Winter travel....(attn: Tom S.)...

[ronmarabito2002]

That's a good explanation of your technique. I'm sure many will
gleen good information from it.

I rarely venture into snow and ice and prefer to remain away. I
rarely have to winterize my coach since I am in Dallas. I do treat
drains when temp gets into the 20's. I keep heat in the coach all
winter so no problem with freezing lines.

R.E. (Ron) Marabito, Dallas, TX 92WB40

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "fwernlein"
wrote:
>
> I thought it might be worthwile to start a new thread on this
topic of
> winter travel. I would like to hear other opinions/experiences
and
> any cautions.
>
> I have had my bus through 2 winters, and use it for skiing trips
and
> other winter travel in VA/PA/NY. Some hook-up camping, most dry-
> camping. Most of my experience is in the low teens as far as low
> temps.
>
> Over the road: I have not had any big scares in snow/ice, I keep
it
> slow and reasonable(not hard in an FC). The bus can skid, and
inspite
> of the big weight, momentum on ice can surprise you. The bus stays
> toasty with the chassis heat. We feel very safe and comfy.
>
> Camping: I have two modes (wet water lines OR dry) 1: WET: I keep
the
> fresh water tank filled as I expect to need it and I use on board
> water. Basically, this is normal camping 2: DRY: I use bottled
> water for sink and toilet flushing, thus only have to mess with
> draining the waste tanks. I do not "dewinterize" the water supply
> system. No showers...but you can maintain clean hands and face.
For
> either: I keep either rock salt or pink anti-freeze in the waste
tanks.
>
> I run the generator typically for breakfast and dinner (microwave
and
> top off the batts), perhaps 30-45 mins both cycles-and always run
long
> enought to full operating temp. At night, I run the propane
heaters,
> usually deciding to use one or two based on the temp. forcast.
Never
> needed all three going. My goal is to keep both the family AND
the
> bus body interior warm (to prevent interior line freezing). I
keep
> the access door in the bath vanity open at night. I have run two
of
> the propane heaters with just batts overnight w/o problems (I have
6
> 6vt. golf batts). I do have an aux. CO detector that I installed.
>
> Main engine...I use the water block heater, and have battery
blanket
> heaters. Never had a cold start issue with the 3208. Typically,
I
> start the main at the end of my AM generator run...
>
> I think my biggest exposure to potential freezing problems is
being
> out of the bus for a extended time w/o electric hookup. If parked
and
> unattended/unheated...say for over 6+ hours, I would think the
> interior temps would drop enough for line freezing if they
> were "wet". This I try to avoid during below freezing weather.
>
> Frank
> 85FC33
> Woodbridge, VA.
>