Have you ever made your winter RVing plans but? If you happen to’re questioning the place full-time RVers go within the winter, or 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. Different 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.
No matter which of those individuals you may be, that is your information to you, your RV, and the chilly winter season developing. In case you are 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 Onerous to Stay in a Camper or RV within the Winter?
If you happen to love nature, a slower tempo, and fewer folks, winter is a season custom-made for you. Whenever you camp in the course of the winter months—in colder climates—you’re going to get a break from the summer time busyness and have an opportunity to take a deep breath.
Maybe the lone draw back to tenting within the winter is the few additional precautions you’ll must take. Protecting you, your loved ones, and your RV protected in the course of the winter RVing season takes somewhat additional work. However at Harvest Hosts, we imagine it’s completely value it! And right here is why.
Why You Ought to Contemplate RVing This Winter
Tenting within the winter permits you and your loved ones to expertise nature in a extra intimate manner. 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 high causes so that you can be on the street this winter.
Quiet Moments and Nonetheless Nights
Within the hustle and bustle of summer time actions, we will lose observe of the connection to nature’s patterns. Winter is a reminder to pause—or no less than decelerate—in life for a season. Sitting exterior throughout a chilly day with the heat of the solar hitting your shoulders is a short 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 celebs. We don’t understand the sunshine air pollution we expertise whereas tenting in an RV park or with different RVers round us. Relying in your location, you may even catch a glimpse of the Milky Method.
It isn’t simply the sky that gives superb views both. When the leaves have given up, fallen to the bottom, and the bushes are naked, there may be nothing in the way in which of our eyes from seeing somewhat additional. Plus, these vistas usually tend to be loved with out the crowds.
Fewer Folks
Whereas colleges are stuffed with youngsters and loads of RVers are afraid of the chilly, you’ll get pleasure from all the things with fewer folks. If you happen to discover tenting much more pleasurable when there aren’t a ton of individuals, this can be a nice time to be out and about within the campgrounds.
Off-Season Pricing
With fewer folks comes decrease costs. Campgrounds are usually working decrease charges and never practically as aggressive to get in. Gas 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.
Totally different Out of doors Experiences
Winter RVing affords a distinct sort of expertise. If you happen to RV close to the slopes, you’ll be able to get pleasure from snowboarding, snowboarding, and even tubing. Maybe 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.
In case you are touring with youngsters, you may need some superb snowball fights, big snowmen, and even sledding. And in any case of this, you come inside your heat RV for some scorching cocoa. How is that this not a tremendous alternative?
Winterizing Your RV & Useful Winter Upkeep
In case you are nonetheless decided to place your RV in storage, there are some steps it would be best 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 getting into inside too. Together with preparations for storage, there are some upkeep gadgets you may need to examine off this time of yr too.
All about RV’s does a superb job of explaining primary 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 tips, you can be prepared for spring very quickly.
Take away All Water
Eradicating water out of your RV’s home system protects your RV plumbing pipes from potential cracking. When the water freezes it expands and might trigger these main issues and break your spring journey plans.
Take away Water Filters
Within the technique of eradicating all of the water out of your RV, it would be best to ensure that your filters are included on this course of. Water can stay within the filters and crack the housing and even develop mildew in your filters. This may assist ensure that they’re prepared to get replaced come Spring.
Drain the Sizzling Water Heater
One other 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 strains inside—or the low factors for every RV water line. The low factors will be present in your RV guide.
Drain Your Grey and Black Water Tanks
For the final dump of the yr, it would be best to take your time. Hook up and permit it to empty all the things for an prolonged time period. After you’ve gotten allowed it to empty, it’s time to flush the system together with your cleansing wand or you need to use an exterior system to wash the tank.
Shield Your RV From Rodents
That is typically neglected within the winterizing course of. Your finest protection in opposition to rodents is to easily not permit them in—which is manner simpler mentioned than carried out. Listed below are some locations to look to shut up your RV somewhat higher.
Fill any gaps, holes, or cracks from beneath with spray foam or a silicone caulk
Block the basement area from the dwelling area
Test round electrical strains, plumbing strains, and different wires
Exterior lights with wires working inside could depart gaps too
When you guarantee there aren’t areas for mice to get by, you’ll nonetheless need to take different precautions like eradicating all meals from the RV. By no means retailer meals in your RV over the winter months—particularly in case you are placing it in storage.
In case your RV is a motorhome, you’ll need to begin your RV weekly—or no less than bi-weekly—so animals don’t make nests in and round your engine. It additionally helps eradicate rodents from seeing RV wiring as lunch.
Lastly, you need to use deterrents like moth balls, important oils, or different pure deterrents inside your RV. This may assist deter them from discovering your RV as a winter retreat, and can hopefully push them down the street some place else.
Different Good Winter Upkeep Concepts
That is additionally a good time of yr to deal with different routine upkeep. In the course of the winter storage season, you may need to get your oil modified in your motorhome or mills, give the skin a very good cleansing, and even look after the roof of your RV.
Making ready Your RV for the Chilly
There are some individuals who select to hunker down in a single location and benefit from the winter season of their RV. Right here we are going to take a look at a number of 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’s common for folks to keep up dwelling of their RV in the course of the winter months—they only keep put to assist make controlling the temperatures inside somewhat simpler. If you happen to 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 Transportable Heaters
Utilizing 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. Placing one within the basement of your RV can assist maintain your flooring heat and shield your pipes from freezing.
Insulate Your RV Home windows
This is applicable to staying in a single location and touring down the street. Insulated home windows assist greater than you may assume. Get your self some insulated curtains or get additional plexiglass to assist create limitations. If you happen to select plexiglass, you’ll be able to merely use double sided tape to connect it.
Management Moisture
In the course of the winter months, you’ll discover loads of condensation in your home windows. When the water drips down, you may get loads of mildew round your window sills and in different areas of your RV.
Together with the condensation, your RV is lots tighter and doesn’t get the benefit of open home windows to permit air to stream by 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 forestall this, there are a number of steps you’ll be able to take to scale back humidity. However among the finest methods to deal with that is to get a dehumidifier.
Use a Heated RV Water Hose
This is applicable to any winter tenting, it’s good to use a heated RV water hose when 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 limitations to the underpart of your RV. It helps forestall wind from getting beneath your RV. Some RVers will even make the most of a heater beneath right here as a result of it’s insulated by the earth beneath, the RV above, and your skirting across the exterior. That is particularly helpful for people who find themselves going to hunker down for an extended time period in a single location. There are a number of varieties of skirts you should buy—or create your self.
Touring Throughout The Winter Months
Whenever you journey in the course of the winter months, you’ll need to ensure you know what you’re getting your self into, and observe potential inclement climate patterns.
RV Winter Tires and Chains
Identical to your car, having good tires come winter is crucial. The speedy change in climate could cause loads of various climate and also you gained’t need to get caught in a nasty scenario. In case you are deciding to attempt your hand at going over a mountain cross, you may discover out tire chains are legally a should. In case you are decided to make this journey, make sure you’re ready with tire chains and you know the way to place them on and take them off in a well timed method.
Home and Automobile Batteries
The chilly winter climate could cause—or reveal—points with batteries. It’s considerably widespread for folks to find their batteries go lifeless in the course of the winter months. By checking your batteries earlier than that is your actuality, it can save you your self some complications. One other 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 or not you’re driving a motorhome or pulling your RV, there are some issues to recollect this time of yr. However lowering your pace, breaking earlier, and being conscious of icy circumstances goes a good distance for the security of your travels.
Greatest Winter Nationwide Park Locations
You’ve determined you will benefit from the peace and quiet of winter RVing. Now the place are you heading? Properly, there may be nothing like having fun with the fantastic thing about a nationwide park come winter. And we aren’t simply speaking about these heat climate places both. Take a look at a few of our favourite nationwide parks to get pleasure from in the course of the winter.
Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park
That is probably the most visited Nationwide Park in america, however winter is rather less hectic, and the temperatures aren’t excessive. With peaks reaching as much as 6,634 toes—Clingmans Dome—you’ll be able to get pleasure from mountain mountaineering with out all the necessity for snow sneakers. If this pursuits you, you’ll be able to keep contained in the park at Cades Cove Campground.
Shenandoah Nationwide Park
Not too far-off from the Smokies, you’ll be able to go to this gem in Virginia. Whereas this park will get somewhat 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.
Huge Bend Nationwide Park
A park that’s fairly distant, however fairly nice come winter is Huge Bend Nationwide Park. This park is positioned in south Texas, and has a January common low of 39 levels Fahrenheit. That makes this a terrific vacation spot come winter. There are many mountaineering trails, OHV trails, and loads of overlooks for images. On this Nationwide Park, you’ll be able to truly take a ship throughout to Mexico for lunch. It’s a distinctive park and excellent for desert outside lovers.
Different Nice Chilly-Climate Nationwide Parks For RV Tenting
- Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park
- Olympic Nationwide Park
- Acadia Nationwide Park
- Mount Rainier Nationwide Park
Chilly Climate Locations
In case you are on the lookout for chilly climate locations for RV tenting, our assumption is you’re on the lookout for some journey. In any other case you’d most likely head south. With that in thoughts, let’s take a fast look at another locations to RV camp—particularly in case you’re on the lookout for locations to ski this winter.
Lake Tahoe Space
There are a number of nice locations to ski round Lake Tahoe and the realm 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, you’ll find Harvest Hosts places within the space as nicely.
Pagosa Springs, Colorado
In southern Colorado, you’ll find the city of Pagosa Springs. With a number of campgrounds within the space and a ski resort not far-off, this city is a superb place come winter. The river that runs by city has pure scorching springs, there are nice espresso retailers, eating places, and loads of outside actions.
Lake Placid, NY
In and round Lake Placid, NY, you’ll discover tons of issues to do and several 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, this can be a great spot to get pleasure from lovely views and loads of winter exercise.
Heat Climate Locations
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 far more delicate and the sunny days nonetheless exist. By doing this, you keep away from the necessity to do loads of the winterizing we’ve beforehand talked about.
If this sounds just like the winter you need to expertise, you’ll must determine the place to go and what sort of winter journey you need to expertise. Quite a lot of RVers prefer 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 referred to as the snowbirds. Let’s try some favourite heat climate locations for you this winter.
Favourite Snowbird Locations
In case you are carried out with the chilly and need these heat sunny days, there are loads of nice locations to go like Florida, Arizona, Texas, and California come winter to flee the chilly and revel in hotter days.
Snowbirds typically return to the identical place again and again. By doing this, they will create their household away from house, meet up with pals, and get accustomed to an space. By dwelling this life-style, you get to chase the nice and cozy climate, and nonetheless have these comforts of being house. Listed below are some favourite snowbird locations.
Yuma, Arizona
Dubbed the “Sunniest Place within the World,” Yuma will get a median of 308 days of sunshine per yr. This winter paradise boasts heat sunny days, cool evenings, and tons of out of doors actions. An additional bonus to Yuma in winter is its easy accessibility to Los Algodones—Mexico’s medical tourism hub.
Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs has change into an oasis for lots of snowbirds. With the ridiculous variety of golf programs, lovely climate, and different outside actions, you’ll be able to simply work out why this can be 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 all the things a significant metropolis in america affords. If you happen to aren’t into the foremost cities, you’ll be able to rating nice RV campgrounds in surrounding cities and have easy accessibility to Tampa. Right here you’ll get to benefit from the Gulf Coast, lovely white sand seashores, and the enjoyment of a average local weather.
Different Prime Locations
There are many different places to think about in these states and extra. Take a look at some extra places in Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, and Florida right here.
Contemplate South of the Border
In case you are wanting to move south somewhat additional, you may try a few of these spots in Mexico. By crossing the border in Arizona or California, you’ll be able to entry some actually nice RV campground locations in Mexico.
If you wish to proceed boondocking, there are loads of nice boondocking places in Baja Mexico too. With loads of sunshine, your batteries will keep topped off. The climate is comfy in the course of 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 folks that boondock in Baja Mexico that you just’ll discover some group alongside the way in which.
Winter Tenting in Arizona
There are many causes to think about Arizona this winter. The sunny days, cool nights, and exquisite sunsets set this place other than anyplace else in america come winter. Whereas Yuma, Phoenix, and Quartzite are common places, there are loads of different points of interest and locations to go to in Arizona.
Expertise the Florida Distinction
Florida grows by practically 5% every winter with the earliest snowbirds heading down in mid-October. There’s a motive Florida is the preferred vacation spot come winter. With practically 80% of the inhabitants in america dwelling within the japanese a part of the nation, Florida is a straightforward vacation spot for a lot of chilly climate dwellers to get to.
On high of the accessibility, Florida affords contemporary citrus in the course of the winter months, heat sunny days, seashores galore, and loads of issues to do. Along with your Harvest Hosts Membership, you’ll be able to get pleasure from loads of Harvest Hosts places in Florida that may enable you to uncover extra of the Sunshine state.
Your Vacation spot Awaits
There are some pluses and minuses within the RV life, however chasing your excellent scenario isn’t up for debate. Whether or not you head south and revel in some solar in Florida, or attempt to catch some contemporary powder on the slopes, you’ll be able to wager 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 a number of the finest small companies whereas chasing that excellent winter situation.