Southern (or SW) RV Owners - Do you Winterize your RVs?


 
GrantT

GrantT

TVWBB Pro
We and wife are thinking of getting a motor-home and driving down (from Canada) into and exploring the USA while our health is still good. Was thinking of driving down in the fall to warmer US climates (planning accordingly for stopping for sights/camping etc along the way before winter sets in) but then leaving/storing the RV somewhere in the USA and flying home instead of driving it back (as the weather could make make it very ugly and it probably gets 7mpg too! Flying will be cheaper!!). Would fly back early spring, probably do some more touring around in the US before the summer rush hits, then drive it back to Canada for the nicer summer here.

So, the question about "winterizing" the RV comes up...do we need to do that in many Southern states, I know there are some rare cold snaps in some states. Thoughts? Just thinking out loud really.....

G
 
I've lived in various areas of Arizona, here's my take: with the exception of Phoenix and Yuma, you can count on at least one hard freeze each winter in the southern 1/3 of the state (e.g. Tucson) due to elevation. Anywhere north of Phoenix, you'll most definitely need to winterize, again due to elevation. The desert can get quite cold in winter. Phoenix and Yuma rarely have hard freezes, but it can and does occur a few times a decade.
 
Wondering how you could winterize it if you're actually "using/living" in it? Because then wouldn't you be replacing the potable water with RV Antifreeze? Amongst other things which would make it not usable.
My brother and his wife are going to sell their house sometime next year and purchase a new Super C RV and basically live in that. Still shaking my head over that one :D
 
LMichaels said:
Wondering how you could winterize it if you're actually "using/living" in it? Because then wouldn't you be replacing the potable water with RV Antifreeze? Amongst other things which would make it not usable.
My brother and his wife are going to sell their house sometime next year and purchase a new Super C RV and basically live in that. Still shaking my head over that one :D
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They're going to use it during the Fall and Spring, but leave it in storage somewhere down south while they return to Canada for the Winter.
 
Scott-MI said:
They're going to use it during the Fall and Spring, but leave it in storage somewhere down south while they return to Canada for the Winter.
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I guess I didn't catch that. Usually if in storage, down south implies indoor so unlikely it will see the kind of freeze one from up here would see especially one that's stored like my buddy does his. On his driveway under a giant cover.
 
I have an RV that is parked year round at our campsite that we own in East Texas. Yes we winterize every year because we usually will get 1 or 2 cold spells that can last for several days. It's usually not a problem if it gets down to 25 or so for just one night. But the last few years we have seen the temps fall to below 20 degrees for 72 hours or longer and that is very much a problem. We usually do our last camp around Thanksgiving and then winterize it until we come back for spring break. Usually by March there are no more freezing temps. So to answer your question, if you are leaving it outside through the winter in any state other than Hawaii, I would definitely winterize it.
 
LMichaels said:
I guess I didn't catch that. Usually if in storage, down south implies indoor so unlikely it will see the kind of freeze one from up here would see especially one that's stored like my buddy does his. On his driveway under a giant cover.
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I've seldom seen 'indoor' storage for RV's out west. The typical RV storage option is either uncovered or open-air pavilion, with rates obviously being higher for parking in the shade. Here's a photo of what is typical in the southwestern U.S. This is in the northwest Phoenix metro area.

Take note, a shaded space might be more prone to freezing in the winter due to less solar radiation impinging on the RV during a cold snap.

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Around here we have a lot of farms where the owners will rent out space in their barns for RV storage. Likely would not be as common in a less agrarian area. But you can leave even the largest city here (Rockford) and within a mile and a half you're out in the farm country
 
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