Most travel trailers, even four-season trailers that are designed with some weather protection, are really made for warm weather. You can still enjoy the wonders of winter in a travel trailer provided you prepare well. It takes only a few steps to ensure that you stay warm and safe, even in the coldest climate.
Instructions
1. Build an insulating layer around the bottom of your trailer. This is called trailer skirting. Use lumber or plywood, and double it with foam insulation. It should run from the outer edges of your trailer to the ground to prevent cold air from blowing underneath. For added freezing protection, you can put a heat lamp under your water and holding tanks.
2. Insulate all exterior valves and pipes using electrical heat tape. You can find heat tape at your hardware store. Wrap it carefully around all valves and pipes, then add plastic sheeting for water protection and finish with duct tape to secure in place.
3. Insulate interior plumbing as well, when possible. Hard-to-reach interior plumbing can be heated by placing light bulbs in compartments near pipes, dumping valves and the water pump. If you are not able to use bulbs to heat interior plumbing, put antifreeze in the holding tanks and fresh water tank, and use city water.
4. Leave the water heater on at all times. This will help prevent pipes from freezing.
5. Insulate all windows and skylights inside. An easy way to do this is to tape plastic sheeting to windows, adding foam pieces if the window will not be used for light. For skylights, cut foam pieces to dimension and secure in place. You can add acrylic fleece to the foam for a better fit, and place heavy curtains or blankets over doors and windows to further prevent cold drafts.
6. Keep holding tanks closed until ready to dump. This will prevent water from freezing because it is allowed to stay in the pipes for a long time.
7. Keep a few gallons of fresh water at hand in case your city water supply freezes.
Tags: holding tanks, interior plumbing, city water, foam pieces, fresh water, from freezing