Wheathaven
PICTON, Ontario, Canada
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Joined: 10/07/2009
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For the FIRST time we are heading to Florida...Ontario -> Destin
Our first night out with no hook ups...boondocking...will the
furnace/batteries keep us warm or last through the night?
We have a generator...but...who wants to try to sleep with that
running and wouldn't want to distrub anyone around us.
Calculating two and a half days to get to our destination...where
could we pick up fresh water and de winterize once the temperatures
are warm enough to do so? I know a hot shower will be our first
luxury once it's warm enough to take on water. We will take bottled
water for drinking etc. We are obviously new at this so any hints
tips or ideas/suggestions would be so appreciated!
Wendy
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tandkj
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Joined: 08/04/2003
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Maybe if you gave us the route you are traveling and the cities you will hit we would have a better idea of where to pull over or stay and where you can take on water.
Don't have an idea as to the temp's on your route, the temp and heater setting will determine how much the heater will run and how much battery it will take.
08 Camelot
07 Ranger Toad
One Golden Retriever at the Rainbow Bridge
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Joined: 12/18/2004
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Hi Wendy,
I'd run the generator until it is bed time. I'd also run a 1500 watt oil filled heater during that time frame to reduce the load on the RV furnace. In the morning start the generator again.
I've modified my RV by adding an AC outlet in my waste tanks/valves area into which I plug a thermostatically controlled 500 watt Car heater. I run that from my inverter as I trundle down the road.
I live in Saskatchewan and use my RV with the water on in extreme cold. My freshwater tanks are under the bench seats of the dinette and so at any reasonably comfortable temperature are unlikely to freeze. I have used my RV at -37 C.
My advice to you would be to fill the fresh water tank before you leave home. Dump a gallon of windshield washer anti freeze into the black water tank and another gallon into the grey water tank. Use water sparingly until the day time temperatures are above freezing.
Do you have enclosed waste tanks?
Wheathaven wrote:For the FIRST time we are heading to Florida...Ontario -> Destin
Our first night out with no hook ups...boondocking...will the
furnace/batteries keep us warm or last through the night?
We have a generator...but...who wants to try to sleep with that
running and wouldn't want to distrub anyone around us.
Calculating two and a half days to get to our destination...where
could we pick up fresh water and de winterize once the temperatures
are warm enough to do so? I know a hot shower will be our first
luxury once it's warm enough to take on water. We will take bottled
water for drinking etc. We are obviously new at this so any hints
tips or ideas/suggestions would be so appreciated!
Wendy
Regards, Don
Kustom Koach Class C 28'5" 256 watts solar, 875 amp hours in two battery banks 12 volt batteries 2500 watt inverter.
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Artum Snowbird
Campbell River, B.C., Canada
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Joined: 05/28/2004
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When you stop if you are not plugged in to electricity, then run your generator up to the last few minutes before going to bed. Any loads that you take out of the batteries will be replaced by the generator running, and put the furnace low down in the fifties with lots of blankets to keep warm.
If your batteries are good, you should last the night easily.
Battery capacity can be checked with a hydrometer. A new battery will show a different Sg than a worn out one. It's a measure of how much reserve capacity they will have in their cells.
have fun, and stay warm
Mike and Carole
2006 Triple E Regency 27 foot SXL
2005 16.6 Double Eagle
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Wheathaven
PICTON, Ontario, Canada
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Our tanks are enclosed....but not heated. We will cross into the USA at
1000 islands bridge and head 81 ->40 ->640->75S-->24 to Birmingham 65 ->
Montgomery --> 80 to 331 to 98. How's that for not knowing where I'm going! LOL
We do have a GPS...so perhaps that is going to be a big help too...finding a
campground that is open that first night will be the trick perhaps.
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Hi Wendy,
At the link below enter the first nights stop--then scroll down and select weather history. Then select last year's boxing day. That may give you a ball park figure of what to expect.
weather
If you can't find a campground that is open how about contacting a Church for permission to park in their lot and plug into a 15 amp outlet in return for a donation?
I believe you will be just fine boondocking for your first night.
I boondocked for five days at -25 C in blizzard conditions in Calgary. I ran my generator in the evening and in the morning. I was not in the RV during the day. I used my stove top as an auxiliary blue flame heater, partly to "fool" the furnace thermostat (be sure to crack a window if you do this).
Wheathaven wrote:Our tanks are enclosed....but not heated. We will cross into the USA at
1000 islands bridge and head 81 ->40 ->640->75S-->24 to Birmingham 65 ->
Montgomery --> 80 to 331 to 98. How's that for not knowing where I'm going! LOL
We do have a GPS...so perhaps that is going to be a big help too...finding a
campground that is open that first night will be the trick perhaps.
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garyhaupt
Kitimat, BC, Canada, Mile '0' of Alaska HiWay #37
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Joined: 11/21/2003
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At the risk of sounding flip...you are worried, and rightfully so. Weather could be a huge factor, so why not just drain everything, put anti freeze in the lines and motel it for two nights. Take the fret ratio right out of equation.
Gary Haupt
I have begun to blog.. .www.gary haupt.blogspot.com. It's not about RV'ing...but RV'ing is a part of it.
Gary
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JAXFL
Jacksonville, Florida, USA
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Joined: 06/12/2002
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Wheathaven wrote:I know a hot shower will be our first
luxury once it's warm enough to take on water.
Wendy
You may want to hold on to that thought. You only have a 6 or 10 gal water heater and a maybe a 40 gal gray tank. So make it a fast shower not a luxury one. When you get were you are going then shower. I think the hotel idea for you is the best as you only need 2 nights.
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joanne0012
Boston, MA
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Joined: 02/01/2005
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That's an awful lot of miles for just 2.5 days.
Nobody knows what the actual weather/temperatures will be on those first two nights, but most likely you'll be just fine with the batteries and furnace, with no need to set the thermostat in the 50s. Many of us have boondocked in subfreezing temperatures with no problems at all; motels are for wimps!
I would make no specific plans until day 2, when you can get a good idea of where you'll be that night. I would then try to find a campground with hookups for the second night, where you can shower, take on water if the weather permits, etc. Maybe do some research in advance over the roads where you might be (TN?).
Joanne
1994 Lazy Daze 23.5' TK
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Westronics
Redmond, WA
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Joined: 08/07/2002
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I have traveled in the winter before and here's a few lessons learned:
Carry chains - and don't scrimp, get the best.
Carry foul weather gear and/or a tarp for when you need to get out and put on the chains.
Wrap all exposed water lines - they freeze very, very quickly when on the move if not wrapped.
Be patient - if things freeze up, put some safe heat under the rig (a skirt will help) and wait for the lines to thaw.
Get and use heat strips for the tanks. Use only when running the engine or generator, though.
The only real problem I faced was the water line freezing, but I was able to get to some place above freezing every day,so it was only an on-the-road problem. Still, had I known, I would have wrapped the water line sooner.
Keep the gas tank as full as practical - if the worst happens and you get stuck somewhere, a full gas tank can turn a disaster in merely an inconvenience.
Basically, use some common sense - be smart and safe and you'll be fine.
2002 Jayco Greyhawk 24SS, Camera, ScanGauge, Inverter, Airtabs, Portabote, SeeLevel II, Tireman valves, Xatnrex Battery Monitor, Aero-flo vent, Trik-L-Start, XPS Rib, Chains, Lil' Stanker, Be kind to septic systems Ford: 1-800-444-3311. RV Tires
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