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Winter RVing PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jon Fenner   
Wednesday, 23 January 2008 06:18

Well, it's that time of year when I generally DON'T think much about RVing.  October came and the RV was put away until Spring thaw... However, that's not the way it's always been.  There's been more than one occasion where we've had to brave sub-freezing temperatures in the RV, with mixed results.  Here's some tips I learned along the way:

Winterize your RV as much as possible

Without a doubt, the first line of defense is to winterize your RV as much as possible.  That means:

  • Wrap all exterior water lines in insulation.  Even those in the water/sewage compartment should be insulated as much as possible.
  • Install heaters and/or insulation on your fresh water and grey/black water tanks.  Just something to keep it above freezing.
  • Make sure the basement has warm air circulation from above.  Many RVs have vents that help to circulate the air underneath.

When you first purchase your RV, some manufacturers have a winterized option.  If you think you might ever be going it in the cold, it's well worth the expense (and usually not that much).

Parking Smartness

Ok, so "smartness" might not be a real word, but there are several things you can do when locating a spot to park your RV in cold climate weather:

  • Protect the North side as much as possible.  That means, face your door South, with the length of the RV running East/West.  That will give you optimal sunlight as well as protection from the north winds.
  • Put up a skirt if you're going to be in one place for any length of time.  This will help to protect the underside from those cold winds, and help keep the heat in underneath the RV.
  • Don't use external water hookups unless you've got a heating cord to wrap your water line in.
  • Keep the interior of the RV as warm as practical.  The warmer it stays in your living area, the warmer the undersides and basement with all your pipes will stay.  Also, open cabinet doors where pipes are to let the air circulate and keep pipes from freezing.
Winter camping is by far not the first use of most peoples RVs, but with the right preparation you can enjoy it as much as the warm times!
 
State Parks vs. Private Campgrounds PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jon Fenner   
Sunday, 20 January 2008 02:02
State Parks vs. Private CampgroundsJanuary 20, 2008- If you've been RVing for a while, then you've probably had the chance to stay at both state parks and private campgrounds. It never fails that there are always one group of people who love to stay at the private campgrounds, and wouldn't go anywhere else. And on the other side of the fence are those who love the state, national, county, (and some city) public parks, and wonder why they ever stayed at the private ones.

Well, it all really comes down to a difference in style and what you like to do. So what would drive you one way or the other? That depends on a lot of factors. Here's just a few reasons why some people think private campgrounds are better than state parks:

  1. They provide full hookups, cable TV, Internet access, etc.
  2. They are cleaner
  3. They are easier to find
  4. For long-term visits, they provide more activities and people interaction

OK, so let's take a look at these one by one and compare them to the state parks.

Full hookups, cable TV, Internet access

Yes, it's generally true that a larger percentage of private campgrounds have more of the amenities than the public ones. But there are a growing number of public parks that have full hookups (water, sewer, and electricity). I have yet to see a public park with Cable TV and Internet access, but there are other ways around that (see the High-Tech section for other ideas). Plus, if you truly like the outdoors, you can't beat a state park.

Buy a Tote-Along Tankicon, and you'll have an easy way to keep those tanks empty. Water and Electric hookups are common at most parts, it's sewer that's the most difficult to find. With a portable dump station, you just dump you tanks into that, roll it over to the dump station, and you're good to go!

Cleaner?

Yet another issue that's seldom true. In fact, most state parks are cleaner than the private ones. If you've got a self contained rig, then showers and toilets aren't as big an issue, anyway.

Easier to find

It's true, it's easier to find a private campground than a state park. However, more and more state parks are listing online (check out www.reserveamerica.com). The biggest can actually be locating the place on the map! If you can't find good directions online, call ahead to the ranger station and they'll usually be able happy to give you easy directions.

More activities and people

^M

This is a lifestyle choice... it just depends on what you're interested in. If you want busy activity, then a private campground will almost always win out for a place to winter. If you're after a quiet, beautiful spot, then the state parks are a better choice.

So that's what it really comes down to for both... a lifestye choice. My personal preference is state parks if I can find one close to where we want to go. But I'm just as happy with a nice, clean private campground if that's what is available. The choice is yours, just enjoy and have fun!
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 22 January 2008 12:43 )
 


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