Can You Still Go RVing in Winter?
Winter is just around the corner, so you might think it's time to put away your RV for the season. Wrong! You can totally use your RV in the winter, so long as you take some basic steps to prepare it for the cold weather. Read more to see just how easy taking an RV adventure this winter can be!
How to Prep Your RV for a Winter Trip
The best way to ensure you have a good time all winter in your RV is to properly prepare for the cold. Aside from keeping yourself and your family warm inside the vehicle, properly preparing for cold weather will keep your RV's engine running smoothly and save other components from freezing damage. Follow these steps to turn your summer RV into a winter wonderland:
Install and upgrade your insulation: besides being one of the simplest ways to keep your camper warm, it can also block cold winds from damaging piping and other vital systems. What's more, most insulation can remain installed year-round and requires little maintenance.
Protect your plumbing: frozen pipes are an issue for anyone, and that goes double if they freeze while you're on the road. To protect your pipes from ice expansion and cracks, keep your water dripping, use heat tape and a space heater, and keep waste valves closed when they're not in use.
Take care of your RV's engine: RV engines need extra protection to battle extreme winter temperatures, so before heading out for the season, inspect your RV batteries, antifreeze level, and consider getting an engine block heater if you're going somewhere really cold.
Prepare your furnace: The worst place to find out your RV's furnace is busted is hours from home. Consider getting your furnace inspected by an RV repair technician, and if you're going far north, take extra sources of heat like space heaters, too.
What to Bring with You on a Winter RV Trip
On any cold-weather camping trip, it's a good idea to pack for colder weather than what's forecasted and to bring back-up supplies in case of an emergency. Luckily, that's pretty easy to do in the room an RV affords, so here's a list of what you should bring:
An RV emergency kit with anything you could need to repair your rig in case of a freeze-up or breakdown
Good winter clothing that's waterproof and well-insulated—think layers!
A warm sleeping bag can make even the coldest night comfortable, especially if you have one rated for zero degrees or colder
Cold weather gear including snow boots, waterproof gloves, snow goggles, and extra head-lamps and lanterns for the early winter darkness
A snow shovel will come in handy if you need to dig your camper out of an overnight snowdrift, as well as keeping snow away from your RV's pipes
Tire chains are great for improving traction on snowy or icy mountain roads
Extra propane tanks, water, and food provide peace of mind that you won't run out of needed supplies on your camping trip
A blow dryer is perfect for defrosting frozen pipes, hoses, or other RV components
Tips for RVing in Winter
The best advice for any trip in an RV is to be prepared. Research your destination, check the weather forecast, and pack extra clothing, supplies, and food. For cold winter weather in the Pacific Northwest, that means doing the following:
Add to your insulation, even if you have a four-season rig: add vinyl to your windows, cover your RV's floor in rugs and windows in drapes, insulate the roof vents, and make sure all the doors and windows are well-sealed.
Skirt your winter RV: most of the heat loss an RV experiences in cold weather is from cold winds blowing underneath—using an RV skirt will fix that by sealing the undercarriage against those winds.
Use multiple heaters, because your RV's central heating system can only work so hard. Consider supplementing your RV's internal heater with an electric space heater.
Pack for cold weather, including blankets, thermals, and thick socks.
Build a campfire—of course, build it outside of your RV! But campfires are not only fun, they're necessary on a cold winter's morning in the woods.
Where Can I Take My RV in the Winter?
One of the great things of Washington and northern Oregon are the sheer number of campsites and other outdoors areas that you can take advantage of in your RV. Here are five of our favorites for visiting during the winter:
Salish Sea: The Fort Casey Historical State Park on Whidbey Island features water and electrical hookups, coastal hiking, and views of Puget Sound.
Strait of Juan de Fuca: Featuring full hookups and great views, this campground in Salt Creek Recreation Area is simply incredible.
Olympic National Park: If you prefer a more "roughing-it" approach to camping, this no-hookups national park is perfect for hardy campers. Our favorite campsite there is Kalaloch.
Mouth of Columbia River in Cape Disappointment State Park: This state park is actually the complete opposite of its name, and one of the very best parks in Washington. It has full hookups, though they could be full—if you want to be sure of water and electric (and miles of bike trails!), visit the Oregon side's Fort Stevens State Park.
Nehalem Bay State Park in northern Oregon is absolutely beautiful and right next to the cute town of Manzanita, if you feel like exploring.
Winterize Your RV at RV's Northwest
Whatever your RV winter plans, we can help you achieve them here at RV's Northwest! Give us a call for advice if you have questions about winterizing your RV, or pick up our year-round Seasonal Maintenance Package for the ultimate in ease and peace of mind.