Winter RV camping offers an entirely different adventure. You get a chance to see peaceful campgrounds, amazing landscapes, and snowy forests — all without paying high prices for plane tickets. At the same time, winter RVing also demands intelligent planning ahead of time to ensure a safe, comfortable, and stress-free journey.
Whether you are planning a winter RV trip for the very first time or are a seasoned RVer, knowing what to expect and how to deal with the challenges can make your journey memorable. This guide presents important tips you should follow for efficient planning, better management, and ensuring peace of mind, even in below-freezing environments.
The Complete Winter RV Checklist
Using an RV in winter requires effective preparation to ensure your safety, protect your plumbing systems, and stay warm in freezing winters. Let’s look at the tips you should follow.
1. See If Your RV Needs Winterization
You must have heard the phrase “winterizing an RV.” Right? Well, people often use this term when planning a camping trip to some chilly area. If you want to visit a cold place using your RV, you must verify if it is winterized or understand if winterization is required.
In case you don’t know, winterizing your RV means you have to ensure the water lines do not freeze, add antifreeze in holding tanks, and use heated hose wraps. One thing you should keep in mind is that RV winterization is required only if you plan to go to an area where the temperature drops below freezing.
If you have winterized your RV, you won’t be able to use the bathroom and kitchen inside your RV. To use the sink and bathroom, you will need antifreeze.
2. Choose the Right Heater
An electric heater should be your first choice if your campsite offers an electricity supply. If there is no electricity at your campsite, don’t be concerned. In that case, you can use the Renogy Pro 1 Series LiFePO4 batteries to run energy-hungry devices, such as electric heaters and air conditioners.
You can also get extra power and charge your batteries using the portable solar panels. Alternatively, you can use our all-in-one RV power solution.
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Don’t use onboard heating systems, as most of them use propane and deliver heat only for a few days. Instead, try portable propane heaters, as they work in the same manner and consume a very small portion of propane. Moreover, they occupy less space, making them a perfect choice for smaller RVs.
Use a soft brush or compressed air to clean your RV’s furnace. Removing debris and dust ensures the air flows smoothly.
3. Insulate Your RV
If your RV is properly insulated, you will not need a separate heater to keep the internal environment warm. Interestingly, you will not need a jacket as long as you are in your RV. Similarly, you can sleep without wearing a sleeping bag. This is what makes RV winterization stand out.
RV skirting is another valuable option to keep your RV warm during chilly winters. A skirt is usually made of vinyl. You can wrap it around the RV to achieve inside warmth. Skirting enables you to use less propane and protects the plumbing system from freezing, saving you both money and energy. The RV skirting cost may vary between a few hundred dollars and a couple of thousand dollars, depending on various factors like custom sizing and the quality you need.
Got slide-outs? Don’t forget to place a foam insulation board under each one. Doing this will help you stop cold air from coming in and keep the internal environment warm. Remember to remove the foam before you close the slides.
4. Prevent Your RV’s Tanks & Pipes from Freezing
One of the biggest challenges associated with using an RV in winter is that its pipes may freeze. Similarly, leftover water in hoses and pipes can become ice, leading to burst or crack. If you plan winter RV camping for a few nights, keep the faucet running slowly throughout the nights. It will allow the water to move continuously through the pipes, and moving water does not freeze as early as sitting water.
Wrapping heat tape around the water hose is another good option to protect your RV pipes from freezing. To allow the tape to perform its job, you will need to plug it into an electric socket. This tape will keep your hose warm as long as it receives electric supply.
5. Check the Tires
If the route you want to follow has icy roads, it is highly recommended to have snow tires. However, they are not strictly required by the US laws. In case you don’t have snow tires, you can use snow chains. It is, in fact, a must-have requirement for some roads.
It is often very difficult to drive on the roads toward snowy regions. This is where snow chains play a crucial role. Remember to ask your rental company if they allow you to use snow chains. The reason behind this fact is that many RV rental companies in the US, such as Family RV and Cruise America, don’t allow you to use snow chains, as they can damage the tires.
6. Pack Essentials
It is good to have some extra items to deal effectively with unusual conditions during an RV winter trip. Bring vent insulator pillows to block cold air from coming in and keep warm air inside your RV.
Install mobile apps, like Drive Weather and Weather Hi-Def Radar, to check road conditions and weather updates throughout your journey. These apps help you change the route if the one you are following is damaged or closed.
Moreover, keep windproof and waterproof clothes, along with warm jackets and electric blankets. Don’t forget to bring slippers, an ice scrapper, and emergency items (such as canned food, camping goods, first-aid kit, and chains).
Prepare a list of toiletries you use regularly and pack them. They may include soap, shampoo, facewash, and other similar items. Chapstick, organic lip balms, and sunscreen are also essential items you should pack before leaving for a trip on an RV in snow.
7. Plan Your Route and Campsites Ahead of Time
You will never want to get lost or stuck on roads with heavy traffic during holidays. To avoid experiencing these situations, prepare a list of places you want to visit and plan your routes according to the chosen spots.
Always avoid risky roads, especially in the snow. Don’t choose narrow backroads and steep mountain passes. Some routes are closed during snowy winters, so don’t forget to check seasonal closures to ensure a smooth trip.
Use mobile apps for effective route planning, such as Waze or Google Maps. You can also use RV-specific applications, including Roadtrippers and CoPilot RV. These apps allow you to choose safer routes.
Check weather updates and plan alternate routes if your primary track is closed for any reason. Similarly, choose campsites with electricity hookups. Make sure that the campsite you choose offers restrooms, running water, and other amenities in winter.
8. Learn to Set Up the Camp & Parking Your RV
Setting up the camp during winter requires safe parking, leveling of your RV, adding insulation, extending slides, and arranging outdoor equipment (such as chairs and tables).
Proper leveling is crucial to ensure your appliances, furnace, and plumbing system work smoothly. The extension of the slides keeps your RV warm from the inside.
9. Head South
If roads are icy during winter, heading south is considered the safest option, as slippery roads make it almost impossible to drive. The top benefits of heading south include easy campground availability, safer driving conditions, more outdoor activities, less winter gear required, and, most importantly, milder weather conditions.
If you have never driven a car on ice or snow, don’t even attempt to drive an RV on such roads, as it is too dangerous.
10. Drive Carefully
First, keep the driving speed slow and maintain a decent gap between you and the other vehicle, as RV’s brakes behave differently compared to the brakes of other vehicles.
If the roads are covered with snow, adjust your RV headlights to a low beam setting so that you can see the roads clearly. If the headlights are on the brightest beam settings, you won’t be able to see the road properly.
Summing Up
Winter RV camping can be memorable days of your life. At the same time, they bring several challenges. For example, you have to deal with below-freezing temperatures, snowy roads, limited campgrounds, reduced daylight, and outdoor discomfort.
However, with proper planning, advanced bookings, and by bringing essentials, you can make your RV winter camping enjoyable, comfortable, and smooth. Having a reliable heating system is necessary, but if your RV is perfectly insulated, you will not even need heaters, hand warmers, or jackets.
FAQs about winter RV camping
Can I run my RV heater all night?
Yes, you can run a heater in your RV throughout the night. Make sure that the RV is properly ventilated. What you must do in parallel is ensure safety with a carbon monoxide detector and check power or propane levels. If you have enough power, there is nothing better than using electric heaters for the whole night.
What are the best heating options for winter RV camping?
Some of the best options include the built-in furnace of your RV, heated mattress pads, and portable electric heaters. Using catalytic heaters is another good choice. Moreover, you can use electric blankets to get extra comfort and added warmth.
Is RV camping in winter harder than in summer?
Yes, winter RV camping is more challenging than RV camping in summer due to freezing temperatures, slippery, icy tracks, and heavy snowfall. Good insulation, smart planning, and keeping the right gear make your trip more comfortable and safer.
