5 Tips for RVing During the Winter

For many RV owners, this time of year is reserved for cozy nights in, tropical vacations, and having their campers or motorhomes winterized and put into storage for the off-season. But for the rest of us, the colder months just make for an excellent – and affordable – excuse to explore popular ski destinations or other winter recreation. For true Canadian RVers who aren't afraid to brave the cold in the name of adventure, here at five great tips for taking your RV out this winter!

1.    Prepare and Insultate Your RV

First things first, you’ll want to ensure your RV is actually fully inhabitable for the cold winter months. This involves having it properly insulated so you can block out the cold air. RV insulation protects many vehicle components from damage and helps create a warm and toasty living space. Insulation around the base of the RV can also effectively block cold winter winds from damaging RV piping and sucking heat out of the camper. Doing this yourself can take a bit of work, although it is doable. Fortunately, the service centre at South Thompson RV offers expert winter services if you need a hand!

2.    Check your tires

If your RV doesn’t have snow tires and you’re planning to drive through icy road conditions, make sure you have a set of snow chains. In fact, driving with snow chains during adverse weather conditions is a requirement on some roads. But depending on where your RV came from, you might not even be able to drive on those roads. Many big RV rental companies, such as Cruise America, explicitly prohibit renters from using chains on their motorhomes, as they can cause damage.

3.    Pack the right gear

While you want to avoid overpacking, sometimes winter in an RV can call for a few extra items. Consider packing:

• Vent insulator pillows: A $10 to $40 pillow that you insert into openings like roof vents to keep warm air in and cold air out. These cheap pillows can save you hundreds of dollars on heating throughout the winter.
• Apps to check the weather and road conditions: Apps like Weather Hi-Def Radar include snowfall and wind speed maps, which might be particularly helpful when driving an RV in the winter.
• Gear to keep you warm: Pack electric blankets, hand warmer packets and waterproof, windproof clothing.
• Slippers: You probably don’t want to be walking around your RV in dirty or snowy shoes; slippers can protect your feet from cold floors.
• A snow shovel and ice scraper: You might need to dig out your RV and scrape ice from your windows when it’s time to drive.
• Extra emergency items: Whether it’s additional driving equipment like chains or camping goods like canned food, make an exception to the "don’t overpack" rule when it’s in the name of emergency supplies.

4.    Check the campground schedule

If you like to drive without an itinerary and stop whenever you feel like it, you’ll still need to do some advance planning. Many campgrounds close in winter, so verify potential campsite locations are open before you hit the road. But even if a campground looks officially closed online, it doesn’t hurt to call. There are some campgrounds and RV parks that close in winter but will accept campers on a day-by-day basis.

5.    Take a Trip South of the Border

Another perk of hitting the road during the winter is the ability to easily drive yourself to a warmer destination. Snow snowbirds from BC can be in the sunny state of Florida in around three days’ time. So why not escape the cold and head to the beach for a bit?

Whether you need winterized RV services or a new camper to be your travel companion this season, the good folks at South Thompson are always at your service. Browse our inventory of exceptional residential vehicles, or visit our dealership today!