Some say there are 2 types of RV’ers: those that camp in the Winter, and those that don’t.
RV camping in the Winter is certainly possible in a 4-seasons RV. Fun winter-weather activities like ice-fishing, skiing, snowmobiling, and snow-shoeing are all excellent ways to get outside and enjoy the crisp winter weather. There are a few things you need to know for Winter RV camping, so be sure to prepare accordingly. If you’re a fan of frosty camping, don’t forget to brush up on these essential tips for towing in the snow.
For the rest of us, the camper is headed in for a long Winter’s nap. Splendid Spring and Summer camping awaits your RV after hibernation, but only if you properly winterize your RV before putting it in storage. Don’t know how? Follow our helpful guide on how to Winterize your RV, then pick up these must-have for RV winterization at your nearest Camping World, in-store or online.
Whether you plan on camping this Winter, or putting your RV in storage, you’ll need some of these must-have items to get through the harshest season.
Anti-freeze
Frozen, burst pipes are an RV’s worst enemy. Avoid this costly repair by pumping anti-freeze through your plumbing system before temps drop.
Blow Out Hose
A blow out hose is essential if you’re winterizing your RV on your own. Hooking up this hose to your city water inlet and adding air compression leaves you free to open faucets and flush lines without needing an extra set of hands.
Plastic Winterizing Hand Pump
For just $15 the winterizing process can be super simple. Add antifreeze directly into your pipes and tanks straight from the bottle.
Pump Converter Winterizing Kit
Convert your water pump into an automatic winterizing machine. Hook up this kit to your water pump and draw antifreeze without pumping it yourself.
Quick Turn By-pass Kit
The key to winterizing your RV is bypassing the water heater. Do so with the twist of knob with the installation of this quick turn by-pass kit.
Camco Freezeban Heated Drinking Water Hose
If you plan to pull out RV for some winter camping, you’ll need a special heated hose to get running water from city lines into your RV. Don’t cobble together a DIY version of a heated hose, as some hose components are not meant to be heated and can leach chemicals into your drinking water. This Camco drinking hose is specifically designed for Winter camping.
Floe 12V DC Integrated Drain Down System
Make flushing your water system an easy task with this 12v powered drain system. Clear unwanted water from your pipes quickly and easily, or clear out anti-freeze fast if you decide to take the camper out on a moment’s notice. Compressed air makes clearing out your pipes fast and hassle-free.
RV Winterization Bundle
Make winterizing even faster by picking up this handy bundle of must-have winterization essentials.
If you’re running out of time, or just don’t want to deal with the fuss of prepping your RV for Winter storage, have the expert service technicians at Camping World take care of it for you.
Is it possible to stay in an RV for whole cold and snowy winters at a time? How can an RVer be able to have constant water (and hot water) flowing into an RV without freezing in the hose? And do RV water heaters work good in cold winters?
Hi Joey, yes, you can do it. You’ll need to insulate water hoses (and possibly sewer hoses) and ensure your holding tanks stay warm enough to keep from freezing. It’s definitely doable at full hookup campsites. There are special heating elements you can add to hoses and tanks and using some plumbing insulation can do wonders. A space heater in the basement of the RV is doable, too. Still, if the temperature drops far enough, you could have issues.
If you’re without hookups camping during the winter is still possible, but you’ll likely be out there for shorter periods of time.