Winter Camping in a Travel Trailer

Winter camping in a travel trailer is fun and inexpensive. Unless you are traveling to ski resorts, the price for camping space in winter is deeply discounted. Many areas close for the winter, so check before you set out to be sure the campground of your choice is open. Ask for discounts when you call.

Systems Check

• Before setting out for winter camping, check over your travel trailer. Check the heating system to be sure it is operating correctly. Run the heater on propane, battery and electric power. Fill the fresh water tank. Run all of the faucets and flushable toilets to see that the pump is operating well. Check the hot water heater on propane, battery and electricity power options. Run the hot water to make sure all three systems work. Fully charge all batteries, top off with water if necessary. Fill all propane tanks. Check stoves and microwaves to see that they are working properly.

Insulation

• Measure the outside perimeter of the travel trailer. Then measure the space from the bottom of the trailer to the ground. Purchase enough insulating foam panels to completely enclose the open space under your camper. Take these panels with you. Make a foam panel that fits into the air conditioner vent and the fan vent in the camper. Bring this with you when winter camping.

Interior

• Change out regular curtains to insulating curtains. Bring additional blankets or quilts. Add self-heating mattress pads to all mattresses.

Packing

• Pack extra hats, gloves, coats, socks and boots for everyone. Depending on your destination, bring ice-fishing gear, snowshoes and cross-country skis. Always bring a camera. Have a GPS system installed in your car or bring a handheld device with you. Always have a cellphone available.

Destinations

• The Southeast United States has mild winters. This is a great time to visit state and national parks in this area. Keep up with the weather as ice storms are common in the South. The desert Southwest is another great destination for winter campers. The desert gets cold at night, but daytime temperatures are cool and pleasant. The Northeast has many ski areas and winter destinations. Winter camping in New York's Adirondack Park offers plenty of activities. Niagara Falls is cold but beautiful in winter. The West Coast offers mild winters and snow covered mountains. Check before heading across any mountain region. Roads might close suddenly because of storms, ice and snow.

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How to Convert My Travel Trailer to Use in the Winter

Winter camping in a travel trailer involves winterizing the vehicle so that the pipes and water supply do not freeze and insulating the trailer to stay warmer. Materials are available that help keep the trailer functional during cold or subfreezing temperatures so that you can continue to enjoy camping or vacations throughout the season.

Things You'll Need

• Pipe heat tape
• Antifreeze
• Water tank heater
• Skirting or foam core board
• Plastic or bubble wrap

Tips For You

1. Clean the trailer thoroughly, especially in the cooking area. Make sure that no food crumbs are in the cabinets or on counters since rodents find entries into trailers to eat since food resources are scarce outdoors in the winter.
2. Wrap the water pipes with heat tape that will keep the pipes from freezing in subfreezing weather. Besides the heat tape, you can also find water tank heaters that look like small heating pads you can lay on top of your fresh water tank to keep it from freezing.
3. Put nontoxic antifreeze in the black or grey holding tanks to keep the waste from freezing. When staying in an RV park, check with the office to see what kinds of antifreeze they allow. Some jurisdictions regulate the kinds of antifreeze that people can use since toxic chemicals can be a source of water pollution.
4. Cover the windows with plastic or bubble wrap. You can use masking tape to hold the tape to the windows. A surprising amount of energy transfers through windows. Bubble wrap is also an effective way to insulate the doors and windows of travel trailers, especially if you use the wrap that has one-inch bubbles. Cut the bubble wrap to fit the window and doors and dampen the surfaces with a spray bottle of water or use a wet cloth. Place the bubble wrap, bubble-side facing the glass, against the window or door, using your hands to stick the wrap to the surface.
5. Use foam board or heavy fabric to enclose the base of the travel trailer when temperatures are well below freezing or if you are going to spend days at a time using your travel trailer in the winter. Cut the foam or fabric to fit the distance from the ground and the base of the trailer. You can attach the foam or fabric to the trailer using wide masking tape. If the weather is windy, anchor the bottom of the protective cover using bricks or other heavy, dense objects. You can also use commercially available skirting for your camper.
6. Run your vehicle's engine at least once daily to keep the auxiliary batteries for the travel trailer and the towing vehicle fresh. Cold weather depletes batteries.

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