RV'ing in the Winter?

RV'ing in the Winter?
By Edwin J. Hill

Most people think of RV travel and camping as summer time activities. Let's face it, tents and most of the smaller trailers aren't set up for winter use. There didn't used to be a huge demand for it.

People brought out their camping vehicles and equipment in the spring and put it all away in the fall. Then, they'd hunker down for the winter and count the days until the nice weather appeared once again in the spring. There wasn't a lot of thought given to four-season use of that stuff.

But, in recent years, more and more people are using their RV's year-around. The demand for "four-season" coaches has skyrocketed. Of course, where there's a demand, there will be manufacturers willing to meet it!

I live near Phoenix, Arizona. Our campgrounds (RV Resorts!) are jam-packed during the winter months. These people we call "snowbirds" come down here from really cold country to spend the winter. Many of them live in their RV's.

While it's true that we don't have the really cold weather complete with snow and ice, we do frequently see the temperatures get below freezing at night during the winter. The RV's have to be able to keep their occupants warm and protect the RV systems from the cold.

I don't know if you've noticed it, but I've been seeing more and more RV's on the road around the holidays. Maybe it's the security hassles or the increasing costs of air travel that have more people hitting the road. Maybe it's the cost or inconvenience of hotels that causes people to take their RV's instead. Whatever the reason, increasing numbers of people are choosing RV travel for the holidays.

There are other reasons people use their RV's all year. Trade shows, dog shows, concerts and many other exhibitions are occasions for people to get together. These days, it's pretty common to see the parking lot partially filled with RV's - no matter what season of the year it is.

According to a recent article in the Toronto Star, a lot of Canadians spend their winter months in an RV park in Yuma, Arizona. One of the reasons for that location is so that they can slip across the border into Los Algodones, Mexico and have expensive dental work done for a lot less money.

So, what's involved in the design of a four-season RV? First of all, the sidewall and roof insulation is thicker, giving greater protection from cooler temperatures. A lot of people don't realize that this same feature keeps the unit cooler in the summer! Many of the RV's can also be ordered with double-pane windows for further insulation.

Another important feature is that the underside is enclosed and insulated. In many of them, the heating ducts run under the floor which keeps all the plumbing and sensitive systems from freezing when the heat is on. The valves for the waste tanks are normally located within this heated and insulated area, as well.

RV's of today are a far cry from those of just 10 years ago. They're being used for more than just summer vacations. RV travel has become a larger and more important part of our national lifestyle. One day, it will be commonplace to live part-time in a house and part-time in an RV.

Now, that will be fun!

Ed Hill was introduced to 'camping' by the US Army nearly half a century ago. Since then, he has camped his way across most of the United States and parts of Europe using tents and a variety of RV's. In addition to RV'ing, Ed is sharing his love for RV travel in his blog, http://www.EnjoyRVTravel.com

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