Water Freezing Question

[Arcticpalm]

I am driving from Alaska to Arizona, taking my Big Foot 21ft travel trailer, leaving next week, around Sept 11, 2020. Getting up by Tok and going through Yukon temps at night look like 28 to 32 degrees. Do I need to worry about my pipes and holding tanks? I am traveling with my pets so the inside heat will be on 24/7.

[ZachO]

What you're comfortable doing for your pets is obviously up to you, but at those temps my heater may not even get turned on. It's definitely no problem for your water, unless the daytime temps aren't getting above freezing.

I don't know what year your trailer is or if it's the 4-season package. That's makes a huge difference. But I've camped a lot where the nighttime temps are low 20's, high teens, daytime temps in the 40's and had no problems. My Bigfoot is a 91 and doesn't have insulated tanks or water lines or any of the nice things they added to later models.

Someone mentioned this a while ago in another post, but I think people are often far to worried about freezing lines. I mean it is a possibility, but not until it gets really cold. If you leave a dog water dish in the cab of your truck overnight, and the temps go down to 20, I'd be very, very surprised if there were even a thin layer of ice on the top. Even just a roof keeps things from freezing, like a carport or porch/patio. It has to get pretty cold for sheltered things to freeze solid.

Do your pets ride in the trailer?

Anyway my dog is good in the camper when the temps inside the trailer are in the low 40's, high 30's. My heat doesn't come on at night unless inside-the-trailer temps are going to drop into the 30s. That only happens if outside temps get into the 20s. Everyone's internal body temp and tolerances are different, but I'm providing that as a comparison. I have friends who don't let their trailers drop below 60, so they run their heat quite a bit.

[South Coast Stu]

Can you even enter Canada? https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/services...s-eng.html#er1
Is it deemed "non-discretionary" travel? Do you need to quarantine for 14-days? Best to call to confirm.

At those temps and with the heat on at night I wouldn't be worried. I don't think it would be necessary to run the furnace going down the road. What year? If it is a RB look in the cabinet under the closet. Is there a small duct like in this pic?



If so it is probably a 4-seasons model. That's the furnace duct that heats the holding tanks. Also, the windows should be double pane.

[Arcticpalm]

Thank you. I think I will put the birds in the truck with me and heat my BF at night. I have a 2006... I won’t worry about my water then.

[Arcticpalm]

I am moving so getting from here through Canada will be okay. I have all my critters health records and all my paperwork in order. They don’t want you hanging around. They tag your vehicle and you have a certain amount of time to exit Canada. No side trips.

[ZachO]

Birds! Nice. Wonder how often people see that on the road.

I did see a woman who appeared to be training her parrot at a gas station this summer. Lots of people were on the road this season...

So it depends on what you and your pets are used to.

My dog and I are used to less climate control than some, so hanging out in a 50 degree trailer during the day is no problem. 40s at night inside the trailer is preferable. Over 60 and I’m uncomfortably hot.

But I was camped next to a woman from AZ earlier this year, and her (fat) dog was shivering because it got down to 45 at night...This was a lab mix, not a little ankle biter that always shivers...So...it’s what you’re acclimated to. I see dogs in town who NEVER go inside. Even when it’s 20 below outside, they’re out there. They sleep in an insulated, but not heated, dog house.

[Arcticpalm]

I will be traveling with two birds, two ferrets and two hairless dogs. One of the hairless dogs is always shivering and is an ankle biter. The birds are my biggest concern. The dogs have clothes, the ferrets fur, but the birds are not cold weather birds. Should be an interesting trip.

[Jon in AZ]

Do check into the border requirements for the animals.

My mom used to travel with her birds. But it was to warm states in the winter. All I can say is they’re messy in a small space... LOL! She kept hers in the rarely used RV shower most of the time to contain the mess.

Best wishes in your planning!

[Deb Mac]

Definitely check for the ferrets - in some states (California is or was one) they are considered wildlife and not allowed as pets. I am a vet tech, and we had a couple come to the clinic a few years ago and surrender their ferret (that they had for years) because they were moving to California and only discovered at the last minute that ferrets were not allowed as pets - even though they were captive bred, like all of them, CA still considered them wildlife. That may have changed.

[Darwin Maring]

When in doubt. You know the answer.

[LarryB.]

Freezing pipes probably won't be an issue for 4 degrees Fahrenheit below freezing temps. I certainly wouldn't be concerned about the tanks (grey, black & fresh water) but, if pipes is a concern, I would just open the spigots on the sinks to relieve any pressure and leave them open overnight. For the commode, just hold the flush valve down for a few seconds.

That presumes that you are disconnected from a "city" water source and that your internal pump is turned off.

[tabertooley]

yes, you can enter Canada, as long as you travel directly to a Border crossing on Canada's southern border, i know this for certain, please don't stop in Banff, Alberta area and do not do sight seeing, last week i read that an American was fined $750,000.00 for second infraction of sight seeing in the Banff Area. I am Canadian and i know that Canada would never isolate Alaska from the continental USA.

[tabertooley]

also i would carry documentation of where you are staying in Arizona,

[The_Kramers]

@Arcticpalm Just make sure you don't do sightseeing while you are in Canada, There is a hefty fine if you are caught doing things other than eating, driving and sleeping while transiting through because of Covid 19.

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by tabertooley

yes, you can enter Canada, as long as you travel directly to a Border crossing on Canada's southern border, i know this for certain, please don't stop in Banff, Alberta area and do not do sight seeing, last week i read that an American was fined $750,000.00 for second infraction of sight seeing in the Banff Area. I am Canadian and i know that Canada would never isolate Alaska from the continental USA.

The fine of $750,000 is deceiving because the fine is in Canadian dollars so it’s actually only $600,000 in USD
The fine may seem excessive but they were repeat offenders
Hopefully the courts also seized their vehicle and trailer .

[Darwin Maring]

Grey and Black tanks, I use to put rock salt in them in the winter. and Yes, The salt DID NOT damage the tanks.

[Glenn Baglo]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

The fine of $750,000 is deceiving because the fine is in Canadian dollars so it’s actually only $600,000 in USD
The fine may seem excessive but they were repeat offenders
Hopefully the courts also seized their vehicle and trailer .

Nobody has been fined $750,000. That is the maximum amount you could be fined. Fines that have been levied are under $2,000.
You could also go to prison for six months, but nobody has, or even close.

[Denise T]

http://https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5692421

Please respect Canada’s rules if you are travelling between Alaska & lower 48.