Have you made your winter RVing plans but? If you’re questioning the place full-time RVers go within the winter, or easy methods to make your RV livable within the winter… Let Harvest Hosts assist!
When winter is bearing down on RVers, the feelings vary dramatically. For some, that is the time to pack it in for the yr. Other RVers see it because the season to transition to Florida or the desert southwest. And for some, that is the season they’ve been ready for.
Regardless of which of those individuals you may be, that is your information to you, your RV, and the chilly winter season developing. If you’re nonetheless open minded about this winter season, maybe Harvest Hosts can present some perception and assist as you make your winter RVing choices.
Is It Hard to Live in a Camper or RV within the Winter?
If you’re keen on nature, a slower tempo, and fewer individuals, winter is a season custom-made for you. When you camp throughout the winter months—in colder climates—you’re going to get a break from the summer season busyness and have an opportunity to take a deep breath.
Perhaps the lone draw back to tenting within the winter is the few further precautions you’ll have to take. Keeping you, your loved ones, and your RV protected throughout the winter RVing season takes a bit of further work. But at Harvest Hosts, we imagine it’s completely price it! And right here is why.
Why You Should Consider RVing This Winter
Camping within the winter permits you and your loved ones to expertise nature in a extra intimate means. The air may be colder, however there are many causes to get on the market and revel in it. And listed below are a few of our prime causes so that you can be on the highway this winter.
Quiet Moments and Still Nights
In the hustle and bustle of summer season actions, we are able to lose monitor of the connection to nature’s patterns. Winter is a reminder to pause—or at the very least decelerate—in life for a season. Sitting outdoors throughout a chilly day with the heat of the solar hitting your shoulders is a quick reminder to get pleasure from what nature supplies.
The Views
When RVers are gone and the clouds depart the sky, you may be amazed by the celebrities. We don’t notice the sunshine air pollution we expertise whereas tenting in an RV park or with different RVers round us. Depending in your location, you may even catch a glimpse of the Milky Way.
It isn’t simply the sky that gives wonderful views both. When the leaves have given up, fallen to the bottom, and the timber are naked, there’s nothing in the best way of our eyes from seeing a bit of additional. Plus, these vistas usually tend to be loved with out the crowds.
Fewer People
While faculties are crammed with youngsters and numerous RVers are afraid of the chilly, you’ll get pleasure from every part with fewer individuals. If you discover tenting much more gratifying when there aren’t a ton of individuals, it is a nice time to be out and about within the campgrounds.
Off-Season Pricing
With fewer individuals comes decrease costs. Campgrounds are sometimes operating decrease charges and never almost as aggressive to get in. Fuel costs aren’t inflated due to peak season pricing. And there’s a freedom of motion within the winter that doesn’t exist in the summertime due to how a lot simpler it’s to seek out campgrounds.
Different Outdoor Experiences
Winter RVing affords a special type of expertise. If you RV close to the slopes, you possibly can get pleasure from snowboarding, snowboarding, and even tubing. Perhaps you get pleasure from backcountry snowboarding, snowshoeing, and even snowmobiling. Or possibly you need to do some winter mountaineering. All of those choices can be found.
If you’re touring with youngsters, you might need some wonderful snowball fights, large snowmen, and even sledding. And in spite of everything of this, you come inside your heat RV for some scorching cocoa. How is that this not an incredible alternative?
Winterizing Your RV & Helpful Winter Maintenance
If you’re nonetheless decided to place your RV in storage, there are some steps you’ll want to take previous to placing it away. Winterizing your RV is the method of defending your RV from the chilly, freezing temperatures and defending it from critters coming into inside too. Along with preparations for storage, there are some upkeep objects you may need to verify off this time of yr too.
All about RV’s does a wonderful job of explaining fundamental winterization in his Youtube sequence on the topic.
Keys To Winterizing Your RV
The largest objective for winterizing is eliminating water out of your RV. By following these pointers, you can be prepared for spring very quickly.
Remove All Water
Removing water out of your RV’s home system protects your RV plumbing pipes from potential cracking. When the water freezes it expands and may trigger these main issues and smash your spring journey plans.
Remove Water Filters
In the method of eradicating all of the water out of your RV, you’ll want to make certain your filters are included on this course of. Water can stay within the filters and crack the housing and even develop mould in your filters. This will assist make certain they’re prepared to get replaced come Spring.
Drain the Hot Water Heater
Another space that must be drained is your scorching water heater. In your RV scorching water heater, you will note a drain plug. This drain plug ought to solely be eliminated after the strain has been launched through scorching water traces inside—or the low factors for every RV water line. The low factors will be present in your RV handbook.
Drain Your Gray and Black Water Tanks
For the final dump of the yr, you’ll want to take your time. Hook up and permit it to empty every part for an prolonged time frame. After you have got allowed it to empty, it’s time to flush the system along with your cleansing wand or you should use an exterior system to scrub the tank.
Protect Your RV From Rodents
This is commonly ignored within the winterizing course of. Your finest protection towards rodents is to easily not permit them in—which is means simpler mentioned than performed. Here are some locations to look to shut up your RV a bit of higher.
Fill any gaps, holes, or cracks from beneath with spray foam or a silicone caulk
Block the basement area from the dwelling area
Check round electrical traces, plumbing traces, and different wires
Exterior lights with wires operating inside might depart gaps too
Once you guarantee there aren’t areas for mice to get by means of, you’ll nonetheless need to take different precautions like eradicating all meals from the RV. Never retailer meals in your RV over the winter months—particularly in case you are placing it in storage.
If your RV is a motorhome, you’ll need to begin your RV weekly—or at the very least bi-weekly—so animals don’t make nests in and round your engine. It additionally helps get rid of rodents from seeing RV wiring as lunch.
Finally, you should use deterrents like moth balls, important oils, or different pure deterrents inside your RV. This will assist deter them from discovering your RV as a winter retreat, and can hopefully push them down the highway elsewhere.
Other Good Winter Maintenance Ideas
This can also be a good time of yr to deal with different routine upkeep. During the winter storage season, you may need to get your oil modified in your motorhome or turbines, give the surface a superb cleansing, and even look after the roof of your RV.
Preparing Your RV for the Cold
There are some individuals who select to hunker down in a single location and benefit from the winter season of their RV. Here we are going to have a look at among the finest methods to organize for the winter in your RV—even in case you are deciding to maintain driving your RV within the winter circumstances.
Winter In One Location
It is standard for individuals to take care of dwelling of their RV throughout the winter months—they only keep put to assist make controlling the temperatures inside a bit of simpler. If you keep in a single location, there are a number of issues you are able to do to assist keep heat and benefit from the season.
Use Portable Heaters
Using an electrical or propane area heater is a good way to assist preserve propane, make the most of campground facilities, and direct the warmth the place you need it most. Putting one within the basement of your RV may also help maintain your flooring heat and shield your pipes from freezing.
Insulate Your RV Windows
This applies to staying in a single location and touring down the highway. Insulated home windows assist greater than you may suppose. Get your self some insulated curtains or get further plexiglass to assist create boundaries. If you select plexiglass, you possibly can merely use double sided tape to connect it.
Control Moisture
During the winter months, you’ll discover numerous condensation in your home windows. When the water drips down, you will get numerous mould round your window sills and in different areas of your RV.
Along with the condensation, your RV is quite a bit tighter and doesn’t get the benefit of open home windows to permit air to circulate by means of your RV. Showering and cooking additionally contributes to your moisture within the RV—you may discover your towels and dish towels getting that beautiful mildew scent. To assist stop this, there are a number of steps you possibly can take to scale back humidity. But among the finest methods to handle that is to get a dehumidifier.
Use a Heated RV Water Hose
This applies to any winter tenting, you have to use a heated RV water hose if you find yourself winter tenting. Water pipes and hoses can freeze in a short time in extreme temperatures.
Use an RV Skirt
RV Skirts are boundaries to the underpart of your RV. It helps stop wind from getting underneath your RV. Some RVers will even make the most of a heater underneath right here as a result of it’s insulated by the earth beneath, the RV above, and your skirting across the outdoors. This is very helpful for people who find themselves going to hunker down for an extended time frame in a single location. There are a number of sorts of skirts you should buy—or create your self.
Traveling During The Winter Months
When you journey throughout the winter months, you’ll need to be sure to know what you’re getting your self into, and monitor potential inclement climate patterns.
RV Winter Tires and Chains
Just like your automobile, having good tires come winter is crucial. The fast change in climate could cause numerous various climate and also you received’t need to get caught in a foul scenario. If you’re deciding to strive your hand at going over a mountain go, you may discover out tire chains are legally a should. If you’re decided to make this journey, make sure you are ready with tire chains and you understand how to place them on and take them off in a well timed method.
House and Car Batteries
The chilly winter climate could cause—or reveal—points with batteries. It is considerably widespread for individuals to find their batteries go useless throughout the winter months. By checking your batteries earlier than that is your actuality, it can save you your self some complications. Another factor you are able to do is use a battery hotter to assist regulate the temperature of your battery for optimum utilization.
Driving Your RV
Whether you’re driving a motorhome or pulling your RV, there are some issues to recollect this time of yr. But lowering your pace, breaking earlier, and being conscious of icy circumstances goes a good distance for the security of your travels.
Best Winter National Park Destinations
You’ve determined you’re going to benefit from the peace and quiet of winter RVing. Now the place are you heading? Well, there’s nothing like having fun with the great thing about a nationwide park come winter. And we aren’t simply speaking about these heat climate places both. Check out a few of our favourite nationwide parks to get pleasure from throughout the winter.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
This is essentially the most visited National Park within the United States, however winter is rather less hectic, and the temperatures aren’t excessive. With peaks reaching as much as 6,634 toes—Clingmans Dome—you possibly can get pleasure from mountain mountaineering with out all the necessity for snow footwear. If this pursuits you, you possibly can keep contained in the park at Cades Cove Campground.
Shenandoah National Park
Not too distant from the Smokies, you possibly can go to this gem in Virginia. While this park will get a bit of colder, they’re nonetheless open yr spherical—even the well-known Skyline Drive is open yr spherical. This park has loads of mountaineering, pictures, and even has the chance for snowshoeing.
Big Bend National Park
A park that’s fairly distant, however fairly nice come winter is Big Bend National Park. This park is positioned in south Texas, and has a January common low of 39 levels Fahrenheit. That makes this a fantastic vacation spot come winter. There are loads of mountaineering trails, OHV trails, and loads of overlooks for images. In this National Park, you possibly can truly take a ship throughout to Mexico for lunch. It is a novel park and excellent for desert out of doors lovers.
Other Great Cold-Weather National Parks For RV Camping
- Rocky Mountain National Park
- Olympic National Park
- Acadia National Park
- Mount Rainier National Park
Cold Weather Destinations
If you’re searching for chilly climate locations for RV tenting, our assumption is you’re searching for some journey. Otherwise you’d most likely head south. With that in thoughts, let’s take a fast look at another locations to RV camp—particularly when you’re searching for locations to ski this winter.
Lake Tahoe Area
There are a number of nice locations to ski round Lake Tahoe and the world may be very RV-friendly. There are a number of nice campgrounds so that you can get pleasure from with FHU—full hook ups. Plus, yow will discover Harvest Hosts places within the space as properly.
Pagosa Springs, Colorado
In southern Colorado, yow will discover the city of Pagosa Springs. With a number of campgrounds within the space and a ski resort not distant, this city is a superb place come winter. The river that runs by means of city has pure scorching springs, there are nice espresso retailers, eating places, and loads of out of doors actions.
Lake Placid, NY
In and round Lake Placid, NY, you’ll discover tons of issues to do and a number of other campgrounds with winter hookups. This space will get a ton of powder and thrives within the winter months. With snowboarding, snowboarding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and a lot extra, it is a great spot to get pleasure from lovely views and loads of winter exercise.
Warm Weather Destinations
Some RVers put together for the colder temperatures by escaping all of them collectively. They head south or southwest the place the winter temperatures are rather more gentle and the sunny days nonetheless exist. By doing this, you keep away from the necessity to do numerous the winterizing we now have beforehand talked about.
If this sounds just like the winter you need to expertise, you’ll have to determine the place to go and how much winter journey you need to expertise. Numerous RVers wish to be on the transfer with their RV, and a few try new areas each couple of weeks. Others like to remain for a complete season—these are known as the snowbirds. Let’s try some favourite heat climate locations for you this winter.
Favorite Snowbird Destinations
If you’re performed with the chilly and need these heat sunny days, there are numerous nice locations to go like Florida, Arizona, Texas, and California come winter to flee the chilly and revel in hotter days.
Snowbirds usually return to the identical place again and again. By doing this, they’ll create their household away from house, meet up with pals, and get acquainted with an space. By dwelling this life-style, you get to chase the nice and cozy climate, and nonetheless have these comforts of being house. Here are some favourite snowbird locations.
Yuma, Arizona
Dubbed the “Sunniest Place in the World,” Yuma will get a mean of 308 days of sunshine per yr. This winter paradise boasts heat sunny days, cool evenings, and tons of outside actions. An further bonus to Yuma in winter is its easy accessibility to Los Algodones—Mexico’s medical tourism hub.
Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs has turn into an oasis for lots of snowbirds. With the ridiculous variety of golf programs, lovely climate, and different out of doors actions, you possibly can simply determine why it is a hotspot come winter. The added bonus of being right here is that the city strikes at a slower tempo compared to different southern California cities like San Diego and Los Angeles.
Tampa, Florida
This coastal metropolis has actually grown over the previous a number of years and affords every part a significant metropolis within the United States affords. If you aren’t into the main cities, you possibly can rating nice RV campgrounds in surrounding cities and have easy accessibility to Tampa. Here you’ll get to benefit from the Gulf Coast, lovely white sand seashores, and the enjoyment of a average local weather.
Other Top Destinations
There are loads of different places to contemplate in these states and extra. Check out some extra places in Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, and Florida right here.
Consider South of the Border
If you’re wanting to move south a bit of additional, you may try a few of these spots in Mexico. By crossing the border in Arizona or California, you possibly can entry some actually nice RV campground locations in Mexico.
If you need to proceed boondocking, there are numerous nice boondocking places in Baja Mexico too. With loads of sunshine, your batteries will keep topped off. The climate is snug throughout the day and cools off within the night, so that you don’t want to make use of an excessive amount of warmth or air-con. Plus, there are sufficient those that boondock in Baja Mexico that you just’ll discover some group alongside the best way.
Winter Camping in Arizona
There are loads of causes to contemplate Arizona this winter. The sunny days, cool nights, and exquisite sunsets set this place aside from anyplace else within the United States come winter. While Yuma, Phoenix, and Quartzite are standard places, there are loads of different points of interest and locations to go to in Arizona.
Experience the Florida Difference
Florida grows by almost 5% every winter with the earliest snowbirds heading down in mid-October. There is a purpose Florida is the preferred vacation spot come winter. With almost 80% of the inhabitants within the United States dwelling within the jap a part of the nation, Florida is a simple vacation spot for a lot of chilly climate dwellers to get to.
On prime of the accessibility, Florida affords contemporary citrus throughout the winter months, heat sunny days, seashores galore, and loads of issues to do. With your Harvest Hosts Membership, you possibly can get pleasure from loads of Harvest Hosts places in Florida that may allow you to uncover extra of the Sunshine state.
Your Destination Awaits
There are some pluses and minuses within the RV life, however chasing your perfect scenario isn’t up for debate. Whether you head south and revel in some solar in Florida, or attempt to catch some contemporary powder on the slopes, you possibly can guess you aren’t ever very removed from some nice Harvest Hosts places. With 4,000+ Harvest Hosts places throughout North America, any Harvest Hosts Member can get pleasure from and uncover among the finest small companies whereas chasing that good winter situation.