front or rear facing the wind, rather than letting the longer sides catch the full brunt of the chill. If parking up for a while, placing skirting around the RV’s base will help keep the undercarriage area warm and protect the pipes. As soon as you’re set up, either connect the electrical system to the hookup to turn on the heating system, or heat water with the propane gas tanks. If the shower and bathroom facilities are open in your RV park or campground, use them rather than filling up the graywater tanks, even if it means a chilly trek to the shower block. Even if you are entering a campsite under benign conditions, don’t forget to visualize the return journey after snowfall.

Cabin Heating

Since the RV’s forced air furnace will provide the primary source of heat, make sure your propane tanks are full before setting off, because the heaters will consume more gas than cookers or other appliances. Watch out for the furnace fan draining the batteries, too, if not hooked up to an outlet, since it draws up to 7 amps, bearing in mind that even batteries can freeze in cold temperatures when not fully charged. Cold batteries also draw more power to start up. Coating the terminals with petroleum jelly helps ignition. Make sure you have carbon monoxide monitors in the cabin when running propane heaters. If no electric hookup is available, a generator is a huge bonus. It will keep the batteries charged, but make sure the exhaust is well ventilated and be prepared to put up with a fair bit of noise.

Miscellaneous Tips

If you don’t have thermo-pane windows, keep them covered with curtains, and seal roof vents and skylights to minimize upward heat escape. Sheets of Styrofoam also make easily removable insulators for windows and the main windshield, while strips of insulator around entry doors will also minimize the main source of drafts. Have a set of snow chains on board; they are obligatory in some states. Even if you’re not planning to head into snowy areas, you never know when you might be caught in a blizzard. RV Travel recommends investing in a portable dehumidifier to dry out the cabin before leaving, since wood cabinets in particular can accumulate moisture during summer, which will cause condensation when it's cold.

How to Stay Healthy in Cold Weather

Cold weather can bring with it tons of fun. The winter sports, the holiday season, ski trips and cuddle sessions near cozy fires all begin as the weather drops. Unfortunately, cold weather can also bring with it flu season, sore throats, pneumonia and the common cold. Though there's nothing we can do to immunize ourselves completely from these illnesses, there are some preventative measures we can take to reduce our chances of feeling under the weather during cold weather.

Things You'll Need

Blankets
Cold-weather apparel
Tea
Vitamins and supplements

Tips For You

Keep warm blankets, thick socks, dry towels, gloves and hats in easily accessible locations, including hall closets, cars and backpacks, though backpacks really only need a back-up pair of socks and gloves in case they become muddy or wet during the day.
Stock up on cold-weather foods, like soups and stews. Keep warm drinks on-hand, as well. Tea can be great for sore throats. Chai tea, green tea, and tea with lemon and honey are all popular in cold weather.
Make sure your family takes multivitamins every day. Serve them with breakfast or dinner, or pack them in lunches before everyone leaves the house.
Keep Airborne or another preventative supplement on-hand if you feel that you will be in close quarters with people for long periods of time, anticipate shaking a lot of hands, know that other kids at school are sick, or are beginning to feel tired or run down yourself. Look for a supplement that contains vitamins like vitamin A, C, E, selenium and zinc.
Place vitamin C drops and sore throat lozenges in your bag or purse. Take them at the onset of cold or flu-like symptoms.
Make an appointment for your family members to receive their flu shots. Stock up on any medications you may be lacking, such as pain relievers, decongestants, and sinus and allergy medicines before the cold weather sets in. This way you'll be prepared should the weather take a turn for the worst. Also make sure your thermometer is functioning properly.
Stay indoors during extremely cold or wet weather. Don't send kids outside with wet hair, and keep their gloves, hats and shoes as dry as possible when they're playing outside for extensive periods.

How to Travel With a Baby in Cold Weather

Traveling with a baby anywhere is an event, but in the winter it can be even more challenging. Aside from the everyday needs of your infant, when traveling you have to make sure you are keeping your baby sufficiently warm, whether in the car or a winter cabin. Factor the winter weather conditions of your current location and final destination into what you pack for the trip and what you may need to purchase for your little one. Keeping safety and your baby's comfort first are essential to a successful winter trip with your little one.

Things You'll Need

Long-sleeved bodysuits
Sweaters
Leggings
Pants
Socks
Footed pajamas
Soft-soled shoes
Snowsuit or bunting
Wearable blanket
Diapers and wipes
Milk and baby food
Car seat
High-quality stroller, optional
Winter-weather baby carrier, optional

Tips For You

Include cold weather clothing and accessories in your baby's diaper bag. It's a good idea to pack two full outfits per day for your baby, unless you will be able to do laundry at your destination. Include long-sleeved body suits, a few lightweight sweaters, pants, socks, footed fleece pajamas and soft-soled shoes. You also want to pack a snowsuit or bunting if you plan to take your baby out briefly in snowy conditions, along with a warm hat and blankets to cover them in a stroller. A wearable zip-up blanket is also ideal to keep the baby safely warm at night in a home you are visiting that may be drafty or that is not heated well.
Pack food and diapers so that they're easily reachable in the diaper bag. When your baby's fussy and crying in the car or on a plane, no matter what the weather, you don't want to have to dig to the bottom of the bag to find what you need. Take advantage of the side pockets most diaper bags come with to store a bottle or two and a couple of diapers and wipes.
Dress your baby in layers on the day of travel. Chances are you'll be going from indoors to outdoors frequently when you are traveling, and the temperatures in different buildings can change drastically. Keep the layers light, breathable and easy to take off, such sweatpants or jeans over leggings, and a long-sleeved shirt and light sweater over top of a bodysuit. Experts with the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends dressing babies in one more layer than you put on yourself in winter weather.
Place your baby in the car seat without a coat or anything bulky for car travel. Coats and after-market car seat covers that go over the back of the car seat restrict the harness from properly securing your baby. The bulkiness makes the harness too loose, which increases the risk that your child could be thrust forward from the seat in a crash, according to Dr. Benjamin Hoffman. Place no more than a lightweight sweater on your baby before putting him in the car seat. Once he is strapped in, you can keep your baby warm with blankets or by laying his coat over him. You can also find safe car seat covers that go over only the top of the car seat after the baby is strapped in, providing better protection from the cold without interfering with the harnesses.
Take along a -quality, preferably lightweight stroller ideal for cold weather walks, if possible. If you plan on short walks or excursions outdoors on your trip you'll want a stroller that can easily cover your baby, blocking out the cold and wind, and has wheels that can handle a little snow with ease. If you prefer baby-wearing carriers, some stores and online retailers offer baby carriers made of warm and insulating materials that cover the baby from feet to neck. Another option includes warm ponchos you can wear over yourself and your baby in the carrier.
Monitor your baby's level of coldness when you are outside. Whether you are just going for a brief walk or you want to introduce your baby to the world of snow, remember that babies cannot regulate their body temperature the way adults can and can't tell you how cold they are. Check his face, ears, fingers and toes for signs of coldness and take him back inside if he feels cold or looks uncomfortable.