Enjoying the open road and embracing a free-spirited lifestyle is something that we’ll always encourage. After all, there aren’t many other ways to get that same sense of freedom and light-heartedness than packing up your things and embarking on an RV trip with exciting destinations in sight. But something else we will always advocate for is the importance of ensuring everyone aboard your rig is healthy, safe, and comfortable.
Sometimes, this means stopping mid-trip to have your oil changed. Other times, it means prepping your RV for frigid temps or knowing when it is too cold to take an RV trip. If this sounds like information that could be valuable to you, check out this brief overview. We’ll walk you through what you can do to prepare for freezing temps and how to know if it might be too cold to travel safely.
Staying Safe in Frigid Temperatures
Part of the RV lifestyle is traveling through climates of every kind. One week, you could be in the chilly mountain ranges of the Colorado Rockies; the next, you could be snorkeling off the shores of Florida or California. One thing is for sure—at some point, you will come across frigid, icy weather that makes camping cozily just a bit more complicated.
The good news is that knowing how to prep your RV for freezing temperatures can help you avoid any serious complications during your trip. Many RVers understand the risks of camping in winter weather. Therefore, their first precautionary measure is ensuring everything under the hood is in pristine condition before their trips.
The next step would be investing in protective add-ons like RV holding tank heaters or pipe protectors. After that, it’s a matter of staying on top of maintenance. Being aware of what’s typical for your RV and what isn’t is also helpful. In any case, traveling through wintry weather can be a safe and fun experience with the proper preparations.
When It’s Too Cold for Safe Travels
However, sometimes even the most well-prepared rigs can’t handle the cold, in which case, you shouldn’t try to tough it out and travel through it. For one thing, it could damage your beloved RV and rack up severe repair costs.
For another, it could be detrimental to your well-being should your heating, plumbing, or engine systems break down. But how exactly do you know when it’s too cold to take an RV trip? The most precise answer we can give you is when the temperatures outside hit between -20 degrees and -30 degrees Fahrenheit.
It is extremely difficult to bode well in an RV in this climate. Your pipes will freeze over, your engine will become increasingly difficult to start, and frostbite could be only minutes away from setting in. Of course, this is the absolute worst-case scenario.
Key Takeaways
We sincerely hope you wouldn’t try to tough it out in -25 degree weather. But things happen, and when they do, it’s wise to know how to handle them. So if you do find yourself in anything comparable to sub-freezing weather, find heated lodging immediately and do what you can to stay warm and safe in the meantime.
Even better, double-check the weather forecast for regions you plan to travel through as you navigate the different legs of your trip. Doing so will ensure that you’re prepared for whatever awaits you on the open road to stay safe, healthy, and comfortable throughout each voyage.