Re: [VAL] Re: Winter Camping

[<gillguy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

   Mark
   I usually don't worry to much about the water lines on the way to 
campsite or back home. Usually after a camping trip I blow the water lines 
out with an air compressor, about 50 PSI is fine. So on the way the water 
lines are usually empty or close to it. I do put a few gallons of water in 
the fresh tank before leaving, this is just in case we need to stop so 
someone can use the bathroom, that way we don't have to worry about 
finding a clean restroom. Of course if we do stop and need the water, I 
still don't worry about the lines. Once we get to the campsite if it's 
freezing I start filling the fresh tank while I set up the trailer. Then I 
disconnect the city water since I don't need it. With the heater going the 
water tank gets a little heat so it want freeze, at least ours hasn't.
   One thing I did do when I first got it, actually after our return from 
our first outing, which was in the summer by the way. I yanked out the 
copper lines since we discovered they leaked in several places. Yea it 
about ruined our first trip with it which was of all places the beach. 
That's another story. Any way I replaced the copper with PEX tubing, used 
red/blue, didn't buy the fancy crimp tool though I used the connectors 
that I used compression fittings. Buy bulk from a plumbing wholesaler and 
you can save money versus the crimp tool. Other than replacing the water 
lines, one thing I hope I improved on was the lines that run over the 
street side wheel well. I put insulation wrap on them since they seemed to 
be close to the wheel well and this was the area that the original copper 
lines were split. The lines seem real close to the ABS wheel well which to 
me provides zilch insulation. Yes using the wrap made it more of a 
challenge to get both lines through there, but yes it can be done and it's 
not really that bad. If you have copper lines in yours now, I would 
probably get a couple 6 foor sections of the spit wrap insulation and 
install it over the copper. May save you some grief later.
   The biggest problem I have winter camping is with my sewer hose. Since 
I don't have a gray tank I need my gray water to drain somewhere, and I 
sure don't need it to just go on the ground to freeze so that when I go 
hook up the sewer hose to dump the tank I bust my butt on a patch of ice. 
The biggest problem with the sewer hose is that it will freeze and then 
crack if you move it. I use a sewer slinky support now, and before I have 
to disconnect to leave I run some warm water in the trailer so it of 
course goes through the sewer hose, then I dump the black tank, run some 
more warm/hot water to flush the sewer hose out then disconnect. This has 
been working for me pretty good now. I used to just deal with it and buy a 
new sewer hose after each winter trip, but we go several times and that's 
just a waste of money. Besides on one trip I didn't replace the hose when 
I got home, so when we got to the campsite, I didn't have one. Some places 
we go the nearest RV parts or Wal-Mart is miles away, heck sometimes we 
have to go many miles to find any store.
   Oh you mentioned running the heater while towing. I can't say I never 
done that, not any more. Normally, I don't, never really have until this 
last trip. We got maybe 1.5-2 hours away and had to take a potty break. 
When we stopped man it was cold outside, and the trailer was cold inside 
too. While they wife and kids were taking their turn using the bathroom I 
fired the heater up. Figured what the heck, I'll run it and see if I can 
have the trailer warm when we get to the campsite. It stayed lit the rest 
of the way, and it was SO nice when we got there at 11 P.M. I don't think 
I tow a complete trip with it going, but you better believe if it's 
freezing again and I have to stop 1-2 hours from getting to a campsite, 
that heater is going to be running.
   Rather long but I hope it helps you out.
   Take care, God bless
   Bobby