When it comes to RV camping, people don’t often think of cold weather RVing. They’re more prepared for hot days on a dusty road and concerned about how to keep cool. But it does get cool, even in the Southwest—especially at night. The desert climate can make temperatures fluctuate significantly. It’s important that you’re prepared for comfortable and safe cold-weather travel. Your trip might take you through campgrounds near Kingman, Arizona, but it’s best to be prepared.
Use The Sun to Give You a Boost
It’s important to make sure your RV is winterized as much as possible. This means it should have measures in place to protect any vulnerable parts —like pipes— from freezing. Considering that RVs have water systems, it’s vital to make sure they don’t freeze over. If they do, it could mean an expensive repair. One way to keep your vehicle warm is to park in sunny spots. Sunlight is a great insulator. What’s more, it’s free.
Use DIY Tricks to Hold Heat In
Some people think it’s too expensive to weatherproof your RV. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be. You can save a huge amount of heat by taking simple measures. These include putting curtains on your windows or using tape and foam to seal them. Place foam in your vents to keep even more warm air in, and try to avoid opening the door any more than is necessary. These are all easy ways to save heat without shelling out a lot of cash.
Make Sure to Consider Your Hoses
A big part of RV camping is making sure you have all the right hoses and hookups for your campsite utilities. If you’re camping in cold weather, don’t allow any water to accumulate in your outdoor hoses. If you’re driving in frozen temperatures, it will freeze, possibly damaging your hose. If you’re up for making an investment, you should consider buying a heated water hose. This will protect your equipment in the cold. If you do end up with ice inside a water hose, make sure you don’t hook it up right away. Either bring it into your camper to warm up or use a blow dryer before hooking up. Cold hoses end up cracked, so this is important maintenance to remember.
Make Provisions For Water Tanks Before Hitting The Road
If you know you’ll be RV camping in a cold climate, prepare ahead by emptying your water tanks before you hit the road. Then add some antifreeze to each. Just make sure it is pink antifreeze specially formulated for RV campers. If you want to, you can also invest in some holding tank water heaters for a little extra protection. These measures ensure you have functioning utilities when it’s time to stop, not split hoses or damaged tanks.
Unhook When You Can
When it comes to sewage hookups, disconnecting when you can is actually a good idea. Sewage can freeze inside your hookups, which can be unpleasant. It can also cause damage to hoses, so it’s best avoided. When possible, take your RV camper off the full sewage hookup. This will make sure you don’t have any damage to those vital utilities.
You might not think you have to worry about freezing weather in Kingman, AZ RV parks. But that’s not the case. However, protecting yourself while camping cold weather is easy. It is all about making sure you have access to utilities that are easily damaged in freezing temperatures. If you’re interested in cold weather RVing, you’ll always be prepared with these tips.