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

[ED GARDELS]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "fwernlein"
wrote:
>Frank-- I enjojed your piece on winter camping.Ive only had my bb
since june. Have never Traveled in winter. My previous rig (Tioga)
could be dry camped for weeks with out draining batt. I go to Colo.
fishing where there are no hookups.
thanks for the post.--
Ed Gardels 89sp
Arlington Tx.

> 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.
>