I recently asked if you had any questions for me. I said anything goes. And you ask some really good ones. You asked about winter RV camping tips, cold weather camper maintenance, solo camping and more!

Here are my answers.

Can I go RV camping in the winter?

Solo winter camping for a woman over 50.  Any advice?  Will be camping in a state park with electric and water (if pipes aren’t frozen).

My Answer:

Most people do not camp in their RV during the winter months, but many campgrounds stay open year around offering campsites for RVs during the winter months. The most popular campgrounds open all year are State Parks. 

And RV winter camping is not difficult when you are prepared.

RV Winter Camping Tips

  1. Winterize your RV
  2. Bring water with you
  3. Find campgrounds with open bathrooms or
  4. Bring a portable potty
  5. Use a portable heater as primary heat source
  6. Wear layers

When an RV is exposed to temperatures that fall below freezing (32 degress Farineheit) it needs to be winterized so the water lines, pipes and tanks do not freeze.

When your RV is winterized you can’t put any water in your system. I think this is the reason why a lot of people think they can’t use their RV during the winter or in cold temperatures.

But there are easy work arounds.

First, just bring water with you. Of course, bring drinking water and also extra water if you want to wash dishes.

If you have a gas stove heat some water and then wash your dishes in a tub. You do not want to wash your dishes in the sink because you can’t drain the water down the pipes.

Next, when your RV is winterized you cannot use the toilet.

I have two tips about this.

First, you can camp at a campground that has a bathroom you can use. The bathrooms with flush toilets at the State Parks I have camped during the winter are closed because of freezing pipes but they do have pit toilets so I use those. If you do this try to get a campsite as close as you can to the bathroom.

And secondly, you can use a portable potty. I use one because personally when duty calls in the middle of the night I don’t like to get all bundled up and venture outside when it is so cold outside.

It’s not glamourous but well worth it.

You also need to know, the colder it is outside the more propane you will need to use to keep your trailer heated.

It gets very cold in Minnesota and I have gone through a 20 lb. propane tank in just two days. Of course, how much you will go through will depend on how cold it will be where you are camping. To save on expensive propane, I bring a portable heater with and use this as my primary heating source. This small portable heater keeps my camper nice and toasty warm.

Now with that said, I hear a lot of people use the Mr. Heater or Buddy Heater portable heater. I do not recommend using this one because it produces carbon monoxide gas and this can be fatal for both us and our pets.

You need good ventilation and a working carbon monoxide alarm if you use this type of portable heater but why even take the chance? Get a portable heater that does not give out deadly gases.

You also said you will be solo winter camping so I want to talk a minute about solo camping for us gals.

When I am solo camping whether in the winter or summer but especially in the winter because there aren’t as many people around, I put out two chairs around the campfire pit and I have also set my husband’s boots outside the door.

Doing these two things will lead people to think there are two people camping there so it is just not so obvious I am camping alone.

Oh, and another quick tip!

Wear layers! Layering up is a good way to stay warm outdoors and it is easy to take off layers when you are inside.

My last tip about winter camping is just do it! Because if you have an RV why not enjoy it year round?

RV winter camping
RV camping in the winter

Can I use my RV’s water and toilet when it is winterized?

Me and my wife are planning a trip to Las Vegas we live in Michigan. We are leaving in January we were wondering how to travel with a travel trailer. Any tips on water or toilet? Our RV is winterized.

My Answer:

When an RV is winterized, you cannot add water to your pipes and tanks or use the toilet if it is exposed to freezing temperatures. To use these features the RV needs to be de-winterized after the temperatures stay above freezing.

I get a lot of snow in Minnesota but that is nothing compared to how much snow you get in Michigan.

So far, I have not ventured too far away from home during the winter months with my Little Guy Max because of the risk of running into bad weather winter roads. My biggest concern is towing my trailer on icy roads.

Because as we know, ice and snow on the roads make driving hazardous for any vehicle. Add towing a travel trailer and this makes it even more dangerous.

The first thing I would be doing is watch the weather. While you can’t totally rely on a forecast I would be checking it often before I left to be sure there aren’t any predicted winter advisories along your route.

Be sure to bring a lot of drinking water with you and other water for things.

I also suggest planning ahead and looking for places along your route that you can overnight at that do have toilet facilities.

Rest stops are good place for overnighting because they will allow you to keep on the freeway so you can avoid going down side roads that aren’t plowed or maintained as frequently.

I would also download the IExit app on your phone. They call it your interstate pitstop finder. This app will help you quickly locate nearby rest areas especially if you do find yourself suddenly in bad winter weather and need to pull over until it is safe to get back on the road.

With that said, most states allow you to overnight at their rest stops but not all do.

Rest stops you can camp at state by state: https://www.boondockersbible.com/knowledgebase/which-states-allow-overnight-parking-in-rest-areas/

I would also bring a portable toilet with. You just never know when you might need it.

Of course, there are always gas stations for your potty breaks on your travel days.

The last advice I would give you is to go slow don’t be in a rush to get there. It’s better to get there late then not at all.

How can I keep my RV water lines from freezing when temperatures fall below freezing?

How do you keep your water lines from freezing when it’s below 30 degrees? Especially on hookups? Water filtration gear (filters) cannot freeze, or they become worthless. How do you do it?

My Answer:

To keep your RV water pipes and lines from freezing in temperatures below freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit) it must be winterized or they will freeze and cause damage to your lines, pipes, and tanks. 

When your RV is in a location that falls below freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit), you need to winterize it, or you are at risk of your pipes, lines, and tanks freezing. This is applicable to you whether you go winter camping or store your RV for the winter, and it is exposed to the freezing temperatures.

Temperatures get below freezing in Minnesota where I live so I winterize my camper every year in October or November and I de-winterize it in April or May.

This is what happens if you do not winterize your RV and it is exposed to temperatures that fall below freezing.

Water left behind in your pipes will freeze and this water will expand when it freezes. When this happens RV pipes will break due to the expansion, tanks will crack, and this could cause costly plumbing system damage no one wants to experience.

Winterizing you RV is not difficult. You are basically draining and flushing your pipes and tanks and adding antifreeze.

If you own a Little Guy trailer, I have step by step videos that show you exactly how to winterize and de-winterize your camper. More information below.

How can I find places to camp in my RV in the winter ?

My Answer:

Roads can be challenging during winter month. If snow packed or icy roads are going to be along your route to any camping spot it is safer to not travel. Rather find nearby campgrounds so your travel time is limited.

The only camping spots I know of that are within a 2 hour radius of my home that provide winter camping are State Parks.

While not all State Parks offer winter camping there are a couple nearby me that keep several campsites open year round. They do not keep the whole campground open I suppose because there aren’t that many people that go winter camping in Minnesota, but then they only have to keep these few campsites plowed out.

If you are looking for places to camp in the winter, I would start by looking at State Parks that are close to you. You might also find some County and City parks that are open year round too.

Where you live may be different. But, the colder it is where you live the less winter camping options you will probably find.

How can I feel safe as a solo female camper when I am RV winter camping?

I know this is a little out of your scope Randi, but I’m also a single woman over 60 and would like more info about single woman camping. I know there’s the Girl Camper group but that’s not realistic for all of us. Smart safety tips and other thoughts and resources for single women. My husband and I were RVer’s for about 30 years. He passed away this year. I love the life style and don’t want to stop. I need to learn smart ways to transition, meet people & keep safe. .

My Answer:

8 Safety Tips for Solo Female RV Winter Campers

  1. Camp where you will have many nearby camping neighbors
  2. Camp at familiar campgrounds
  3. Find campsites with good cell signals
  4. Keep shades pulled down at night
  5. Put two camping chairs out
  6. Do not tell others you are alone
  7. Join solo camping Facebook Groups
  8. The more you go the more confidence you will have

I am so sorry to hear about your loss.

I am 59 so we are very close in age and the older we get is just the more reason we need to be spending our time doing what we love.

When I was planning my first big solo camping trip I had originally made reservations at a more remote campground because I typically prefer not having neighbors so close by. Well, a few days later I thought this was a bad idea.

I decided to camp at a campground where I could see my next door neighbors. It felt safer to me knowing there were others around.

Also, I had never camped at the campground I originally selected. But I had previously camped at the other campground and this also made me feel more confident because I knew what to expect.

Each campground seems to have its own vibe so I picked this one because I was familiar with it and felt safe camping by myself there.

And because I had camped there before I also knew I would have a good cell signal. It was comforting for me to know that I could call someone just to chat if I wanted to or had a question.

I have to tell you solo camping did feel different and I was definitely more aware of my surroundings than I would have been if my husband was there.

At night when I was inside my camper I’d always keep the shades down because when it is dark outside and there are lights on you can see everything inside.

I always put two camping chairs out.

Although she doesn’t look intimidating it was nice to have my dog Princess with me. Not that she is probably going to protect me but she will let me know if someone is outside at night.

With all this said, I have met some of the nicest people while I have been solo camping.

I’d go on walks throughout the campground and people would stop and chat and they did not know I was camping alone. There were two separate occasions when I ran into other solo female campers and we hit it off. We ended up hiking together, building campfires, and had some wine together.

Campers seem to be the friendliest people. Strangers have helped me back my trailer into my campsite when I was struggling to back it up. And some of the people I have met while camping by myself I still keep in touch with them.

There are also Facebook groups that are specially for solo campers. These groups can be a great resource to get more tips from more experienced solo campers and ask questions that may come up. I will leave info about the one I belong in the video description below.

Solo camping is going to feel different at first, but once you do it you a few times you will build up your confidence just like I have. And there is no better way to meet and make new friends than just doing it. Especially when you are out camping because you are going to meet people that love camping as much as you do so you’ll instantly have something in common each other. And maybe you will meet a new camping buddy!

Keep in touch with me and let me know how your first camping trip goes!

What RV maintenance do I need to do between camping trips?

What kind of maintenance do you have to preform before and after a 2 to 3 day camping trip? Hot water heaters, gray and black tanks, propane, and batteries.

My Answer:

There is not special maintenance needed before and after a few days of RV camping. Most important RV maintenance happens quarterly, annually, or on a need to address basis. The most important thing to remember is to check your systems during the teardown process. 

5 RV Teardown Steps You May Not Have Thought Of

  1. Empty water tanks including water heater
  2. Turn propane tank to off
  3. Turn RV battery to off
  4. Check tires for safety
  5. Verify trailer lights and signals work

During my RV teardown process the hot water heater gets emptied and I find a dump station to empty the black and grey tanks. I always turn the propane tank off plus the RV battery power main switch so it does not drain between my trips.

One of the things I should have done when I had an RV lead acid battery was check the battery water levels on a monthly basis. I did not do this and my battery started losing its charge and I had to replace the battery.

So, if you have a lead acid battery be sure to check the water levels at least once a month.

Another thing you need to inspect before each camping trip are your tires. You want to make sure the lug nuts are tight, and that all the tires have proper air pressure.

ALSO, Each time we hook the trailer up to the camper we also check the turn signals and lights to make sure they are functioning properly.

Overlanding would you ever consider it

My Answer:

Overlanding is camping in an off the road vehicle in off the beaten path locations. It is a great way to explore and camp at places an RV would not with stand because of remote and non-maintained roads it takes to get there.

I love this question!!!! And my answer is absolutely!

I have secretly had a desire to go overlanding for a while now. The idea first came to me when I bought my first Jeep 3 years ago.

And my newest tow vehicle is a Jeep Gladiator which I think would be an awesome vehicle for overlanding. I kind of feel like I have gotten a taste of what it might be like to go overlanding because I have I gone down some very remote roads with it. But I have never camped in my Jeep.

I do have a great love for camping, and exploring remote off the beaten path destinations. So yes, I would love to go overlanding someday!!!

What is your favorite campsite as well as the worst one you’ve stayed in and why?

My Answer:

My #1 favorite camping location overall is on Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This area  has waterfalls, beaches, 

But, narrowing it down my favorite campsite is tough because there are a few really good ones. If I had to choose just one, I will pick the Twelvemile Beach campground located in Grand Marais Michigan. In fact, I just made reservations again at this campground for this upcoming summer and I can’t wait to go back.

Not only does the Twelvemile Beach campground have fantastic Lake Superior waterfront campsites but it is close to the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore which if you have not heard about the Pictured Rocks, it has some of the most breathtaking lake views, sandstone cliffs and pristine beaches. I wish I could bottle this area up and send it to you so you could feel just how magical this area is.

Oh, and this campground is also a good base camp location for finding waterfalls! I am kind of obsessed with finding waterfalls. Have I found some nearby gems while I have been camping here.

There is so much to do while camping in the U.P. Not only does this area have an abundant number of waterfalls but there is nothing better than walking along the Lake Superior shoreline. I also recently discovered how fun it is to hunt for sea glass and Yooperlites here. Oh, and the sunsets. Another WOW! Yes, this area is unique in its own special way.

OK, now to my worst camping spot.

When my husband and I were traveling from Minnesota to visit our daughter and her family that lives in Texas we needed to find an overnight camping spot along the way. Well, we pulled into the Texarkana KOA campground and almost immediately had a bad feeling.

Someone had a stolen propane tank and there was a lot of loud arguing going on. It did not feel like the safest place to stay but it was late so we spent the night here. Needless to say, we did not unhitch and we left first thing in the morning. If I would have been traveling alone I would have left.

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More Videos to Help You with Winter RV Camping:

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