Just because winter is on the way doesn’t mean that you must put your RV away! As the pandemic makes traveling south difficult, a winter RV trip in Canada is a great holiday alternative. The winter season brings a new set of fun outdoor activities, such as snowshoeing, ice skating and cross-country skiing. All these activities can be enjoyed while camping with your RV, which provides a warm and toasty spot to curl up in after a long day outside. Follow these steps to make sure you’re prepared for winter RV camping.
1. Make sure your RV is well insulated
Having a well-insulated RV can keep those chilly winter winds at bay. Look around your RV and inspect your window seals and weather stripping on doors, windows and access panels, re-caulking or replacing the stripping as needed. Seal your roof vents or skylights with RV vent cushions. Keep your feet warm with insulated floors or a nice thick rug. An RV skirt fitted between the RV frame and ground is also a great way to create a barrier from the cold.
2. Protect your plumbing
A very important part of winter RVing is keeping your pipes from freezing. Add some RV antifreeze to your holding tanks or install tank heaters. Use insulation tape to wrap any exposed hoses and prevent ice dams from building up. To keep pipes inside the RV flowing, let your faucet drip slowly and open cabinet and bathroom doors to let warm air get to the pipes. If you need to dump your tanks, it’s best to do so when they’re full to reduce the risk of freezing.
3. Prepare your RV furnace
You’ll be using your RV furnace constantly in the winter, so clear the furnace of dirt and debris, and check the vents for damage or blockages before you leave. It’s also a good idea to have a certified RV repair technician inspect your furnace if you’re going somewhere extremely cold. If you use propane, stock up on fuel before you go — you won’t want to run out during your trip!
4. Pack for the weather
In addition to having the proper clothing layers such as a breathable base layer, warm middle layers and a waterproof outer layer, you’ll need to have extra supplies in case of an emergency. Pack extra food, batteries, matches and drinking water. For your RV, bring tire chains, a shovel, a hair dryer to defrost equipment, a weather band radio and firewood.
5. Park your RV with the weather in mind
The sun is your best friend when camping in winter — park your RV in a sunny spot to take advantage of the natural heat during the day. If it’s windy, facing the front of your RV towards the wind can counteract the wind chill. Stabilizing jacks can freeze to the ground if it’s snowy or icy, so put them on a wooden board when you park your RV.
6. Use portable heaters safely
Depending on how cold it is, you may need additional space heaters to keep warm. Make sure you follow all the fire risk safety instructions. If you’re using a portable heater, check that you have proper ventilation and working carbon monoxide detectors to avoid getting carbon monoxide poisoning.
Before you head off on your next adventure, make sure you have the proper RV insurance coverage in case of emergencies. If you already insure your RV with OTIP, call 1-800-267-6847 to discuss extending your coverage into winter. If you’d like to get a quote for RV insurance, call 1-866-561-5559.
If you enjoyed reading this article, subscribe to OTIP’s e-communications and you will get more news like this delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you will be entered for a chance to win a $500 gift card!