Winter is upon us! For some, this implies packing up the RV and placing it in storage, however not everyone takes this route. We reside in our RV full-time, that means we’re in it, even throughout the winter. This implies we’ve got to seek out methods to remain heat in our RV within the winter.
More often than not that is comparatively straightforward as a result of our RVs are plugged into electrical energy, that means we are able to run the furnace always (so long as there’s sufficient propane) and even run area heaters to our coronary heart’s content material, however what about once we don’t have hookups?
On this article, I’m going to present you my prime strategies for holding an RV heat in winter while you don’t have any hookups to work with.
Insulate, Insulate, Insulate
First issues first, you’ll want to verify to insulate your RV each approach you possibly can consider. Even “4 season” RVs don’t come very nicely insulated from the manufacturing facility, so each further little bit of insulation you possibly can add to your setup is useful in terms of holding your rig heat.
I’d begin by including a skirt to the RV, particularly in the event you’ll be sitting nonetheless lengthy sufficient to take action. Actually, even in the event you’re on the transfer, you should utilize an inflatable RV skirt to maintain the underside of your RV insulated and heat.
I additionally like so as to add insulation to my home windows. A whole lot of chilly air is available in via our RV home windows, so slicing some Reflectix to suit and fill every window does a world of fine. It may additionally assist so as to add heavy blackout curtains over the home windows to additional insulate issues.
Hanging blankets or tapestries from the partitions and in entrance of the door is useful, as is utilizing a vent pillow to maintain heat air from escaping via the roof vents. I additionally wish to put down rugs in winter, as this helps maintain chilly air from arising from under and makes the flooring extra snug to stroll on with naked ft.
Run That Furnace
You may run your RV furnace even in the event you don’t have electrical hookups. Most RV furnaces use propane for gasoline and can burn via it tremendous shortly, so you’ll want to maintain some further available and ensure to prime it off often. It additionally does use battery energy so as to run the fan, that means when your RV batteries die, your furnace will go along with them.
The easiest way round that is to discover a option to prime off your RV batteries with out shorepower. A photo voltaic setup will get the job completed with out a lot noise or fuss, however in the event you can’t afford a photo voltaic setup, a generator works simply as nicely.
Observe: RVs see a number of condensation throughout the chilly months, and RV furnaces postpone a number of moisture, making this downside even worse. Contemplate cracking a window and operating the vent fan sometimes to do away with moisture within the air. Damp-Rid also can assist with this downside.
Put money into a Mr. Buddy Heater
Whereas your RV furnace will work with out hookups, it isn’t essentially the most environment friendly possibility. It’ll eat via propane and battery energy very quickly, making it tough to boondock within the chilly for lengthy durations. The answer? The Mr. Buddy Heater.
It is a moveable propane heater that makes use of propane rather more effectively than an RV furnace and doesn’t require any energy in any respect. You do must crack a window for security causes whereas utilizing it, and the entrance of the heater will get tremendous scorching, so it’s a must to maintain it away from children and pets.
That mentioned, the factor works extraordinarily nicely and can maintain your RV heat throughout the chilly months with out utilizing any of your battery energy. For my part, that may be a main win!
Layer Up
Evening time is when the coldest temperatures hit. You may fight this (and save gasoline) by placing further blankets in your mattress and sporting further layers whilst you sleep. You is perhaps stunned how heat your physique can really maintain itself when blankets are concerned. The one downside is, you gained’t wish to get away from bed within the morning!
Observe: To make your mattress much more cozy, contemplate placing Sizzling Fingers hand heaters beneath the blankets for a couple of minutes earlier than you get in.
Seize a Battery-Operated Electrical Blanket
If layers of blankets aren’t sufficient, you would possibly wish to put money into a battery-operated electrical blanket to maintain you heat all through the evening with out operating the furnace nonstop.
A battery-operated blanket is greatest as a result of it gained’t eat via your RV battery. That mentioned, you’ll want to be sure that to cost the battery pack utilizing a photo voltaic panel, generator, or the automotive alternator throughout the day. In any other case, you’re prone to end up freezing chilly in the midst of the evening with no good option to get heat once more.
Head South
To be completely trustworthy with you, I hate the chilly and I actually hate coping with it within the RV. Whereas we do generally discover ourselves in conditions the place we don’t have some other alternative, I attempt to get out of spending a lot time in chilly climate as usually as I can by heading south within the winter. This removes the necessity to fear about tips on how to warmth my home-on-wheels, and it ensures I’ve good climate for outside exploration all 12 months lengthy.
A number of the greatest locations to go to flee the winter chilly embrace Florida, south Texas, southern California, Arizona, and Baja Mexico. Of these, Florida and Baja are my favorites for completely totally different causes. That mentioned, I do additionally admire the attractive pure areas and superior winter boondocking present in Arizona and SoCal.
As you possibly can see, there are many methods to remain heat in your RV even when hookups are unavailable. Make use of the following tips and tips and also you’ll have the ability to maintain RVing comfortably, even into January and February. Who wouldn’t need extra alternatives to get out and journey in an RV?