5 Cold Weather RVing Hacks: Staying Cozy Without Breaking the Bank

Usually, our family heads south for the winter, avoiding the ice and cold. However, we have spent the last couple of winters in colder temperatures, and I have found that I actually enjoy some aspects of cold weather RVing. Of course, camping in cold temperatures does mean taking some extra steps to ensure we stay comfortable and warm. Fortunately, I have found ways to do this without breaking the bank. 

If you plan to do some winter RVing this year, here’s what you need to know to stay cozy without spending a ton of money. 

Seal, Insulate, and Trap Warmth

We all know that RVs are not the most well-insulated little homes. That said, I know from experience that it is possible to make a few tweaks that will significantly improve an RV’s ability to hold onto heat. Here’s what I recommend.

Seal the Drafts

First things first, you’ll want to get rid of any drafts. Heat loss due to air leakage can make up a huge percentage of your home’s energy loss, so getting rid of drafts is key. 

Start by replacing old or compressed weatherstripping around doors, windows, and slide rooms. Next, use a high-quality RV sealant around exterior seams, vents, and places where utilities enter the coach. Finally, add some door stoppers. Make up some fabric tubes weighted with rice, and use them to block air from entering at the bottom of your RV’s doors. 

Insulate Strategically

The next thing you’re going to want to do is improve upon the insulation in your tiny home. A reflective insulation installed in your windshield and windows reflects radiant heat back inside. We like to pair that with thermal curtains. 

If you’ll be stationary for the winter, you may also want to surround the base of your RV with skirting made from cheap corrugated plastic, vinyl panels, or even bales of hay. This traps a pocket of still air beneath the rig, greatly reducing undercarriage heat loss. On the inside of our RV, we use thick rugs to insulate the floors. 

Optimize Heating

Sure, you could just crack up the RV furnace and call it good, but the way we burn through propane when we do this is just crazy. Because of this, I like to find ways to supplement the RV furnace in order to reduce the amount of propane we use. This is also nice because it ensures that if one heat source stops working, we have a backup source. 

• RV Furnace: Our RV furnace is great for baseline warmth, especially in extremely cold temps. We don’t really use it on its own unless we have to.
  
• Portable Electric Heaters: In relatively mild weather, ceramic heaters can heat our entire RV. In colder weather, they provide supplemental heat. I love our electric heaters and they are my go-to heating option. 

• Mr. Buddy Space Heater: These portable space heaters use propane rather than electricity, but are much more efficient than an RV furnace. You do have to ensure you ventilate the space properly when using them, but we love them while boondocking and will sometimes use them as a primary heat source if shore power is unavailable. 

Harness Body Heat and Human Habits

You can also adopt certain habits to help keep yourself warm while winter RVing. Some of the things we do are simple enough, but actually make a huge difference:

• Warm Clothing: Sometimes when it’s really cold, we will actually layer our clothes even while inside our rig. Thermals, fleece, wool socks, and beanies trap heat close to your body, reducing the need to heat your entire RV.
  
• Warm Bedding: I like to turn our heaters down at night. The right bedding—such as flannel sheets and a down comforter—make it possible to do this without feeling uncomfortable while we sleep. 

• Heated Accessories: Heated blankets, mattress pads, or even USB-powered foot warmers are amazing for keeping you warm, even if the rest of the RV is cooler than you might like. 

Use Heat Storage and Circulation Wisely

If the heat that is produced by your heaters doesn’t go where you need it to go, then it’s pretty useless. One thing that can help is to run your RV fan on low to gently push warm air down from the ceiling where it collects.

You can also take advantage of radiant heat. Items like hot water bottles, heated stones, or even a thermal pot of hot water can radiate heat long after the stove is off.

Finally, if your RV has sections you’re not using, close the door or use a curtain to concentrate heat where needed.

Manage Moisture

One of the biggest issues we have faced while winter camping? Condensation in the RV. It got so bad early last winter that we actually had water dripping down our walls. Fortunately, we have found ways to manage this moisture so we don’t have to worry about mildew and mold:

• Limit Indoor Moisture Sources: We cover pots when cooking, dry wet clothes outside (if possible), and avoid long hot showers without ventilation.
  
• Ventilation: I have found that we can crack a window slightly or use roof vents to get rid of moist air. That said, it can be hard to balance this with heating needs.
  
• Use a Dehumidifier: A small electric dehumidifier has been the most helpful thing for us. This pulls moisture out of the air without cooling our RV further.

• Use Range Hood Fans: Even when it’s cold, we turn our hood exhaust on while cooking to remove steam directly.

• Silica Gel Packs: I also like to add several silica gel packs or containers of DampRid around windows or in cabinets to help absorb moisture. 

Set Up for Success

Where and how you set up camp matters just as much as what’s inside the rig. When choosing a campsite and setting things up, we always keep the following things in mind:

1. First, position properly. Park with your door and largest windows away from prevailing winds. Trees, berms, or other units can act as natural barriers. South-facing sites receive more daytime warmth.
2. Rotate your RV to maximize the warmth of the sunlight when possible.
3. Ensure your RV is level and as close to the ground as possible; gaps beneath the slide outs or undercarriage let cold air swirl.

Safety Considerations

Cold weather RVing is doable and can even be fun and rewarding. That said, you really do have to keep safety in mind in order to ensure everyone stays as safe as possible during your cold weather RVing adventures. 

Carbon Monoxide

It’s important to aways use carbon monoxide (CO) detectors and test them regularly. Fueled heaters, generators, and stoves produce CO, and even in small amounts it can be dangerous. 

Keep you and your family safe by…

• Keeping detectors at sleeping level.
• Checking batteries before every trip.
• Venting gently, even in cold weather.

Water Lines and Holding Tanks

One of the most difficult things to deal with while winter RVing? Freezing water. Fortunately there are ways to prevent this issue, and you will want to stay on top of these tasks to avoid damages to your rig:

• Use heated water hoses.
• Add antifreeze to drains and P-traps
• Insulate tanks and lines
• Consider tank heaters or heat tape

Backup Plans

After years of RVing, I have learned to always have backup plans. This is especially key during the cold winter months.

• Always have two sources of heat.
• Carry extra food and water in case of heavy snow.
• Have extra blankets and clothing layers on hand.

Frequently Asked Questions: