RVs serve as comfortable homes but living in a camper during the winter months is quite tough. It’s not as easy as turning on a furnace and heating the living space.
It can be a challenge to keep your RV interior warm and cozy while also caring for the various RV parts. Unfortunately, even the best rigs offer less insulation than poorly insulated brick houses.
So, how do you keep your camper warm during winters and save the sensitive systems of your RV from the cold?
This post is all about winter living in an RV, from keeping your camper van insulated to winterizing the whole unit.
Tips to Keep Your RV Warm
Winters are the perfect time to experience snowy mountains and icy lake scenes from your RV. However, unlike bmodern houses, the cold weather can chill your RV living space and make the temperature unfavorable for relaxing.
Below, we have discussed tips to keep your RV exterior and interior warm to enjoy outdoor camping in winters.
Insulate RV Floors and Windows
The smallest of clefts and cracks around the windows and doors can defeat all the other measures you might have taken to keep the interior warm. Hence, adding thick flooring, such as rugs and carpets, to the RV floor is a good idea. It will help trap the heat inside the vehicle and save you from stepping onto cold flooring in the winter.
RV window insulation is another most important factor in keeping your living space warm. To insulate the windows, consider adding plastic window sheets, foam insulation, or bubble wrap to the openings around the windows. You can also add thermal curtains on top for extra layering.
You may want to keep the RV windows uncovered and let the sunlight do its job in the afternoon. Once the sun is gone, add the layers again to maintain the natural warmth.
For added warmth, reapply sealant to windows to seal them properly. Reseal any cracked or damaged sealant to make your vehicle winter-ready.
Add Space Heaters
Apart from adding insulation, another great way to maintain temperature is by using small indoor space heaters. While the furnace can keep your space warm, electric space heaters are an efficient way to maintain the temperature inside your RV. This way, you will be able to save propane for other purposes.
For larger RVs, use heavy-duty space heaters from renowned brands for safety. To get the most use out of your space heater, expose the pipes of the RV to interior heat. Adding a unit to the bathroom area will help keep the tank warm and make you feel pleasant after showers.
Heaters help save the propane on board which is necessary if you live in the RV for extended periods. Moreover, these electric heaters don’t take up a lot of space and use relatively less current.
Keep Humidity in Control
After all the insulation and heating equipment, humidity can become a problem inside the RV. Even breathing in winters can introduce moisture into the air and hamper the atmosphere. In addition, any mildew in this weather will worsen by spring and deteriorate the interior.
Hence, it would be best to have an exterior vent to reduce moisture inside the RV and regulate better air circulation. You can insulate the ceiling vents using vent plugs. By reducing the humidity inside, you can keep the space warmer and prevent mold and mildew over time.
Apart from vents, you can install small humidifiers to lower the humidity levels and keep the atmosphere dry. A good humidifier will also keep your environment feeling fresh and pleasant.
Insulate Water Tanks
The gray and black water systems of your RV should also be winter-ready. In addition, they should be well insulated for better heat circulation around them.
The electric holding-tank heaters can keep these systems heated and reduce the chances of freezing water. If you are using a space heater inside, make sure to leave the cabinet doors open.
In addition, any plumbing inside the RV, such as showerheads, needs to be drained of water to avoid freezing. You will also need to empty the tank at regular intervals during colder months.
To save the water lines from damage by frozen water, wrap the hose line with insulating tape. If you are using a freshwater tank, fill it when needed and keep it well insulated from the outside.
Install RV Skirting
Even though most RV manufacturers claim their RVs to be four-season with thermal packages and insulation, there is only enough cold that your camper can survive. So if you are living in extremely cold conditions, your RV will need skirting.
In simple words, skirting is the insulation that wraps around the RV exterior to protect the parts from freezing. It keeps the cold outside and the warm air inside your RV to lessen the impact of cold weather and the wind blowing underneath.
The skirting will keep the different components of your RV in working condition, keep you warm, and prevent the area under the RV from freezing. You can attach heavy-duty skirting to your RV for colder areas. After winters, remove the skirting and then reapply it the next year.
Winterize RV Plumbing
During extremely cold weather, the different components of your RV, including pipes, tanks, and hoses, need to be winterized to prevent freezing. You need to prepare these parts for the colder months to keep them in working condition and increase their longevity.
The most important parts of your RV include the pipes, batteries, and plumbing. Even though the skirting helps prevent damage, you will need to take extra precautions in extreme conditions.
You can start by wrapping your RV pipes in heat tape and using a heated water hose to prevent the water line from freezing. If you don’t want to invest in a heated water hose, you can add tape or insulation to your normal RV hose.
In addition, you will have to drain the water heater yourself and frequently consult the owner’s manual for safety. These precautions are important because if the water hose freezes and cracks, you will have to invest a lot more and clean up the resulting mess.
The next thing you can do is to run antifreeze throughout the plumbing system to keep it safe. Keep in mind that the alcohol-based antifreeze can dry out your RV plumbing over time.
Cooking Indoors
Cooking in the RV oven is another great option during the winters. When you use the oven, the heat from the burner will escape into the atmosphere to keep your RV warm. After you are done baking, leave the oven door open to make the most out of the heat produced.
If you are using the RV stove, such as making morning coffee, the water vapor will result in condensation inside the RV. In this case, make sure you have a proper ventilation system to regulate airflow and get rid of the steam.
You can also try opening the windows in the afternoon to manage ventilation. However, indoor cooling often results in unmanageable condensation inside the camper. Hence, a pressure cooker is a better option to cook one-pot meals and reduce the vapors.
RV Maintenance
No matter the usage of your RV, it will need a tuneup every now and then to keep it working in good condition. For example, if the RV batteries need charging, you will need to do that before the cold weather arrives and drains them.
If your camper is old, you will need to consider giving it a complete check-up to ensure its health. This will help you avoid any major problems from occurring during the winter months.
Best States in the US For Winter RV Living
Once your RV is winter-ready, it’s time to decide on a location. We have rounded up the five best places in the US for RV living during the winters.
Florida Keys, Florida
The Florida Keys is an island chain stretching from Key Largo to Key West at the southern tip of the US state of Florida. The islands consist of white sandy beaches and beautiful sunset viewing sites.
The sun shines in these islands nearly every day, making them suitable for a winter trip in your RV. The Fiesta Key RV Resort is a relaxed island resort that offers 28 acres of ocean views to enjoy the beauty of the Florida Keys.
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach is the perfect location for an RV winter getaway with warm beaches, warm breezes, and no chance of snow. In addition, there are several destinations throughout the city to visit.
The Palm Beach RV Park is an RV campsite that offers spacious parking areas under shady palm trees. It is ideal for people seeking places for lazing around inside and out of the vehicle on peaceful beaches.
Palm Springs, California
Located in the heart of Southern California, Palm Springs stays warm and has beautiful beaches that are accessible all year long. In addition, the destination is home to high-end art, culture, and iconic architecture.
Palm Spring offers ambiance and panoramic views for RVers traveling in the winters. It has many RV parks and resorts for visitors and locals, including Palm Springs Oasis RV, Outdoor Resort Palm Springs, and Hidden Sands RV & Golf Resort.
Breckenridge, Colorado
Breckenridge, also known as Breck, is one of the most popular mountain locations in Colorado. It offers stunning mountain scenery and a variety of outdoor activities to enjoy.
The Tiger Run RV Resort is a short drive from Breck and serves as an ideal location for winter RV living. The luxury resort provides adequate facilities, including hot tubs and a pool. Breck is also close to some of the popular ski towns in Colorado that offer skiing and ice skating opportunities.
Boyne Falls, Michigan
Located in northern Michigan, Boyne Falls is a small village close to Boyne City with family-friendly campgrounds. The East Jordan Tourist Park Campground is open all year round and offers 90 campsites.
The sites provide beach access, as well as bbq facilities, camp stores, and picnic areas. Boyne Falls is also close to Boyne Mountain, a multi-use area with recreational activities, such as skiing.
Best RVs for Winter Living
Spending the winters in an RV is fun and memorable, but for that, you need an RV that can withstand cold temperatures and keep you warm as well. Even though most RVs can manage through daytime temperatures in the winters, the chilly nights can be a problem.
The best RV for winter is one that remains warm, even before you add extra winter installations. Here’s a list of the types of RVs best suited for winter living.
Pop-Up Campers
Pop-up campers, also known as tent trailers, can pop up from the sides and collapse into smaller camps due to their portable structure. Like travel trailers, they have a sleeping area, a kitchen, and a bathroom.
A pop-up camper will stay warm due to its small area, but it won’t provide a lot of insulation against strong winter breezes. Hence, they are most suitable for areas where the temperatures remain tolerable in the nighttime, such as South Florida.
Travel Trailers
Travel trailers, also known as towable trailers, are better than pop-up campers for cold-weather insulation. They come in different shapes and sizes and are mostly equipped with a four-season package.
The trailers with a four-season package are well-equipped for winters with insulation across the whole trailer. They include a heated underbelly, antifreeze water connections, and extra insulation.
Fifth Wheels
Fifth wheels offer high maneuverability, which increases safety on winter roads. Some of these RVs include high-quality winter features that keep the interior cozy during winters.
On the downside, since fifth wheels are spacious with high ceilings, it can be hard to keep them warm. They also require larger parking spaces due to their size.
Class B Motorhome
Class B motorhomes, also called camper vans, have the convenience of traveling in one single vehicle, easy parking, and good insulation due to the smaller living space.
When it comes to full-time RV living in colder areas, it is often better to sacrifice the living space. A smaller RV living space will require less energy to heat up and remain warm during extremely cold temperatures. However, the small living space may not be ideal as many people mostly stay indoors during winters.
Class A Motorhome
These luxury motorhomes are usually ideal for spending time in the winters. They have good insulation, a basement space, and the convenience of traveling in a single-vehicle.
However, class A motorhomes have a large living space and high ceiling, which would require more insulation and heating facilities.
Final Thoughts
Living in an RV during the winter can be a wonderful experience if you have prepared your camper ahead of time and taken all the necessary precautions.
