Cold weather RVing tips

We’ve just spent a night in -9C (16F) temperatures boondocking inside our Roadtrek 210 and could not have had a snugger and cosier sleep. This year, we’ve made a few basic modifications that we think save energy and make cold weather camping an easier venture.

We added Reflectix insulating panels to our windows to help keep heat it. It’s available by the roll at Home Depot in Canada but is much cheaper at similar stores south of the border. We easily cut panels for each window and just push them into place at night.

We switched out almost all of our interior lights to LED bulbs. Installation was simple. We bought ours at a local RV dealership but they are also available for less through the Internet.

We’d already winterized our RV back in October so did not want to undo that, just to have to re-winterize after we return in six weeks. So, we decided to stick to bottled water for intake (i.e. not running water through any intake tanks or lines) and to use our grey and black tanks with some antifreeze since we’ll be able to access dump stations. When we return we’ll just have to winterize those two tanks and the toilet (add antifreeze).

Our Roadtrek came with a large carpeted runner down the main galley but we always found it difficult to keep clean. This year we decided to ditch the carpet, install a custom-cut foam pad, waterproof flooring and then top it with some colourful, washer-friendly throw rugs in nice colours and patterns. We found what we wanted at Canadian Tire – a long roll of foam “impact” flooring – spongy, about a quarter-inch thick and easily wipeable. We used the old carpet runner as a pattern and cut the new piece to size. It fits beautifully, keeps the cold off our feet and seems much more durable.

Even though it was quite “bracing” when we turned out the lights last night, we found we were warm enough under our queen-size goose down duvet. The warmth stayed in when we topped it with a colourful throw blanket (cuddling helps). Neither of us woke through the night and in the morning we just popped on the propane furnace to banish the chill. It was the perfect RVing experience.