Can you live in a camper in the winter? Sure you can!
That said, winter RV living is all about one thing: preparation. Obviously, you will want to keep yourself warm and cozy in your rig throughout the winter. You’ll also want to keep the underbelly of the rig warm. If you don’t, you could experience some big problems. Your RV’s pipes can burst just like the ones at home, and the cold weather is killer on your RV batteries.
Use the tips below to learn how to keep an RV warm in winter.
How to Winterize a Camper to Live In
Wondering how to winterize a camper to live in? You are not alone. This is something many full time RVers wonder about. Fortunately, while the RV winterization process is important, it’s also pretty straightforward and once it’s done, you can rest easy knowing your RV plumbing is protected for the chilly season.
Essential Items For Winterization
First, gather the items below, so you are fully prepared to start the winterization process.
- RV Antifreeze
- RV Skirt
- Heated Water Hose
- Heat Tape
- Tank Heaters
Protecting Plumbing
Some people choose to drain and winterize their RV plumbing using RV antifreeze. The problem with this? You’ll be left without any running water in your rig, something that’s fine for the short term, but not ideal if you’re living full time in an RV in winter.
The other option? Find ways to keep the plumbing warm. You’ll want to wrap any exposed pipes in heat tape. Use heat tape on your sewer hose as well, and make sure to leave both tanks closed until they are full and ready to be dumped. Invest in a heated RV water hose and tank heaters.
Protecting Batteries
Some types of batteries can freeze if they get too cold and this will ruin them. Make sure your RV batteries are in a place that stays warm, even when the coldest weather rolls in. If they aren’t consider adding some extra insulation to the battery compartment.
Insulating an RV
If you’re camping in extreme cold, put your RV in a skirt. Skirting the RV will keep the battery bays, plumbing, and other important components warm. If you don’t have a skirt, you can stack bales of hay around the bottom of the rig, or even pack snow around the RV for added insulation.
How to Keep an RV Warm in Winter
Adding a skirt to your RV will help keep your plumbing warm and will also add some warmth to the interior of your RV. That said, you’ll likely want to seek out other ways to keep things cozy inside.
Here are our tips for doing just that.
Cover the Windows
Another thing you’ll want to address in order to keep heat in your RV in winter? The windows. RV windows lose a ton of heat, no matter how insulated the manufacturer claims they are. There are several ways to insulate them, including using foam insulation boards, bubble insulation, or solar blankets.
For extra warmth, line your windows with heavy-weight thermal curtains.
Invest in Rugs
Some simple rugs can help insulate your RV floor and keep your feet warm when staying in a camper for the winter. We recommend throwing down as many rugs as needed to cover the entire floor until the weather warms up.
Use Vent Pillows
Hot air can escape out of the vents in your RV roof even if the vents are closed. Grab some special RV vent pillows to put into the vent openings and keep everything air tight.
Grab Some Space Heaters
Space heaters are wonderful to have when living full time in an RV in winter. They can be used to heat the entire rig on warmer winter days and on the coldest days they can supplement the heat put out by the propane furnace. They are great for those times when the propane runs out, and can even be used under the RV to keep water lines from freezing or help thaw them when the damage has already been done.
Head South
Of course, you could also just avoid the cold entirely and keep your RV warm by heading to warmer weather. Many RVers head to places like Florida, south Texas, Arizona, and Southern California to avoid the cold and stay comfortably warm all year long.
Winter RV Living Checklist
Now that your RV has been winterized and the interior is as cozy as it can be, it’s time to check a few last minute tasks off your checklist before the winter sets in.
Check Your Seals
You may also want to go over your RV windows and doors with a layer of RV sealant or caulk to ensure they’re weather-tight. Double-check the weather stripping to ensure nothing needs to be replaced, and if you find cracked or damaged stripping, replace it!
Top Off the Propane
Your propane RV furnace is important because it warms the interior of your RV as well as the underbelly, ensuring your RV plumbing doesn’t freeze. Unfortunately, the furnace cannot run if it doesn’t have enough fuel. Therefore, you will want to top off your propane supply before the cold weather rolls in and make sure to keep extra fuel on hand.
Test the Furnace
Speaking of your RV furnace, make sure to test it out before it gets cold out. Turn it on and make sure it kicks on and warms the space properly. This is also a good time to clean out the vents using a vacuum cleaner.
Stock Up on Winter Gear
Lastly, make sure you have all the winter gear you need before the first real cold front. Dig out the coats and hats and buy new gear for kids who may have outgrown last year’s items. Waterproof boots are a must-have for outdoor activities during the winter months and keeping plenty of gloves around is always appreciated.
The Best RVs for Winter Living
The best RV for winter living is one that’s fully self-contained and as insulated as possible. You’ll want to ensure it has an onboard furnace, double panel windows, and is rated for four-season use with a heated underbelly to help keep pipes from freezing.
Some RV manufacturers put out more solid four-season rigs than others. Some of the best four-season RVs are made by Northwood, with Winnebago, Lance, and Grand Design also putting out some solid contenders.
Not sure an RV is right for winter RV living? Consider renting the same model out on RVshare before committing to buying it.
FAQs on How to Winterize a Travel Trailer
After learning all about how to winterize your travel trailer, you may have a few questions left about how to keep an RV warm in winter! Let’s see if we can answer them.
Do I need to winterize my RV if I live in it?
Yes, you will want to make sure your plumbing and other systems are protected from the cold if you’re living fulltime in an RV in winter. You’ll also want to make sure your RV is well-insulated, especially if you plan to stay in it.
Wondering how to winterize a camper to live in? We outlined this in the sections above.
Essentially, you’ll need to wrap your plumbing pipes with heat tape. You may want some extra space heaters, both for your own warmth and to keep your pipes from freezing. You’ll also want to make sure your RV has adequate insulation, whether that’s insulating foam, heat tape, thermal curtains, an RV skirt, or a combination of several of those things.
What is the best way to winterize a travel trailer?
If you won’t be staying in it or don’t need running water, the best way to winterize a travel trailer is to remove your hookups and drain the RV water system entirely. You’ll want to get all of the water out so it doesn’t freeze and cause a pipe to burst. To prevent that, you’ll also want to drain the water heater and blow out your water lines or add antifreeze.
How many gallons of antifreeze does it take to winterize a camper?
If you choose to winterize your rig by emptying the water system entirely, your may be wondering how much antifreeze to buy. Generally, it takes at least 2-3 gallons of antifreeze to winterize a camper, depending on the size of the camper.
As you can see, living in an RV full time in winter is totally doable, but it does require a bit of extra prep work. Make sure you use the tips above to prepare your rig for the cold months, so you can stay cozy and protect your RV’s plumbing and batteries throughout the winter!
