Winter RV Camping Tips

Aspen Grove RV Park Tremonton, Utah

The cold weather is hitting us here in Northern Utah. For people who travel in RV’s or even live in them full time, this is the time to head south. Aspen Grove RV Park, located in Tremonton Utah, is open year round, which makes for the perfect spot for those heading south. For those who are monthly stays in our park, sometimes taking those extra steps to ensure that the RV and it’s occupants are staying warm and out of the cold can make a huge difference.

Luckily, our awesome park works hard to ensure that all the guests staying, long or short term, have plowed roads and easy access to propane. Northern Utah can get pretty cold, especially with how dry the air is. We offer hot cocoa and warm coffee within our office building to help warm you up. Did you forget something important? Also in our office, you will find heated hoses and extra sewage hookups. A heated hose will save you from any water freezes. Our clubhouse also offers a spacious warm area to escape to for a bit of relaxation.

We hope that the tips and ideas we give help you stay warm this time of year!

Beautiful view of Aspen Grove RV Park and the snow capped Utah Mountains

PROPANE

For starters, lets talk about how to keep yourself warm inside the RV. The most basic thing any trailer/rv/motorhome should have are propane hook ups. For a trailer, they typically have compartments for standard 5- or 7.5-gallon propane tanks but can vary depending on the manufacturer and RV type. The propane offered here at the park can easily fill those size (or any tank you can safely transport to us) tanks for you. A great way to utilize your propane is to acquire an after-market propane tank. These propane tanks are much larger and usually come with a fill up service from a company of choice. These companies will either allow you to rent the tank, or to purchase it. Larger tanks mean longer lasting supply of propane, longer lasting supply means a lesser chance of running out and having no heat at all. Making sure you get a certified tank and a reputable supplier is an absolute must. Propane is not something you want to mess around with.

Our on site propane.

RV MAINTAINENCE

The best part about owning an RV, is the great chance of something malfunctioning. Even the smallest part will affect your RV. So, make sure your furnace is well taken care of and all parts are up and running before cold weather hits. Taking the time to make sure your furnace has enough air flow and the sail switch is functioning are huge in making sure your furnace is going to run properly. Having a certified RV tech to inspect your furnace is always a plus and highly suggested.

If you have a great furnace, but still feel that chill, you could always purchase an electric space heater. Space heaters will add to any electric bill, but a small one can easily help warm up any RV space.

Keeping in mind that getting a space heater with a regulator (shutting off when either the mechanism itself over heats or the space is warm enough) or a sensor that shuts off the heater if it is knocked down, is probably the best option for RVer’s. 

Don’t want to rack up the electric bill? Don’t worry! There are other ways you can keep that heat in and the cold out.

Whether you have a newer or older RV, sometimes you just don’t have enough insulation. RV windows are not very well insulated, especially in older RV’s. A great way to help keep the cold out and heat in is to get insulated black out curtains. They are thicker than regular curtains and do a great job insulating.

Want to go a step further but still keep your natural light? Using an insulation shrink kit on your windows is a good way to keep the chill out, without looking like you have something there. If you don’t really care about the aesthetics of your trailer, you can do your research on reflectix materials. Not only is a great option for winter, it can double as a heat reflector for summer and easily customizable for any window.

While during the winter months, you may notice some condensation starting to appear on your windows. Moisture is not good at all for your trailer and needs to be addressed immediately. A great way to keep the moisture down in your RV is to invest in a great Dehumidifier. This will suck out all the moisture in the air and help keep that under control. An occasional window crack can always help.

INSULATING OUTSIDE THE RV

Our dog park in the winter time. It is well lit until 10pm.

One of the most popular and seen ways to keep the weather out of your RV, is skirting. It is a great way to keep the cold air from entering your RV from underneath it. There are multiple ways you can go about doing RV skirting. If you want it to be effective, going the expensive and professional route would be best. There are companies that do provide the service of making custom made vinyl skirting for your RV. If you are looking for a quick DIY project that does provide decent coverage, you can buy billboard vinyl. You can drill buttons or snaps into your trailer and create your own custom skirting.

A good tip when preparing for skirting is adding some extra insulation. A lot of RVer’s add foam boards that are cut specifically to the lengths and widths of their RV. This adds an extra block from cold winds and snow. These can be placed under your trailer and slides. It never hurts to have that extra insulation.

Another perk of adding RV skirting is preventing the risk of your plumbing freezing and causing damage. Which leads into other ways to keep your plumbing from freezing in the winter months.

Heated water hoses will save you from any risk of having no water due to freezing. You do not want to skimp on this item. Get the best of the best. You will not regret it. As mentioned above, our office has heated water hoses for purchase.

For your sewage piping, especially if you have it hard piped, putting heating tape onto your pipes will reduce the risk of that freezing as well.

Now that you are no longer using your AC, getting an AC cover and blocking any additional points of entry for cold air would be a great idea to keep cold out and heat in.

A view of the moon near our clubhouse building.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

There are so many ideas and ways you can go about keeping you and your RV warm in the winter. These are some of the basics you should definitely be researching before it gets too cold. Winter is such a fun time, but making sure you have a warm place to stay cozy is a definite must. Don’t take winters lightly when you live or travel in an RV. Be smart and stay warm!

This information is advice, and research should always be done when making decisions of your own personal RV. Always make sure you are consulting a professional.

Also, just a fun reminder that Aspen Grove RV Park is open year-round! Contact us today to book your reservation!