Winter RVing by
Dennis Wasserburger,
former CC, Inc service team member and
fulltimer
Back
in the fall of 1999 a very seasoned RVer and then director of customer
relations Dennis Wasserburger shared timely information on enjoying your motorhome
during the cold winter months. Shared here again as timely information for
those who enjoy traveling during the winter.
Winter
traveling means less crowds, a choice of RV parking spaces at most campgrounds
open in the colder months, and as an added bonus usually lower overnight stay
prices as it is the “off season”. If you have ever ridden a snowmobile through
Yellowstone National Park you can appreciate the grandeur of the sights which
are not as dramatic during the hectic summer months.
Be
Prepared. The key to
winter RVing is preparation, attentive coach maintenance, and a weather
conditions. The coach components that should receive special attention pre-trip
follow:
Batteries: If your coach batteries and engine
cranking batteries are left in a discharged state during inclement weather they
will freeze. This will render your batteries useless. Even when they thaw they
will not accept and hold a charge after being frozen only one time. To prevent
freezing batteries, 1) keep all batteries components tight and free of
corrosion; 2) keep the water at the proper level with liquid batteries, and 3)
keep your batteries fully charged as much as possible. While hooked up to shore
power, Country Coaches have automatic charging. While dry camping, your onboard
generator will be required to maintain an adequate charge level. The charging
process should start when batteries drop to the 12.00 volt DC level. Solar
panels will assist in keeping batteries charged. During cold weather, the drain
on the domestic batteries which run your heating system is too great for solar
panels to keep up with the demands placed on them.
Coolant.
All the manufacturers
of diesel engines in Country Coach motorcoaches (Caterpillar, Cummins, and
Detroit Diesel) recommend that the coolant be maintained at a 50/50 mixture of
low silicate anti-freeze and water. This will give freeze protection down to
-34 degrees F. This is about as cold as most of us will encounter and colder
weather should be left to the polar bears. If you insist on colder temperature
use, a stronger mixture of anti-freeze and water may be required. Check with
your engine manufacturer if you expect colder climates. Caution: Straight anti-freeeze should never be used since cooling and
freeze protection require water mixed with the anti0freeze for proper
circulation.) Annually, your engine coolant additives should also be
checked and maintained at the proper levels. The engine manufacturer’s dealer
service network can check the additive level and contamination levels of your
coolant. This is a very easy test that is accomplished with a sample of coolant
taken from your cooling system surge tank.
The same anti-freeze and water mixture
is used in the hydronic heating system that is used to heat the interior of
many Country Coaches. An added benefit of the hydronic interior heating system
is that it can also be used to pre-heat your main diesel engine while heating
the interior of your coach.
Don’t forget the onboard diesel
generator’s cooling system. This system should be serviced using the same
guidelines as above. You will definitely be using your generator during cold
weather for battery charging purposes, so proper surfacing of your onboard
generator is a must. Unfortunately, many owners tend to forget the generator
until they need it and discover that lack of proper service has made it
inoperable.
Engine
Belts and Hoses. Any
seasoned traveler knows you should always carry an extra set of engine belts
with your coach. Cold weather can make rubber very brittle and cause a worn belt to break. Any
sign of cracking or fraying on any engine belit is the sign to replace them. Some
models of Country Coaches have more than one belt driven accessory. A good rule
of thumb is to replace all engine drive belts at the same time so they are all
the same age and you do not have to remember which one you replaced last. Some
of these drive belts, if broken will disable the engine (i.e., water pump,
alternator). With a minimum of hand tools the drive belts can be changed. For
this reason all owners should carry an extra set of engine drive belts. Hoses
should be replaced if they have cracks appearing on the outside or if they feel
spongy or brittlwe. Most radiator hoses will laast up to five years if not
contaminated with fuel or oil spills which are allowed to remain on them. All
hoses should be checked annually for signs of deterioration and be replaced as
needed.
Engine
Oil. Today’s engine oil
technology has advanced in leaps and bounds. The multi-viscosities and additives
in engine oil along with advances in engines has eliminated the need to let
your engines run all night as some truckers still do. The fear in cold weather
was if you shut your engine off it would not start after a cold night. The
15W40 engine oil recommended by Cat, Cummins, and Detroit Diesel eliminates
this fear.
The 15W40 viscosity is recommended for
all but the most severe weather conditions and can be used year round. Engine
oil becomes contaminated from the combustion process and condensation during
normal operation. Oil and filter changes are recommended by the engine
manufacturer for this reason. Engine oil is inexpensive when compared to engine
oil related repairs on an engine. A good rule of thumb is change the engine oil
and oil filter at the beginning of summer and winter. Again, don’t forget your
onboard generator.
Diesel
Fuel. The fuel supply
in your coach in most cases is diesel. This requires some special attention
during cold weather operation. Unlike gasoline, diesel fuel will begin to gel
at approximately 10 degrees F. If this gelling or clouding becomes too severe
it can clog your fuel filter and stop your engine. Diesel fuel companies
recognize this problem and produced Diesel #1 or “winterized” fuel. It may not
give you as much power or the mileage as the Diesel #2 you are used to burning
but it has all but eliminated the gelling problem except in extreme conditions.
Additives are available that can be
added to your present fuel supply to prevent this problem until your fuel tank
can be filled with the cold region winterized fuel. Speaking of filling your
fuel tank, it is a good idea to keep your tank as full as possible. This will
eliminate the air space in the tank that will allow condensation to form in
your fuel tank. Moisture and diesel fuel don’t mix and will stop you cold, if
allowed to enter your engine. Country Coach diesel pusher motorhomes are equipped
with a fuel filter/water separator to stop water from entering the engine.
Since you never know when you may pick up water-contaminated diesel fuel, you
should always carry a spare fuel filter/water separator, and acquire the
knowledge on how to replace this filter. Due to the volume of diesel fuel they
sell, large truck stops usually have fresher, less contaminated fuel. They are
also the first fuel supply locations to receive the winterized fuel in the cold
regions of the country. Fuel heaters for fuel filters and tanks are available
aftermarket. If you use the winterized diesel fuel and keep your fuel tank as
full as possible, these heaters should not be required except in extreme
conditions.
Block
Heaters. Country Coach
supplies an electric block heater on current model diesel coaches. This is
especially useful to preheat your engine when 110 volt AC power is available
from campground hook ups or from your onboard generator.
Although this electric block heater can
be used all night if conditions require, it should never be used when the
engine is running. On Country Coaches equipped with hydronic heating there is
an added advantage in that when you are operating your hydronic heating system
with the diesel fired furnace, you are also heating the coolant in your coach
diesel engine. This makes cold starts much easier and the electric block heater
becomes a back up system only.
Thermal Pane Windows. Coaches equipped with dual pane windows in
all the openings except the windshield conserve heat in the winter and cool air
in the summer months. An added benefit of the thermal pane windows option is
the amount of sound deadening that is gained over the standard, single pane
side windows.
Windshield
Washer. Reservoirs
should be filled with winter premix solutions (20/10 or equivalent). Don’t
forget to run your windshield washers long enough to purge any non-winter
solution from the hoses going to your wipers. This will prevent freezing in the
entire windshield washer system. You will be glad you followed this simple
procedure the first time your windshield is sprayed with slush and salt from
oncoming traffic. Also carry extra solution to replenish your reservoir. You
will be surprised how quickly you can go through a gallon of winter windshield
solution during heavy use.
Water Pumps & Holding Tanks. Country Coach placed
the water pumps, resh water storage tank, and black and gray holding tanks in
one plumbing bay. This plumbing bay is heated by a radiant heater on hydronic
heating system coaches and by a forced air heating duct on forced air LP
heating system. The freeze protection in the plumbing bay is automatic and
operational when the interior furnace is operating. The black or gray dumping
valves should never be left open during cold weather camping. They should only
be opened during the actual dumping procedure—black tank first, followed
immediately by the gray tank. Failure to follow this procedure will result in
frozen sewer lines and a real mess when they do thaw out. Black holding tank
chemicals can also be used in the gray holding tank during cold weather
camping. The use of such chemicals will
aid in breaking down solids that may enter either holding tank and promote
complete dumping.
Locks. Exterior locks can present a problem by freezing and
becoming inoperable. Once the lock is frozen, about the only things that will
work to free it are the old heated key trick or a commercial deicer. NEVER
throw hot water on a frozen lock. This will only cause it to have more moisture
to refreeze later. You should also never wash your coach at the end of the day
when freezing temperatures are expected at night, unless you have the ability
to blow the moisture out of the locks, with compressed air before it can
freeze. Parking your coach so direct sunlight will be on locks during the day
is a good way to dry out the locks and conserve fuel needed to heat the
interior.
Traction. Country Coach diesel pusher motorhomes have
excellent traction due mainly to the weight on the rear drive axle. This weight
is created by the large rear mounted diesel engines and heavy duty automatic
transmissions. This added traction will assist you in most conditions of
moderate snow. In icy conditions, studded snow tires and/or chains are
required. Cable type chains are best for motorhome use due to the smaller tire
to fender clearances. You may never need to use your cable chains. After you
purchase them to carry along for safety reasons, always do a trial fit to
insure proper operation in case you are required to use them in the future.
Traction with reference to going is one thing, but traction with reference to
stopping is something else. The weight factor of a motorhome (this is such a
plus going) become a large minus when stopping. To stop a motorhome on icy road
surfaces, increase your stopping distance dramatically. Depending on road speed
which should be very slow on icy roads, your breaking distance may need to be
extended by ten times. Your tow car also needs to be considered when judging
extended braking distance, especially if you are towing a vehicle or trailer
without independent braking capabilities.
Be Flexible, Hang Loose, Enjoy the Trip! Wiinter operation of
your coach should always be done on a very loose schedule. If you plan on being
a certain place a certain day you may not allow yourself the luxury of being
able to hold up in a campground during severe storms with impassable roads. A more
relaxed schedule allows you to wait out storms in the comfort of your coach.
With a little planning, you could be in a campground with full hook ups
enjoying hot chocolate and watching the storm pass by on TV.
If driving during
inclement weather, especially snowstorms, go slow. Remember yoru increased
braking distance and take frequent breaks. Driving snow has a somewhat hypnotic
effect which can cause fatigue before you recognize it. Frequent breaks will
eliminate any lasting effects of this problem and help ensure your safety as
you continue on down the road.
Night driving should
also be avoided during a snowstorm due to the drastic reduction in visibility.
During a clear day you may be able to see for miles. At night that distance is
reduced to a few yards, while your braking and stopping distance remains the
same.
Winter RVing for the fun of it! Operating your coach in
cold climates is rewarding with nothing to fear. Correct preparation and a
little caution and you will be telling snowbird friends how much fun you had
last winter. They will be wondering why they have not tried this aspect of
coach ownership. Travel safely.
