How to Go RV Camping in the Cold Winter Months

Any camper can be used in cold weather; however, you must take extra steps to ensure it doesn’t freeze on you. Furthermore, moving slide outs in and out should be another concern as well. Consequently, that could cause damage if the seals freeze up. Long story short, seals, gaskets, and caulking shrink in the cold temperatures. Freezing temps and transporting campers or driving a motor home can add up to create possible issues and leaks. Here is How to Go RV Camping in the Cold Winter Months.

 

 

Learning As We Go

First, let me start by saying this is all going to be a “learn as we go” and getting the most information to you all that we possibly can to help guide in what we do right (and wrong) I’m sure! Here is where we are with our RV Camping Adventures in the Cold, Winter Months currently…

RV Camping in the winter (cold) months is new to us this year. We have been in our Travel Trailer a few times when it got below freezing temps overnight, but we weren’t prepared and the regulator on the water hose froze up.

Our plans to use our Motorhome over the cold, winter months require us to do some serious thinking about how to keep it from freezing.

 

 

Heading out for the First Time (Lessons Learned)

Know Where to Go!

Make sure that there is a campground open for you to go to!

While planning a trip to Western Kansas, we made the mistake of ASSUMING that when a campground said “Open All Year” that they would have frost free hydrants open on those campsites. Not the case!

Many and most campgrounds in this area have winterized their water systems to prevent damage from freezing. However, there is the option of filling your holding tank before you head out.

Additionally, in some cases, the campgrounds may have a designated frost-free hydrant available year-round for filling holding tanks in one location but not at all the campsites.

 

The Best APP for Determining Where to Go

We found that the very best App for determining where to go is the ALLSTAYS App. This App has extensive and advanced filters that allow you to search for just about anything you need RV Camping related! What you should do to find those RV Campgrounds open year-round with Full Amenities is open the ALLSTAYS App and click on the filter in the upper right-hand corner.

Next, click on the orange writing that says Advanced Filters (Cumulative) and “Select Here for Amenities, Clubs, Rates and Much More”. Once you’re in the filters section, select anything that applies to what you’re looking for. Most importantly, click on “Open All Year” and “Full Hookups (E-W-S) as this will show you the locations nearest to you that are open all year round with Electric, Water, and Sewer available).

Although this was our best option to ensuring we got what we were looking for in an RV Campsite, we still called ahead to double check!

OK, so now you have a place to go for sure, let’s get back to How to go RV Camping in the Cold Winter Months!

 

Heated Under Belly

Our Travel Trailer has an enclosed heated underbelly with vented heat. Our Motorhome has 2 different enclosures: one enclosed water tank compartment and another enclosed black and grey water tank compartment. That is a great place to start is ensuring that the under belly is heated or at least enclosed. If you need information on how to insulate your RV underbelly, Camper Smarts has a great article, How to Insulate RV Underbelly. You can check out that article HERE.

Our Experience

Although we have an enclosed underbelly, we did not have heat strips on the tanks to keep them from freezing and that is something we had to do before our first RV Camping trip in the cold!

We purchased all the items below and took our first trip in the motorhome for the cold, winter months. It did great! We had no issues with anything freezing up on us. The temperature dropped to well below freezing. The first night we were RV Camping it dropped down to 26 degrees overnight. Again, we had no problems!

 

 

5 Must-Have Products for Your First Winter RV Camping Trip

Here are the 5 products we purchased to start off with for our first cold weather RV Camping Trip. We will go into detail about each product below.

1. Heated Water Hose

A Heated Water Hose is a Must-Have item for your winter camping. What we like best about this heated water hose is that it has an energy saving thermostat that only heats as needed.

2. Holding Tank Heater Pads

These Holding Tank Heater Pads are AMAZING! They are super easy to install and work great! What we LOVE about this product is that they have a built-in thermostat to turn itself off and on when freezing temps arrive.

 

 

3. Insulated Vent Covers

These Insulated Vent Covers are a Must-Have for Summer and Winter use! They help to keep your RV cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

4. Dehumidifiers

We personally must be very careful with the use of dehumidifiers in our family. Our son, Aiden, has a trach and needs extra humidification year-round. However, to help with condensation in the Motorhome and to help with mold-prevention, a dehumidifier is a necessity. We found that using a couple of these Dehumidifier Bags works very well all the way around! Plus, they’re much less expensive than a traditional Dehumidifier! Win-Win! Additionally, they’re renewable, no-mess, easy to use, pet and child safe, and best of all… silent operation! Now that being said, if you need a full-size Dehumidifier for your RV, we suggest getting the Jack & Rose Dehumidifier!

5. Heating your RV with an Electric Fireplace, Electric Heating Blankets, and Space Heaters

Heating your RV in those freezing cold winter months can be a challenge. Heating your RV safely is important.

 

 

You may be wondering, “I have an RV propane furnace, why would I need an Electric Fireplace, Electric Heating Blankets, or an Electric Space Heater to heat my RV”? While using an RV Propane Furnace is convenient and does not require you to have yet another object taking up space in your RV, there are also many disadvantages to propane furnaces in an RV.

 

 

Propane Vs. Electric Heating

The most obvious disadvantage to using a propane furnace all winter vs. an Electric Heating source is that you must always have propane on hand. If you run out, you are out of heat. Period. If that time comes in the middle of an unexpected winter storm, it could really be a problem.

 

 

Cheapest, Most Cost-Effective Way to Heat an RV

In addition to the disadvantage of always needing to have propane on hand, propane can be costly. Using an Electric Space Heater can cut costs tremendously. If you are lucky enough to have found an RV with an Electric Fireplace and have used that in the fall or winter months, then you know how cost effective they are and best of all, they work to heat the RV very nicely.

 

Electric Fireplaces

RV Fireplace Option

Some RVs come with a Fireplace Insert already installed as an option. Our Travel Trailer has one and it can heat our entire RV. Our motorhome does not have one, nor is there an appropriate place to install one, so we went with a Portable Electric Space Heater for that RV. We will get into that a bit later when we discuss Portable Space Heaters.

If you do not have an RV fireplace insert, but your RV was prepped for one, purchasing a Fireplace Insert may be an option for you. We recommend the Furrion Brand.

 

Electric Heating Blankets

Another purchase we made for comfort and warmth is of a few Electric Heated Blankets. Our absolute favorite Electric Heating Blanket is the Homeisprite Heated Throw Blanket! There are many colors to choose from but the Yellow one is my favorite by far!

 

Portable Electric Space Heaters

We are going to go into more depth when discussing Portable Electric Space Heaters because you all have expressed interest in what we use most often. Plus, there are so many on the market to choose from these days, as well as ensuring you purchase the correct one to keep you not only warm in your RV but SAFE in your RV is very important.

Using a Portable Electric Space Heater can be a cost-effective way to keep warm this winter in your RV. We have researched and tried MANY Portable Space Heaters and have found the Top 7 Safest Portable Electric Space Heaters for an RV to Keep Warm and we are going to share those with you in a bit but first let’s investigate WHY you may want to consider using a portable Electric Space Heater in your RV.

 

 

Top 4 Reasons Why You May Want to Consider Using a Portable Electric Space Heater in Your RV

First, let’s address why you may want to use a Portable Electric Space Heater in your RV. Using an Electric Space Heater in your RV can be a good option and beneficial to an RVer for many reasons. Here are the top 4 reasons you may want to consider using a Portable Electric Space Heater in your RV.

1. The obvious reason-to keep your RV and you warm in the winter months
2. An Electric Space Heater can be used in specific areas of the RV that may not keep as warm as other areas, such as the bathroom, bedroom, or the garage if you have a Toy Hauler
3. The fact that many of these Electric Space Heaters are portable, means that you can place them anywhere there is an electric plugin available
4. An Electric Space Heater can be placed in specific locations to warm the area and help to reduce the chance of water lines/pipes freezing. For example, close to an open kitchen sink cabinet to force warmer air into that space.

So, as you can see, there are many good reasons to consider using a Portable Space Heater in your RV, however, the #1 question we get from RVers is “Is it SAFE to use a Portable Space Heater in an RV”?

 

Safety Factors to Consider When Using a Portable Electric Space Heater in an RV

Is it Safe to Use a Portable Heater in an RV?

Yes. It is safe to use a portable heater in an RV if used Properly.

 

How to Use a Portable Electric Space Heater Properly in Your RV

Where Is the Safest Place to Put an Electric Space Heater?

Where you place an Electric Space Heater is a very important part of the safety use of a space heater. Some Electric Space Heaters list that they can be used on tabletops, wall-mounted, freestanding, and/or floor sitting.

The absolute best place to have a Portable Electric Space Heater is sitting on the floor.

 If you purchase a Wall-Mounted Electric Space Heater, then use a WALL OUTLET only. It is strongly recommended that you avoid using any added layer of electrical connection with these devices such as a surge protector, extension cord, timers, or GFCI outlets because they all allow heat to build up that potentially could lead to a fire.

 

Space Heaters and Water Do NOT Mix

You should always keep the Electric Space Heater far away from any water source, including but not limited to bathroom and kitchen sinks and bathtubs.

 

Keep Your Portable Electric Space Heater Away from Flammable Objects

You need to keep the Electric Space Heater away from any flammable object by at least 3-foot. This includes bedding, paper goods, furniture, curtains etc.

 

The Most Important Safety Rule When Using a Portable Electric Space Heater

Most importantly, NEVER leave an Electric Space Heater unattended.

7 Features to Consider When Selecting an Electric Space Heater for Your RV Camper

1. Convenience: Portable, Handle
2. Amount of Space required to heat, Heat Output, Heat Options
3. Wattage: 1200W/600W, 1500W/750W, 1500W/900W,
4. Enjoyment: Fireplace View, Oscillating,
5. Energy Saving: ECO Mode, Self-Adjusting Heat, Thermostat-Adjustable
6. Safety: Tip-over Protection and shut off, Over-Heat Protection and Shut off, Flame Retardant, ETL
7. Amenities: Wifi & Bluetooth App Control, Remote Controlled

 

The Top 7 Safest Portable Electric Space Heaters for an RV to Keep Warm (including a BONUS of the Top 20 Specialty Space Heaters)

This is what you have been waiting for!

 

 

The Top 7 Safest Portable Electric Space Heaters for an RV to Keep You Warm

1. Safest Portable Electric Space Heaters for an RV

Space Heater, 1500W Portable Electric Heater with Oscillation, Tip-Over & Overheat Protection, Small Space Heaters for Indoor Use, Bedroom, Office

2. Safest Portable Electric Space Heaters for an RV

3. Safest Portable Electric Space Heaters for an RV

4. Safest Portable Electric Space Heaters for an RV

5. Safest Portable Electric Space Heaters for an RV

6. Safest Portable Electric Space Heaters for an RV

7. Safest Portable Electric Space Heaters for an RV

 

 

The Top 2 Cabinet Electric Space Heaters

 

1. Top Cabinet Electric Space Heater

Electric Infrared Space Heater, Quartz Heater for Indoor Use, Tip-Over & Overheat Protection with Remote Control, 3 Heat Settings, 12H Timer, 1500W for Large Room Basement Heating

2. Top Cabinet Electric Space Heater

Heat Storm HS-1500-ILODG Cabinet Heater, 15″ H x 13.5″ W x 11″ D, Gray

 

The Top 2 Mini Freestanding Fireplace Portable Space Heaters

 

1. Mini Freestanding Fireplace Portable Space Heater

Northwest 80-455S 25″ Mini Curved Black Fireplace with Wall and Floor Mount, 4.25″x25.5″x20.25″

 

The Top 3 Large Fireplace Portable Space Heaters with Wheels

1. Top Large Fireplace Portable Space Heaters with Wheels

XtremepowerUS 1500W Infrared Quartz Electric Fireplace Heater Freestanding Timer with Remote Controller Wheel

2. Top Large Fireplace Portable Space Heaters with Wheels

Belleze 3D Infrared Electric Fireplace Stove 31inch With Remote Control (White) Portable Indoor Space Freestanding Heater – 1400W with Long Glass View

3. Top Large Fireplace Portable Space Heaters with Wheels

GMHome 25 Inches Portable Electric Fireplace Free Standing Heater, Glass Window Three Sides View Window, with Remote & Wheels, 1500W, White

 

 

The Top Fireplace Insert for RV

 

The Top 2 Wall Mounted Heaters for Cabin/Lake House

Note: please take extra caution with your RV Walls and be sure to check with the manufacturer to ensure they will hold the weight of a wall Mounted Space Heater if you are considering using one of these in your RV.

1. Wall Mounted Heaters for Cabin/Lake House

Heat Storm HS-1000-WX-WIFI WiFi Infrared Wall Heater, 1000 Watt

2. Wall Mounted Heaters for Cabin/Lake House

Heat Storm HS-1500-PHX-WIFI Infrared Heater, Wifi Wall Mounted

 

 

*****Update!*****

How We Survived Our First Full-Time Historically Cold Winter in an RV!

 

 

An Extreme Historically Cold Winter in an RV in Kansas

You may recall me talking about our very large move to the country after finding Private RV Camping Land, and our Full-Time RV Camping experience in 2023/2024. Well I mentioned that we found out RV Camping in Kansas Historically Cold Winter is NOT for us, well this is why! In January of 2024, we had 5 straight days of temps not getting above freezing; one day included not getting above 0 degrees! Doesn’t sound that bad you say? Well let me paint a better picture for you with all the drama that occurred in those “simple” 5 days! 😉

5 straight days of temperatures below freezing in Kansas from January 12th to 16th of 2024:

 

Friday January 12, 2024

High temp: 30°

Low temp: 9°

 

Saturday, January 13, 2024

High temp: 9°

Low temp: -8°

 

Sunday, January 14, 2024

High temp: 0°

Low temp: -8°

 

Monday, January 15, 2024

High temp: 3°

Low temp: -8°

 

Tuesday, January 16, 2024

High temp: 12°

Low temp: -8°

1. One thing that happened during this major freeze is the lock on the door to our RV got stuck and wouldn’t unlock. I have anxiety, this was not good for someone with anxiety to be locked inside an RV and not able to just simply open the door and get out! Thankfully we were safe inside and Mark was able to push it open…eventually. I then continued to check it constantly until we got above freezing. We do have 2 emergency windows that will always open, and we can always get out. I just prefer to use the door!
2. The rollways (our outdoor wooden ramps that are the only way to get to our vehicles or anywhere on the land) were covered in a sheet of thick ice! Thank God we didn’t have to get Aiden, our son who uses a wheelchair for mobility, out in that weather! We did have to use Ice Cleats on our shoes just to be able to walk outside because it was so icy on top of the temps being well below freezing for 5 straight days!

3. The HOSES to DUMP our RV Toilet FROZE! (oh, and of course it was FULL!)

4. Even with a heated water hose, the water coming into the RV froze. They can only warm so much you know! We did get down to -16 degree windchills with that day that didn’t get above 0 degrees! This is Kansas, remember, not ALASKA!!! That’s why it is so important to always have a lot of bottled water on hand, which thankfully we did!

5. There was Ice all over everything INSIDE even though (Thank God) we were staying warm. The Windows completely iced over, water trickled down from the windows inside and down the walls to our bed and it created ice all around the bed.

We didn’t realize it at the time because this specific bed in where our dining room used to be and is up against the wall. This later was found to have created mildew/mold to everything that was under the bed (it all went in the trash). There were actual Ice crystals on the floors!

All of this was able to happen even with ALL the windows covered in Double Reflective Insulation Foam, blinds, and thermal backed curtains!

 

Conclusion to How to Go RV Camping in the Cold Winter Months *Update on How We Survived Our First Full-Time Historically Cold Winter in an RV!*

Yes, this was an EXTREME HISTORICALLY COLD WINTER TIME, but you need to be as prepared as you can be!

As I mentioned before, having bottled water on hand is a MUST!

The space heaters helped to heat under cabinets.

The Insulation Foam skirting around the exterior of the RV was a MUST and helped to keep the RV warm even though ice formed around us, without the insultation foam, I can’t even imagine how bad it could have gotten!

I know if we had continued to stay in the RV and hadn’t discovered a Round Cabin to purchase and moved into, we would have purchased a PowerBlanket for our IBC Tote that holds our water!

 

 

 

Other helpful winter related articles from SOWLE RV:

1. How to Winterize Your RV if you just can’t handle Winter RV Camping. It’s OK! Many People (like me now) just don’t like RV Camping in the winter months! Of course we purchased a Round Cabin at the lake so I still get my “camping on” daily!
2. The Best Winter RV Camping Recipes for Crockpot Cheating While RV Camping