5 Myths About Winter Camping
Winter camping is one of our favorite things to do. There is something extra cozy about the camping experience in the serenity of the colder months. An added bonus is that RV campgrounds tend to be pretty empty, allowing winter RV campers to get the best pick for RV campsites. In spite of all the advantages to camping in the winter, here are 5 biggest myths about winter RV camping that may be holding you back.
1. It’s too cold to camp
Winter RV camping is actually very cozy, if you prepare properly. Most modern RVs come with some form of furnace to keep you warm and toasty even if temperatures dip below freezing.
Here are a few ways to prepare your rig for comfortable winter camping:
- Pack as many winter clothes as you need: Include long underwear, wool socks, sweaters, a winter coat, snow pants, and gloves and hats as well as winter boots.
- Insulate your floors with area rugs or runners.
- Pack polar fleece bed sheets. Yes, these are a thing. Polar fleece sheets are amazingly soft, warm, and cozy.
- Bring insulated RV skirting with you to help keep water flowing.
- Bring more propane than you think you will use if using your RV furnace.
- Have a few hand warmers for each person in case you need them.
- Add insulated curtains to help keep warm air in and cold air outdoors.
- Get a heated drinking water hose.
2. The propane furnace adds moisture to the air in the RV
This common myth is absolutely untrue. As long as your RV furnace is vented to the outside, the moisture created when the propane is burned goes outside. The warm cozy heat stays indoors to keep you nice and toasty.
3. The RV plumbing system can’t be used in the winter
While this myth could be true if your RV is winterized, it is possible to use all of your RV plumbing in the winter months. Here are 3 key items that will make it possible to use your RV’s plumbing system for winter camping:
- A heated water hose
- RV tank heaters for freshwater, black and gray tanks
- Insulated RV skirting
4. You don’t need special winter camping gear
Winter camping requires a lot of planning, preparation, and proper gear. If you don’t put the time and effort into these things you will have a miserable time. Be prepared for the unexpected as well as the expected. Some items to bring, just in case:
- Extra propane
- Jugs of water
- A shovel
- Have winter snow tires and bring along tire chains for your trailer and your tow vehicle or your motorhome. Know how to put them on in case you need them.
5. Drinking alcohol helps warm you up
This is one myth you should definitely not fall for. Many people believe that brandy, rum, or whiskey will warm up someone who is hypothermic. The truth is, is that alcohol causes the body to lose heat by dilating the blood vessels.
Alcohol can be dangerous when given to a person who already has hypothermia. It also reduces your ability to make good decisions and slows down your ability to respond to emergencies. We need to be alert when taking part in activities that go along with winter camping like hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, or ice fishing.
Find more winter camping tips
Youtubers Keep Your Daydream shared their top tips for staying comfortable this season in this video:
You can also find more winter camping advice in this RV LIFE article. Looking to winterize your RV instead? Read our complete guide here.
One thing that never crossed our minds wintering in an RV, is the ice that builds up on your metal stairs from rain or snow melt in below temperatures. Either purchase outside stair covers or ice melt. In a pinch we used pickling salt.
Just curious how a heated water hose works when the water outlet itself can freeze. Is a heater water hose really worth it.
Yes, it works. Plugs into 20amp outlet on pedestal. Comes on when temp falls below 40 degrees.
wow, guess i should throw away our heated hose then if you think it won’t work….even tho we had water in snow in Flagstaff