An RV question?

[Cruisin]

Hello fellow campers.

This is the first time that I have posted on this forum but I have a question maybe someone can help me find the answer to

In the spring we purchased a Cardinal 5th Wheel trailer. The only trailer we had before was a very small pop-up, a long time ago.

We live about an hour away from Detroit, Michigan, so in a cold winter climate. We have winterized the trailer.

We are considering hauling it down to Florida in the mid winter (February to mid March time frame).

Has anybody travelled south after they have winterized their trailer for northern winter weather?

Our trailer is supposedly equipped with some sort of "Arctic Pac" heated water tanks so that it can be used in winter but we've not tested that.

Would you de-winterize your trailer before you left home to travel south or would you wait until you were in a warmer climate?

Our final destination would be an open field with no hookups of any kind available.

Any advice on how best to handle this situation?

Thanks.

 

[BRDof3]

The heated tanks concept is great, but if it doesn't protect the water lines running between tanks and pumps you'll still get freezing problems.

I would say wait until you are in warmer weather to de-winterize, if you feel you need to do so at all. You said you will be camping where there are no hookups, so you won't be using water/sewer much anyway. You can dry camp w/o turing the water pump on. Bring you own water in a cooler or two. The BR is even usable, using bottled water to clean out the toilet.

We almost went out this Fall after we winterized, and we would have hauled our water with us and not used the pump. After years of tent camping this would have seemed normal anyway.

If you decide to dewinterize, make certain you winterize everything again before you get back to cold weather.

 

[Cruisin]

Yes we were concerned about the smaller lines freezing on the drive down to Florida if we were to dewinterize before we left home.

We do want to be able to use the water though.

Going 10 days without a shower and with no decent bathroom facilities is just not an option

If it were just a weekend there would be no trouble with just using bottled water.

We use water from home in a large container for any cooking or drinking requirements.

Thanks for your suggestions

 

[2goofycampers]

I would definitely dewinterize in a warmer climate. If you are staying at any campgrounds on your trip dewinterize and fill up your tanks there, if not some Love's and other gas stations have water where you can fill up there.
I also agree you need to rewinterize before getting back into the freezing temps.

 

[Cruisin]

2goofycampers, thanks for your input.

We had already thought about the dewinterizing before we returned.

We figured it would be much safer to haul the antifreeze that we would need down south with us. I'm not sure how easy it is to get in warmer climates

I'm not sure if we would be staying at campsites along the way unless we had to in order to dewinterize the trailer.

We'd probably try to stop at someplace where we could park overnight for free.

 

[Cruisin]

We were also wondering if it might be easier to leave the trailer at home and stay in motels instead.

We would be heading to a remote control airplane competition.

Having the trailer onsite would be very convenient but if it's too much of a hassle we could just as easily leave it home.

The airplanes fit much better inside the 5th wheel than in the van though

 

[drafthorsecrazy]

We live in northern Ohio and will be traveling south very soon. What we have done in the past is to fill the water tank up right before leaving home and drive a good 10hrs that first day. We do not run any water for this part of the trip--use the rest areas along the way. We travel I-77 so that puts us near the N. Carolina/S. Carolina border for our first nights stop. We've never had a problem doing this; others results may vary. Of course common sense applies. The weather is a fickle thing. Good Luck with your new camper---you'll get the hang of it soon enough.

 

[njcamper95]

We have camped in disney in jan-feb area leaving Nj with snow coming down we leave ours winterized til we get south enough to not worry about temps usually SC area then we add anti freeze on way home unless weather will be warm enough when we get home then i'll winterize but the cost of some antifreeze is alot less then replacing pipes,pumps,etc

 

[Cruisin]

Thanks to all for your advice.

It's been very helpful and much appreciated.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

We live South of Flint so we are leaving from the same basic location.
Some of the Flying J travel centers have RV dump stations and water, if you check their website you can see which ones are along your route. Some of the GA rest areas have water and dump stations also.
A lot will depned on the weather at the time you are traveling and where you plan to stop.
We always take antifreeze with us in the winter, usuallt camping world will have it but I dotn like to take the chance.

 

[Cruisin]

Thanks for the information Scott.

We are actually in Canada about 1 hr east of Detroit, so, not so very far away from you.

 

[OK GRUMPY]

Were is the remote control airplane compitetion. They have one close to where I live but I never know exactly when it is so I usally miss it. I think my dad would enjoy one of those shows.
Thanks

 

[Cruisin]

Were is the remote control airplane compitetion. They have one close to where I live but I never know exactly when it is so I usally miss it. I think my dad would enjoy one of those shows.
Thanks

Well, I know there is one in the Miami area the 20-22 of February.

I think there is also one near Venice sometime in March.

If you want to let me know where you are then I can certainly find out for you

Oops, I see where you are from now. I can check to see when there is one near you.

 

[Cruisin]

Here is a link to some contests in your part of the country.

Maybe you can find one that is close to you on it.

http://www.mini-iac.com/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=77

 

[OK GRUMPY]

Here is a link to some contests in your part of the country.

Maybe you can find one that is close to you on it.

http://www.mini-iac.com/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=77

Thanks!