Cold weather, water, what to do..

[falconbrother]

We're out camping at a KOA. It's supposed to be 25-26 degrees in the morning. The campground sent out a text saying disconnect the hose and leave their water bib dripping or, let the water drip in the RV. My plan is to disconnect the hose and let their faucet drip and use the on-board tank for water till things warm back up. My question is, if I let my faucet drip will it not fill up the grey tank and then over-fill it? I'd prefer to leave the hose connected and let my faucet drip. But, having a crisis in the wee hours does not appeal to me whatsoever.

[Huntindog]

Grit dog wrote:
Disconnect the water hose. Leave it off. If it’s not a frost free spigot, not your problem. Makes no sense to leave the hydrant dripping.

It could be his problem.
If the spigot at his site is damaged due to his not following the CG directions... Then at the very least he may have to deal with the result for the rest of his stay.
Likely be a small flood, followed by no water at that site.

[time2roll]

Lantley wrote:
If the CG wants you to let their faucets drip. Then let them drip otherwise their hose bibs may freeze and break, which will eventually cause campers grief.

I fully agree. Just saying if the campground has this recommendation what are we even talking about.

[2oldman]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
NO Hoses laying about...connected or disconnected.

My strategy also. When I actually am in an RV park I dump, close everything and disconnect.

[Old-Biscuit]

I use my fresh water tank/pump exclusively Hot/Warm/Cold Temps
Fill tank...stow hose
Repeat as needed

Same with sewer hose
Connect ---dump...stow
Repeat as needed


NO Hoses laying about...connected or disconnected.

[2oldman]

I can imagine the icy watery mess the next day if everyone drips the CG spigots. I'd make sure you have plenty of water on board in case there's problems with the system. Also disconnect your sewer hose and drain it. In cold weather I'd be using my tank and pump exclusively.

[rr2254545]

Hint disconnecting the hose and letting it lay on the ground will still freeze the hose I bring mine in an put it in the shower

[valhalla360]

Assuming you are on a sewer site, drain the waste tanks and leave them open for the night. Unless you use a lot of water, no real concerns with an ice dam (I'm assuming a short term over night cold snap followed by above freezing daytime temps. For long term freezing weather, ice dams are a concern.)

A far as the freshwater side, just disconnect and work off the pump. Do use the furnace rather than a space heater, as most are set up to dump a little heat into the underbelly slowing or stopping freezing of the tanks.

As far as the spigot, do what they asked...if it fails, it's the campgrounds problem if you did what they recommended.

[Lantley]

This thread is full of erroneous advice. Lots of it from people in warm weather climates that really don't understand the scenario. Or have not regularly experienced cold weather.
If the CG wants you to let their faucets drip. Then let them drip otherwise their hose bibs may freeze and break, which will eventually cause campers grief.
Disconnect from the CG hose bib and use water from the RV fresh tank. Be sure to store RV hose inside where it won't freeze vs. leaving it outside to freeze.

[falconbrother]

I just disconnected the hose and let their bibb drip. We used the pressure demand pump and no problems at all. By 10am things were thawing out. What I usually do is just not pay attention to the weather forecast and wake up at 4am to no water.

[Guy_Roan]

mobeewan wrote:
I lived in my 3 season trailer here in southeast Va for 5 years. All you have to do is disconnect the fresh water hose when temps will be below freezing and use the onboard fresh water tank and pump. Leave the campground faucet dripping since they told you to, but be careful not to bust your butox on the ice when reconnecting the water hose.

If you do stay connected, open your grey water valve and leave the stinky slinky connected. The small trickle isn't going to freeze solid in the hose before warmer temps in the morning.

X's 2

Guy

[mobeewan]

I lived in my 3 season trailer here in southeast Va for 5 years. All you have to do is disconnect the fresh water hose when temps will be below freezing and use the onboard fresh water tank and pump. Leave the campground faucet dripping since they told you to, but be careful not to bust your butox on the ice when reconnecting the water hose.

If you do stay connected, open your grey water valve and leave the stinky slinky connected. The small trickle isn't going to freeze solid in the hose before warmer temps in the morning.

[Grit_dog]

Think about it logically.
Put some water in your tank if you want water without hooking up in the morning. Disconnect the water hose. Leave it off. If it’s not a frost free spigot, not your problem. Makes no sense to leave the hydrant dripping.
Leave your gray valve closed. Presuming it’s hooked up.
Don’t worry unless it’s not getting above freezing tomorrow.
Merry Christmas.

[azdryheat]

We've done this many times. I disconnect the hose and blow the water out of it. Then I switch over to onboard water until the park's faucet supplies water again. I have about 160 gallons so water isn't an issue. We have electric heaters for the trailer but I still use the propane heater to keep the tanks and water lines from freezing.

FYI there are heated water lines on the market that make all of the above moot.

[time2roll]

I would not leave anything dripping.