Important Things to Consider When Winter Camping

1. Trip Planning—Before heading out on a winter camping trip, it’s always a good idea to contact your dealer to understand any cold weather limitations or requirements for your specific RV. When choosing a winter campground, double check the weather and road conditions to ensure everything is clear for your trip. It makes a big difference if you’ll be camping when the temperatures drop below freezing so it’s important to have a rough idea of the daily temperatures. Try to pick a campsite that is sheltered from the wind, free of avalanche danger and offers exposure to sunrise to help your RV warm-up quicker. It’s also worth noting that just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you have to camp in the snow. There are plenty of campgrounds and RV parks in warmer parts of the country—think Florida, California, and Texas—that offer beautiful weather for sun-chasing snowbirds.

2. Packing Essentials—First, consider what type of activities you’ll be doing on your trip. Clothing, shoes and accessories will vary if you plan to be active and outside or cozy and inside. Either way, you’ll want to bring plenty of layered clothing, including a waterproof outer layer. Thick socks, a hat and some gloves are also good items to have to keep your body warm. If you plan to be outdoors in the snow, insulated and waterproof shoes are important for keeping your feet dry. For the RV, be sure to bring a shovel, tire chains, wooden blocks to place beneath your stabilizing jacks (stabilizers can freeze and get stuck to the ground) and window covers or drapes to help insulate the interior.

3. Prepping Your RV—Getting your RV prepped and ready for cold weather depends on where you are going, the temperatures (below freezing or not) and the amenities you’ll have at your site. For example, a popular RV park with full hookups will require less winter prep than a remote boondocking spot in the mountains. And while we recommended always checking with your dealer first, below are a few examples of things to check when taking your RV out for a winter camping trip:

   - Wrap your pipes and tanks with heated tape and pads to prevent freezing in your plumbing systems and water lines

   - Add an exterior vehicle skirt to help protect the RV’s underbelly from wind and cold

   - Make sure there are no cracks or holes in your roof, siding and windows to allow cold air inside

   - Check your propane tank levels to ensure you have plenty for your trip (bring extra just in case)

   - Double check your RV and tow vehicle’s tire pressure, as low temperatures often lead to low tire pressure

   If you are camping in an area that will drop below freezing, you will need to evaluate what components of your RV will be usable, and you may need to winterize your RV ahead of your camping trip. If winterizing is your best option—then you’ll need to take some additional steps to ensure that your RV is safe and secure. This includes things like draining all freshwater and holding tanks; draining the water heater, ice maker and any other appliance that uses water; removing water from all water valves including those in the toilet, sinks, and shower; opening and draining the low-point drains; and blowing compressed air or running antifreeze through all plumbing and water pumps. For more information on winterizing your RV, check out this helpful article.