Off season recommendations

[Jerrymcs]

We are winding down from our first season (17 weeks) in our 2015 Casita Independence. Covered all SW states in the spring and spent summer in MT and WY. Our little trailer has met almost all of our expectations and the practical insights I have gained from reading the different post on this forum have been invaluable and helped me work through many operator error created problems. Thanks for your support!

We live in coastal SC and experience very moderate winters with lows only occasionally dropping below freezing and then for only a week or so in Jan or Feb. As I consider, preparation for this coming winter season I have a couple of questions. Given that we intend to use our trailer just about every month throughout the winter and I have electric service that costs essentially nothing (meter on an outbuilding with base charge each month that I never exceed) would I be overlooking something to proceed as follows?

Keep the trailer plugged in with electric heat to keep base temps above freezing and supplement with LP during coldest weather events and not winterizing/draining any of freshwater systems. We camped in SW and experienced several nights with temps dropping to 26 with no problems.

Leave frig operating on AC rather than turning it off and keeping door open?

I do keep a small dehumidifier operating 24/7 when we are not on the road given that high humidity is a year around reality here.

Thoughts/recommendations or anything else I should consider?

[Darral T.]

Ace Hardware has their RV Anti-Freeze for $2.99. Right now with their awards card (not a credit card) for $1.99 a gallon.

When you know you're going to be in a freezing environment for a week, I have to ask, WHY take the chance????

[WaltP]

I think you are good with just a few easy precautions.
Leave open any doors on cabinets and storage areas where plumbing goes through those areas so they are exposed to the heat in the cabin.
Leave the bathroom door open.
The only holding tank external to the cabin is the grey tank, so make sure that is drained. A small amount of residual liquid in the bottom of that tank will not cause a problem.
If you are faced with an extended period of temps below the upper 20s, consider using a blowout plug to blow out the supply lines, and add 2 cups of RV antifreeze to the p-traps. That's an easy bit of insurance that should take less than a half hour.

Walt

[Bob Miller]

I don't see a need to leave the refrigerator ON. The cold won't hurt it. But leave the door open a bit.

[james kent]

Place dryer sheets in the cupboards and some in the open area. It keeps the critters out and the trailer smells good in the spring.


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[Glenn Baglo]

I thought mice were attracted to the anti-static feature. Keeps their fur from clinging.

[Borrego Dave]

Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo

I thought mice were attracted to the anti-static feature. Keeps their fur from clinging.

Good guess Glenn but it's rabbits

[Glenn Baglo]

That must be why I never find rabbits in my laundry room.

[james kent]

Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo

I thought mice were attracted to the anti-static feature. Keeps their fur from clinging.

The Bears like that feature.


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[honda03842]

I always leave our fridge running when storing the trailer if AC is available (I also leave the fridge running year found in our homes). Storage in SC should not be a problem, extended below freezing temperatures are extremely rare in SC. Personally I would just leave a cube heater running at a low setting, say 45-50F.

I generally drain all water tanks but can't imagine you'd have any problem. If you like you can add something to the traps, the only one I would be concerned about would be the shower trap. I would leave cabinet doors and traps open

[SRF]

We're winterizing our first camping trailer ever, a Scamp 16", for the Midwest winter. I wonder about protecting against mice? Anything in particular to cover, seal, use steel wool in? Is it really necessary? There is no food or drink inside.

[Darral T.]

Sue,
I dont know about your Scamp. But mine has the front bath. For what ever reason, Scamp didnt see the need to seal around the drain coming out of the shower underneath through the OSB flooring and the black pipe coming off the commode. I was warned about this by another Scamper.

Sure enough, I got under my new Scamp (2010) and saw the raw OSB and the gap around the pipes that would allow rats or anything else to get up in the holes. I bought my own fiberglass resin and some genuine copper scrubber pads. After coating the openings as best I could, I stuffed lots of the copper pads (see link) up in there. Nearly 6 yrs later, I havent had ANY water problems NOR rodents or such like trying to get up between the floor and the shower floor etc.

http://www.amazon.com/Chore-Boy-Copp...+scouring+pads

Originally Posted by SRF

We're winterizing our first camping trailer ever, a Scamp 16", for the Midwest winter. I wonder about protecting against mice? Anything in particular to cover, seal, use steel wool in? Is it really necessary? There is no food or drink inside.

[Raz]

Your tow vehicle is probably a bigger worry than the trailer. When they get in there you've got a war on your hands.

On my trailer I put a piece of aluminum screen over the lower refrigerator vent. I have one unsealed pipe hole through the floor. I sealed that with a stainless steel scrub pad I bought at the supermarket. After 5 winters, no mice. Raz