When high temperatures are below freezing, we have been known to travel and camp in a winterized unit. That means no water in the tanks or plumbing lines for the sinks or shower. Have you ever gone truck camping winterized?
Sometimes the weather just doesn’t cooperate. The iPhone Weather-app says the lows for the next 10 days are in the mid-40s, and then you end up in a blinding snow storm in the single digits. Doesn’t Mother Nature understand that smartphones are always right? That’s why they’re smartphones!
Well, not so much. In these chilling moments, we have often taken the precaution of winterizing the camper. Keep in mind that it’s not unusual for us to be camping in a borrowed unit, so freezing the water lines is something to avoid. Also keep in mind that not all campers have heated basements. Better safe than sorry.
With the camper winterized (drained and RV anti-freeze pumped through the plumbing lines) the sinks, shower, and toilets are off-line. We wash hands, dishes, and brush our teeth with a jug of water and a bucket in the sink. We flush the toilet with RV antifreeze.
Hot water is still available for coffee or bird baths via the propane cook top. The power is still on so we have light and 12-volt systems. The refrigerator is happy as a clam running on propane in the cold.
Honestly, camping in a winterized unit is not that bad. I wouldn’t choose to do it, but it’s not torture.
This week’s Question of the Week is, “Have you ever gone truck camping winterized?”
Tell us why you camp winterized, and how you make it work. If you have winter camping photos from when you camped winterized, send them along.
Here are the reader responses – Winterized Campers Beat the Cold.
